Clarke County School District Superintendent Robbie Hooker announced the appointment of two interim principals for the 2024-2025 school year. Both appointments are effective immediately and are intended to be temporary assignments for the upcoming school year.

April Braswell, who served as principal of Whitehead Road Elementary School for the previous five years, will replace Beverly Ford as principal at W.R. Coile Middle School. Additionally, Whitehead Road Assistant Principal Bylan Swift has been appointed interim principal for the upcoming school year.

“Both of these dedicated educators have a unique knowledge of the schools they will lead during the coming year,” Hooker said in a press release. “Their familiarity with the staff, students, families and communities they will serve will allow us to maintain continuity for all and will set the stage for a successful school year.”

Braswell, with 22 years of educational experience, was previously an assistant principal at Coile Middle School from 2015-2019 before taking over as principal at Whitehead Road Elementary School. Braswell began her career with CCSD as a math teacher at Cedar Shoals High School and then taught high school mathematics in Walton County for 11 years before returning to CCSD in her role at Coile.

Braswell holds two bachelor's degrees from Valdosta State University in applied mathematics and secondary education: math. Earning her master’s degree in educational leadership from Columbus State University, Braswell holds a specialist degree in educational leadership from Georgia College and State University.

Swift, who joined Whitehead Road Elementary School as an assistant principal at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, having previously spent 18 years with Gwinnett County Public Schools–seven years as an elementary school teacher, then 11 as an elementary assistant principal. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Clemson University, a master’s degree in reading and literacy from Walden University and a specialist degree in teacher leadership from Piedmont University.

Additionally at Whitehead Road Elementary School, Shanna McGettigan, who serves as the school’s multi-tiered systems of support coordinator, has been appointed as an interim assistant principal joining Assistant Principal Tiffany Mosley.