Announcement: Six Elementary School Principals named for '14-'15 school year

The Horry County Board of Education approved six new elementary principals for the 2014-15 school year. Four of those selected are currently assistant principals within Horry County Schools; two others are principals in other states. The newly-named principals will assume their new roles on July 1.

BURGESS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Samantha Coy, currently assistant principal at River Oaks Elementary School, will replace Donna Hooks, who is retiring. Coy has been an assistant principal for two years and was a learning specialist in the District Office for five years. She was a curriculum coach and teacher at Socastee Elementary for four years and taught for three years in The School District of Haverford Township in Havertown, PA. Coy earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in education administration from the University of South Carolina.

FORESTBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: David Cupolo, currently principal at Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary School in Brunswick County, North Carolina, will replace Johnny Calder, who is retiring. Cupolo has eight years of experience as the principal at Jessie Mae Monroe and Bolivia elementary schools in Brunswick County. He was an assistant principal at four elementary schools over five years in Brunswick and Johnston counties in North Carolina. Cupolo earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of New Hampshire in Durham. He earned master’s degrees in school administration and special education from North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

LORIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Angela Gore, currently assistant principal at Loris Elementary, will replace Mark Porter, who is transferring to North Myrtle Beach Middle School. Gore has four years of administrative experience both at Loris Elementary and North Myrtle Beach Primary schools. She has 12 years of experience as a teacher and guidance counselor, all within Horry County Schools. She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Coastal Carolina University, a master’s degree in counselor education from South Carolina State University, and a specialist’s degree in education administration from Capella University.

PALMETTO BAYS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Dawn McKinney, currently assistant principal at Carolina Forest Elementary School, will replace Cathy Slater, who is retiring. McKinney has five years of experience as an assistant principal at Ocean Bay and Carolina Forest elementary schools, as well as Myrtle Beach Primary. She was a curriculum and literacy coach for five years at Waccamaw Elementary and has eight years of teaching experience at Waccamaw Elementary and Loris Middle. McKinney earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in supervision and administration from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizonza.

RIVER OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Robert Homer, currently principal at Sharp Elementary School in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, will replace June Moorhead, who is retiring. Homer has 15 years of experience as the principal at Joseph D. Sharp Elementary School and five years of experience as an assistant principal in two high schools in Cape May and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He was a business education teacher for 11 years for schools in Black Horse Pike Regional School District in Blackwood, New Jersey. Homer earned a bachelor’s degree in business education and counseling at Montclair State University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Rider University, both in New Jersey.

ST. JAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Felisa McDavid, currently assistant principal at Burgess Elementary School, will replace Mary Beth Heath, who is retiring. McDavid has eight years of administrative experience having worked at Burgess and Loris elementary schools. She has 13 years of experience as a classroom teacher in Horry, Dorchester 2, Lexington 2, Richland 1 and Berkeley school districts. McDavid earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in school administration from Cambridge College in Massachusetts.