Moore County Schools announced several leadership appointments within the district, effective July 1.
“These appointments reflect our ongoing commitment to educational excellence and will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our schools and student success,” said the school district in a press release.
Rochelle Dunlop Appointed as Principal of Connect Academy
Rochelle Dunlop has been named Principal of Connect Academy. She currently serves as Assistant Principal at West Pine Middle School, where she has led efforts to strengthen Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, redesign student services and PBIS systems, improve school culture, and support instructional growth. Under her leadership, West Pine Middle School achieved its highest performance data on record while significantly reducing student discipline referrals.
Dunlop holds a Master of School Administration from Barton College and a Bachelor of Science in English Teaching, Middle Grades Education, and Secondary Education from Edgewood University.
Quinetta Pratt Appointed as Principal of Crain’s Creek Middle School
Dr. Quinetta Pratt has been named Principal of Crain’s Creek Middle School. She currently serves as Principal of Southern Pines Elementary School, where she has led significant academic growth initiatives, strengthened instructional systems, and improved school culture through data-driven leadership and the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.
Pratt holds a Doctor of Education from Gardner-Webb University, a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Webster University, and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Clemson University.
Carlos Rodriguez Appointed as Principal of Elise Middle School
Carlos Rodriguez has been named Principal of Elise Middle School. He currently serves as Assistant Principal at Crain’s Creek Middle School, where he has led instructional improvement efforts, strengthened Professional Learning Teams, supported schoolwide PBIS and MTSS implementation, and coordinated major testing and intervention initiatives. His work as an assistant principal at Crain’s Creek Middle School has supported significant reductions in student discipline incidents while strengthening instructional systems and data-driven intervention practices.
Rodriguez holds a Master of School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Mount Olive.
Jerid Cassady Appointed as Principal of Highfalls Elementary School
Jerid Cassady has been named Principal of Highfalls Elementary School. He currently serves as Principal of Cameron Elementary School, where he leads daily school operations, oversees continuous school improvement efforts, supports professional development, and works closely with families and district leaders to promote student achievement and a positive school culture. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on fostering collaboration, strengthening instructional practices, and creating supportive learning environments for students and staff.
Cassady holds a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership Studies (K-12) from Gardner-Webb University and a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Ashley Priest Appointed as Principal of Sandhills Farm Life Elementary School
Ashley Priest has been named Principal of Sandhills Farm Life Elementary School. She currently serves as Principal of Elise Middle School, where she has led significant academic growth, strengthened instructional systems, and fostered a positive school culture through data-driven leadership and collaborative professional learning communities. Under her leadership, Elise Middle School significantly improved proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics, reduced major behavioral incidents, and built strong partnerships with community organizations to support student success.
Priest holds a Master of Arts in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Grand Valley State University.
Jami Burr Appointed as Principal of Southern Pines Elementary School
Jami Burr has been named Principal of Southern Pines Elementary School. She currently serves as Principal of Connect Academy, where she has led the district’s innovative K-12 virtual school and homeschool partnership program. During her tenure, enrollment grew to approximately 330 students, the school consistently met growth expectations, and achieved one of the highest levels of grade-level proficiency among comparable schools across North Carolina. She has also led the development and refinement of schoolwide systems, enrollment processes, instructional practices, family engagement initiatives, operational procedures, and a long-term strategic growth plan designed to support the continued expansion and success of the school.
Burr holds a Master of School Administration and an Academically and Intellectually Gifted Add-On Certification from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Language Arts from Central Michigan University.
Abby Greenberg Appointed as Principal of Vass-Lakeview Elementary School
Abby Greenberg has been named Principal of Vass-Lakeview Elementary School. She currently serves as Assistant Principal at McDeeds Creek Elementary School, where she has led schoolwide intervention systems, supported literacy initiatives, and provided professional development focused on data analysis, classroom management, and instructional best practices. Her work supported McDeeds Creek Elementary in achieving 90 percent K-3 mClass proficiency, while all K-3 reading teachers met or exceeded growth expectations according to EVAAS data.
Greenberg holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership for Linguistically Diverse Students from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management with a minor in Business Administration from Texas A&M University.
For Moore news delivered straight to your inbox, please click here to sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel e-newsletter.
Contributed article/photos.
