HAMLET – Richmond County Schools has announced the appointment of Hamlet native Joy Smart as the new Richmond Early College High School (REaCH) principal.
Smart will be joining Richmond County Schools from Scotland High School in Laurinburg, N.C., where she served as assistant principal. She will be replacing current principal Tonya Waddell (principal since the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year), who is leaving the school on her own accord.
“I am excited to join the faculty, staff, and students at Richmond Early College High School,” Smart said, who has spent the majority of her career teaching in Richmond County. “I believe REaCH is an awesome school, with people who are truly committed to student learning, growth, and success. I appreciate this opportunity that Richmond County Schools is providing me.”
Before becoming the assistant principal, Smart earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from St. Andrews Presbyterian College. She later continued her education at North Carolina Central University where she pursued her Master of Arts in Library Information Sciences.
And in 2013 Smart was granted her School Administration Principal License from the Sandhills Leadership Academy. With over 22 years in North Carolina public schools, Smart has served as a teacher, media specialist, and academic coach for RCS.
She expressed that she’s eagerly looking forward to returning, and intends to provide educational leadership that promotes academic excellence through high standards of learning and continuous student improvement.
For more information regarding Smart’s arrival, contact RCS public information officer Briana Goins at 910-582-5860.
