Two longtime Onslow County high school principals graduated their last class of seniors and are taking on new duties with Onslow County Schools.

Swansboro High School Principal Chris Andre is transitioning to principal at Hunters Creek Middle School and Northside High School Principal Maria Johnson is moving to the central office as Director of School Support as part of administrative changes announced recently by Onslow County Schools.

For Andre, who has been principal at Swansboro High for 11 years, it is a bittersweet time as she looks forward to returning to her middle school roots but will be saying good-bye to the Swansboro area schools after spending all her educational career there.

Andre said she has loved the history she has with the Swansboro district schools and has watched students she taught in sixth grade who now have children who graduated from the high school.

“I know the history of the school, the parents, grandparents, the staff and their families, and that is not something that you turn off in a week, a month, or ever,” Andre said. “I love the community and these schools. They all have taken my heart. But I am proud of the legacy that I followed and hope that I have made an impact on the lives of others that will resonate with them as they continue to do great things.”

Andre said she has worked alongside amazing staff while at Swansboro schools and is thankful for the opportunity that she was given by the late Joe Beasley, who served as principal at Swansboro High before her and was a mentor as she moved from teaching at Swansboro Middle School to administration.

High school administration wasn’t in her plans but when Beasley called about joining him at the high school as assistant principal she found they worked together like “clockwork” and that she loved being at the high school. Andre returned to Swansboro Middle School in 2003 as principal but her dream was to return to the high school after Beasley but she never expected that day would happen after Beasley’s untimely death in December 2006.

“I was sent (to Swansboro High School) to help heal a staff that for many only knew Mr. Beasley as their leader. I found comfort in knowing that he too wanted this,” she said.

Now, she is looking ahead to her next career journey and has already met with some of the Panther staff.

“Having taught middle school, being the principal at the middle school level, it is comforting to know what I am returning to,” Andre said. “The timing is great for my family and I am excited to embrace the future and grow as a leader.”

As Andre heads to Hunters Creek, Johnson is using her experience to support fellow administrators from the central office through the Director of School Support position, which was created through the reorganization and reallocation of existing responsibilities at the district level.

As Director of School Support she will focus on leadership development and providing direct support to principals and assistant principals on leading data driven instruction.

As principal of Northside High School for eight years, Johnson said she will most remember “creating an inviting academic environment of which students, parents and teachers can be proud.”

Johnson also recalled the words of a mentor during her educational career and she makes the transition.

“My dear friend and mentor (former Jacksonville High School principal) Bill Kelley once told me ‘you will know when it is time to pursue other ambitions,’ and he was right,” Johnson said. “It was time for me to continue to grow professionally. I am always seeking new challenges for growth and am excited to pursue this next step in my career.”

As Johnson moves to the central office, Lynn Jackson will move from principal at Trexler Middle to principal at Northside.

In the Swansboro district, Swansboro Middle School Principal Helen Gross will take on principal duties at the high school and Jacob Mabry will move up from assistant principal to principal at the middle school.

In other administrative changes:

Joycelyn Cassidy is moving from principal at Hunters Creek Middle to principal at Southwest Middle School and Jerome Gidrey is moving from principal at Southwest Middle to principal at Summersill Elementary.

Willie Jarman, who is principal at Summersill Elementary, is moving to principal at Trexler Middle School.

At the district level, John Shannon is moving from director of Career & Technical Education to director of the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center, which will open next year. Chris Bailey, who has been director of Career & Technical Education in Craven County, is taking over Shannon’s position in Onslow County Schools.

The new assignments take effect July 1.

Reporter Jannette Pippin can be reached at

910-382-2557 or Jannette.

Pippin@JDNews.com .