The Moore County Board of Education announces 7 new principals

On June 8, Moore County Schools announced new leadership appointments within the district, effective July 1, 2026.

Rochelle Dunlop – 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.

Prior to joining Moore County Schools, Dunlop served in leadership and instructional roles across North Carolina and internationally, including positions in Dubai, Qatar, and Wisconsin. She has extensive experience supporting teacher development, social-emotional learning initiatives, school improvement efforts, and student achievement across diverse educational settings. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her ability to build strong school cultures, develop staff capacity, and create systems that support student success.

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. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and creating learning environments where all students and staff can thrive.

Quinetta Pratt – 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. Under her leadership, Southern Pines Elementary was removed from low-performing status and has remained out of low-performing status, met school growth for four consecutive years, increased its school performance grade by eight percentage points, and demonstrated strong subgroup growth in both reading and mathematics, all while achieving overall excellent results on the 2026 Teacher Working Conditions Survey.

Prior to joining Moore County Schools, Pratt served as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education for Mooresville Graded School District, where she led districtwide curriculum and instructional initiatives which contributed to top statewide rankings in reading, math, and science achievement. She also previously served as Principal of Mooresville Intermediate School and Burgaw Elementary School, where she successfully led school improvement efforts, strengthened community partnerships, and improved student achievement and school culture.

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 – 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.

Prior to his role at Crain’s Creek Middle School, Rodriguez served as Assistant Principal at Pinecrest High School, where he supported instructional leadership, testing coordination, PBIS initiatives, beginning teacher support, and school safety operations. He also previously served as a Career and Technical Education marketing teacher, DECA advisor, scholarship coordinator, assistant athletic director, and coach at Pinecrest High School.

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. He is also proficient in Spanish, completed the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals Association (NCPAPA) Assistant Principal Accelerator Program, and was recently named the Moore County Schools nominee for the National Association of Secondary School Principals Assistant Principal of the Year recognition.

Jerid Cassady – 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.

Prior to serving as principal, Cassady held assistant principal roles at Chatham Central High School, Union Pines High School, Westmoore Elementary School, and North Moore High School. In these positions, he provided instructional leadership, supported school operations, coordinated transportation and scheduling, facilitated IEP and 504 meetings, and mentored beginning teachers. Earlier in his career, he served as both an Exceptional Children teacher and science teacher at North Moore High School and taught middle school science in North Carolina.

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. He is a graduate of the Sandhills Regional Education Consortium Principals’ Institute and recently completed the Sandhills Principal Learning Series Cohort. His leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, clear communication, shared leadership, and a commitment to continuous improvement that supports student success. As a member of the northern Moore community, Cassady is excited to have the opportunity to return to serve his community.

Ashley Priest – 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.

Prior to serving as principal, Priest held assistant principal roles within Moore County Schools, where she mentored teachers, led professional learning communities, coordinated district and state testing, and supported student services programs. Earlier in her career, she served as a STEM teacher and instructional coach at Aberdeen Primary School, where she helped develop district STEM programming, secured grant funding, and provided professional development at both the school and state levels. She began her teaching career in Moore County Schools at Carthage Elementary School, where she taught both second and fourth grades and developed a strong foundation in elementary education.

Mrs. 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. A longtime educator within Moore County Schools, her leadership focuses on instructional excellence, community engagement, and creating supportive learning environments where all students can thrive. Mrs. Priest and her family are members of the Sandhills Farm Life community, so she is looking forward to serving her community in this new role.

Jami Burr – 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.

Prior to serving as principal, Burr was Assistant Principal at Southern Middle School and Vass-Lakeview Elementary School. She also participated in the Sandhills Regional Education Consortium Principal Fellows Program and previously served as an instructional support facilitator, AIG specialist, and classroom teacher within Moore County Schools. Throughout her career, she has focused on instructional leadership, relationship building, and supporting academic growth for students at all levels.

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. Her leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, innovation, and creating positive learning environments where students and staff can succeed.

Abby Greenberg – 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.

Prior to joining Moore County Schools, Greenberg served in instructional coaching, literacy leadership, and English Language Learner support roles in Wake County Schools and the Anchorage School District in Alaska. She also taught internationally in Honduras and began her educational career in Texas and California, including service through Teach For America. Across each role, she has demonstrated a commitment to literacy growth, instructional coaching, and supporting diverse student populations.

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. She has been a participant in the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals Association (NCPAPA) Assistant Principal Accelerator Program. Her leadership is grounded in instructional excellence, relationship building, and ensuring every student has the support needed to succeed.

These leadership appointments reflect Moore County Schools’ continued commitment to developing strong educational leaders who will support student achievement, foster positive school cultures, and strengthen partnerships with families and the community.

“These leaders have earned the trust and respect of their colleagues through their hard work, dedication, and commitment to students. I am excited for each of them as they begin this new opportunity, and I am confident they will continue building strong relationships with students, staff, and families. Moore County Schools is fortunate to have such outstanding educators leading our schools, and I look forward to seeing all they will accomplish in the years ahead,” Superintendent Jenny Purvis said.

June 9, 2026

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