Richland Two announces two middle school principals
May 5, 2017
At a board meeting on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, Superintendent Debbie Hamm and Superintendent-Elect Baron Davis recommended and the Richland School District Two Board of Trustees approved new principals for Longleaf and Summit Parkway Middle schools. Effective July 1, 2017, Robert Jackson will take over as principal of Longleaf Middle and April Shell will take the reins as principal of Summit Parkway Middle.
Robert Jackson and April Shell
Jackson began his education career in Florence School District Three as a health, physical education and science teacher. He held similar positions in Williamsburg County School District, Barnwell School District 45, and Richland Two. He transitioned into administration in 2004 as an assistant principal at Barnwell High School. He later became an assistant principal for instruction at Dutch Fork High and currently serves as principal of Irmo Middle School in School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties.
Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science in physical education from South Carolina State University and a master’s in sports management from United States Sports Academy. He earned an educational specialist degree in educational leadership and is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from S.C. State University.
Shell is returning to Summit Parkway Middle where she worked as an assistant principal for six years. She began her education career as a mathematics teacher at W. G. Sanders Middle School in Richland School District One. She was hired in Richland Two in 2002 to teach math at Richland Northeast High School. Her promotions also include serving as assistant administrator and assistant principal at Spring Valley High School, and a behavior intervention specialist at the District Office.
Shell has a Bachelor of Science in mathematics education from South Carolina State University and master’s in education administration from the University of South Carolina-Columbia. Jackson and Shell are members of the South Carolina Association for School Administrators as well as other professional organizations.
Dr. Baron Davis said, “Ms. Shell and Mr. Jackson have solid experience in many areas in addition to teaching and administration. Their career tracks have led them to these positions and it is our belief they have what it takes to be very, successful at Summit and Longleaf.”
Longleaf Middle is home to the School of Zoological and Botanical Studies Magnet program as well as LEAP, the Longleaf Engineering and Arts Program, which is a school wide magnet. Summit Parkway offers the STEM Institute of Design and Innovation (SIDI), which is a school-within-a-school magnet program.
