Rock Hill schools name 2 new principals

The Rock Hill school district has named new principals for Belleview Elementary and Castle Heights Middle schools.

John Kirell, who has spent the last eight years as principal at Belleview and 17 total in Rock Hill schools, was named principal of Castle Heights Middle School. He succeeds Kelly Kane, who has worked at Castle Heights for 24 years, first as an assistant principal and then as principal.

Kevin Hood will succeed Kirell as Belleview principal. Hood has been an assistant principal at India Hook Elementary for the past two years.

The new appointments, effective July 1, were approved by the Rock Hill school board Monday and announced by Superintendent Kelly Pew.

Kirell, who has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Winthrop University, was recognized earlier this year by the S.C. Council for Exceptional Children as its principal of the year.

Castle Heights “has a long history of success academically, athletically, and its support of the arts,” Kirell said. “I am encouraged by the support the district is going to provide to continue moving the school in a positive direction.”

Hood has worked in public education for 21 years, including nine years as principal of Hunter Street Elementary in York. At Hunter Street, he managed a Title I school with more than 850 students and 85 employees that twice earned a Palmetto Gold designation from the S.C. Department of Education. He previously worked as an assistant principal at Castle Heights for six years.

Hood holds degrees from the University of South Carolina and Winthrop University.

“Having over 10 years of elementary administration experience,” he said, “I want to carry on the great programs and initiatives started by Mr. Kirell and see Belleview continue to grow and reach new heights.”

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Rock Hill schools name 2 new principals."