McCrimmon named principal of Phillips Middle School; Mattocks to lead Phoenix Academy

Cicily McCrimmon has been named the new principal of Phillips Middle School.

McCrimmon replaces Eileen Tully.  Tully was named principal of East Chapel Hill High School last month.

McCrimmon has served as the assistant principal of Smith Middle School since September 2008.

McCrimmon's previous work experiences include serving as the principal of Woodlawn Middle School in the Alamance-Burlington School System, the assistant principal of Phillips Middle School from 2004-2007 and an administrative intern at Smith Middle School.  She has six years of teaching experience as a high school English teacher and middle school language arts teacher in Chatham County schools.   She holds a bachelor of arts degree from North Carolina Central University and a master's degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Superintendent Neil Pedersen said, "Ms. McCrimmon's experience as the assistant principal at Phillips for three years should serve both the school and her well.  She should be able to hit the ground running and continue the pattern of academic growth that we saw at Phillips last year."

McCrimmon assumes her new responsibilities on July 8.  A search is underway to select a new assistant principal for Smith Middle School.

LaVerne Mattocks has been named principal of Phoenix Academy.  Mattocks replaces Burmadeane George, who retired last month.  Phoenix Academy is the district's alternative high school.

Mattocks leaves Hillsborough's Orange High School, where she has been an assistant principal.  She spent five years as an assistant principal at Riverside High School in Durham and one year as an assistant principal at Hillside High School, also in Durham.   She completed an administrative internship at Durham's Jordan High School.  She has three years of high school teaching experience at Southern High School in Durham and Pamlico High School in Bayboro, NC.

Mattocks holds a bachelor of arts degree in English education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master's degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Superintendent Pedersen shared that "Ms. Mattocks has a wealth of experience as a high school administrator and a record of success in her previous positions.  I believe that she is an excellent choice to become the first principal to lead Phoenix Academy as it transitions from a program to a formal high school."