Robert Moody
Robbinsville – Just a handful of weeks after being publicly revealed as the new superintendent, Robert Moody began shifting administrative personnel around at not only each of the district’s three schools, but at the central office as well.
A special called board meeting May 14 contained just under 10 minutes of open session, but two hours were spent behind closed doors. School board Chair Rodney Nelson read from policy code 7100, which concerns recruitment and selection of personnel, and voiced the board’s unanimous approval of any and all moves Moody wanted to make.
Before the day was over, Moody had covered all three campuses to discuss his initial changes. Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, administration will have the following look:
* Graham County Schools Central Office: David Matheson, assistant superintendent; Dr. Jaime Hooper, director.
* Robbinsville Elementary School: Kevin White, principal; Brandy Carpenter, assistant principal.
* Robbinsville Middle School: Stuart Nelms, principal.
* Robbinsville High School: Erica Sawyer, principal.
No one has been appointed to fill the assistant principal vacancies left by Nelms’ and Sawyer’s respective promotions at the middle and high schools. Hooper was the principal at Robbinsville Elementary, as was Matheson at Robbinsville High. Robbinsville Middle Principal Tonia Walsh is retiring.
Moody shared the moves with The Graham Star on May 15, before forwarding some of the ideas he has already expressed toward the district’s staff May 29. He laid out his concepts of improving communication, strengthening leadership and accountability, improving school safety and reigniting staff morale.
“I appreciate the opportunity God has given me to serve the students and staff of Graham County Schools,” a portion of the email reads. “As superintendent, my priority is to protect the integrity of the classroom for students and also ensure there is a shared vision with accountability.”
Superintendent Angie Knight is retiring at the end of the month.