Cumberland County School's names top principal, assistant principal

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the following corrections: Seven Cumberland County Schools principals competed for the 2020 Principal of the Year title. Christina DiGaudio, who was named the 2020 Principal of the Year, will represent Cumberland County for the Sandhills Regional title that will be announced in January. Monday night's dinner drew an audience of more than 250 to the Richard M. Wiggins Conference Center at the Embassy Suites. 

It was an evening filled with excitement as seven Cumberland County Schools principals and six assistant principals waited to learn who would be the school’s system top administrators.

Principals and assistant principals were honored Monday for the leadership they demonstrate each day. They play such vital roles through implementing strategic directions while assessing teaching methods.

Excitement was in abundance as Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr., the school system superintendent, walked to the podium and was provided the white envelopes with the names of the 2020 Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year.

Christina DiGaudio was named the top principal. 

She is principal at Ireland Drive Middle School.

Natasha Brown was named the school system's top assistant principal.

She is assistant principal at Lewis Chapel Middle School.

Brown and DiGaudio were presented with an array of gifts.

DiGaudio will represent Cumberland County for the Sandhills Regional title that will be announced in January. The winner will then compete on the state level in the spring.

The event drew an audience of more than 250 to the Richard M. Wiggins Conference Center at the Embassy Suites.

This is the first year that Cumberland County Schools announced principal and assistant principals of the year during a joint event.

“This year, the district decided to combine the recognition of principals and assistant principals into one event after receiving feedback from the Cumberland County Association of Principals and Assistant Principals,'' said Lindsay Whitley, who is associate superintendent of Communications and Community Engagement of Cumberland County Schools.

The following principals, in addition to DiGaudio, were selected by their peers to compete for the 2020 Principal of the Year title:

• Michele Cain, Cumberland Road Elementary.

• Christina Tucker, Ponderosa Elementary.

• Erica Fenner-McAdoo, Howard Hall Elementary.

• Stephanie Wall Rivers, Montclair Elementary.

• Shannon Booth, Cumberland Mills Elementary.

• Reggie Pinkney, Ramsey Street High School.

The following assistant principals, in addition to Brown, were selected by their peers to compete for the 2020 Assistant Principal of the Year title:

• Kelley McKoy, Cumberland Road Elementary.

• Eric McLaurin, W.T. Brown Elementary.

• Ricky Tucker, John Griffin Middle.

• Niesha Witherspoon, Jack Britt High School.

• Royvell Godbolt, Terry Sanford High School.

Staff writer Melody Brown-Peyton can be reached at mbrownpeyton@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3568.