Berkeley and Hornsby middle schools will both have new principals for the 2014-15 school year.
Michelle Banks took over as principal at Berkeley Middle on Wednesday, while Jessica Ellison will lead Lois S. Hornsby Middle. Ellison succeeds Byron Bishop, who is resigning.
The Williamsburg-James City County School Board approved the personnel changes, including Bishop’s resignation, at its work session Tuesday.
Both Banks and Ellison, who both bring high school administrative experience to their new roles, come to WJCC from outside the district. Before coming to Berkeley, Banks served as assistant principal at Menchville High School of the Newport News Public Schools. Ellison is currently the assistant principal of instruction at Hampton High School.
Banks, who fills the position left vacant with Principal Karen Swann’s transfer to Rawls Byrd Elementary, had been with the Newport News Public Schools since 1998, where she had worked as a teacher and assistant principal. She received a bachelor’s degree from Christopher Newport University in 1997 and a master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University.
Ellison began her career with the Hampton City Public Schools in 1995. She received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Old Dominion University, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at ODU.
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