During Tuesday evening’s Cumberland County Board of Education meeting, the Board approved Cumberland County Schools (CCS) Superintendent Dr. Eric C. Bracy’s recommendations for the appointments of Dr. Tonya Williams-Leathers as Chief Academic Officer, Tiana Thompson as principal of Morganton Road Elementary School and Elan Goodman-Robinson as principal of Luther “Nick” Jeralds Middle School. Dr. Bracy also announced the transfer of Dr. Christin A. Etchison to serve as the principal of Seventy-First Classical Middle School.

Dr. Tonya Williams-Leathers has more than 20 years of experience in education and most recently served as a partner with The New Teacher Project (TNTP), managing districtwide academic improvement efforts across the Southeast. She previously served as an area assistant superintendent for Johnston County Public Schools and held principalships at Riverside High School, Sherwood Githens Middle School and Eno Valley Elementary School in Durham Public Schools. She earned a Doctorate of Education in K-12 Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University, a Master of School Administration from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Education from North Carolina Central University.

Tiana Thompson, a 22-year CCS veteran, most recently served as the assistant principal at Morganton Road Elementary School. She has also worked as an instructional coach and a teacher. She earned two master’s degrees from Gardner-Webb University: Master of Arts in Educational Administration and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education. Thompson also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from William Peace University.

Elan Goodman-Robinson has more than 20 years of experience in education and most recently served as an assistant principal at Westover Middle School, where she previously worked as an academic instructional coach. She began her career as the student information systems coordinator for Clinton City Schools and later taught at Lewis Chapel Middle School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Fayetteville State University, a Master of Education in Executive Leadership Studies from Gardner-Webb University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership Studies at Gardner-Webb University.

Dr. Christin A. Etchison has nearly 20 years of experience in education. Dr. Etchison most recently served as the principal of Luther Nick Jeralds Middle School. Her previous roles include assistant principal at Mac Williams Middle School, Reid Ross Classical School, Gray’s Creek High School and DeRidder Junior High School in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. She also taught in CCS and Pitt County Schools. Dr. Etchison earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership, a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Safety Education and Promotion from East Carolina University.