Fort Mill schools name leaders at two middle schools, virtual academy, district post.
A middle school principal shuffle in Fort Mill has the school district prepared for virtual and future learning.
On Thursday the Fort Mill School District announced Gold Hill Middle School principal Christine McNeil will be the first principal at Forest Creek Middle School when it opens in fall 2021. McNeil will spend the coming school year as director of the new Fort Mill Virtual Academy. Richard Eppes will move from assistant principal to principal at Gold Hill.
“We are very excited about Mrs. McNeil and Mr. Eppes taking on their new roles,” Superintendent Chuck Epps said in a release. “Mrs. McNeil’s years of experience in education will allow her to help create a successful culture at the new Forest Creek Middle School and her skills will greatly benefit the new virtual academy program. Mr. Eppes’ new position as principal of Gold Hill Middle will ensure a smooth transition for students and offer a familiar face to families in this role.”
Pleasant Knoll Middle School principal Grey Young will move to a district administrator position, as executive director of student services. Young replaces Antwon Sutton who left the position to become superintendent of Chester County schools.
“Mr. Young has both the experience and rapport with educators and the community that are needed as executive director of student services,” Epps said. “He has a passion for working with students and their families to generate positive outcomes that will benefit our families and the district in this new role.”
The virtual academy is an online option for families this school year who have reservation returning to in-person school due to COVID-19 and social distancing. The virtual option will be available K-12.
Here’s more about the Fort Mill principals in new places:
Christine McNeil
McNeil has biology and secondary education degrees from the College of Charleston, and masters degrees in administration and public health from the University of South Carolina. She has 25 years experience in education.
McNeil has 14 of those years in the Fort Mill district. She was assistant principal before moving to principal at Gold Hill Middle.
McNeil will spend part of the upcoming year preparing to open the district’s newest middle school, Forest Creek, in 2021.
Richard Eppes
Eppes has an elementary education degree from Winthrop University and a masters in education administration from the University of South Carolina. He has 19 years experience as an educator and administrator.
Eppes served as assistant principal at Gold Hill for seven years.
Grey Young
Young has an elementary education degree from Winthrop University and a masters in educational administration from the University of South Carolina. All 19 years of his career in education come in the Fort Mill district.
He taught at Fort Mill High School and was assistant principal at Springfield Middle School, then principal at Pleasant Knoll Elementary School. He moved over to Pleasant Knoll Middle when it opened in 2017.
