FORSYTH COUNTY — Three new principals were appointed Thursday in the Forsyth County school system.
Starting this fall, Laura Webb will be the principal at Big Creek Elementary School, Sarah Von Esh will take the top spot at Settles Bridge Elementary and Todd McClelland will lead North Forsyth Middle.
Webb is currently assistant principal at Big Creek in south Forsyth. She will succeed Sherri Black, who is retiring at the end of the 2015-2016 school year.
Webb has been an educator for 16 years. Prior to joining Forsyth County Schools, she worked in Fulton County as an assistant principal at two elementary schools, as well as an elementary math specialist and a teacher at two schools.
“Serving as assistant principal at Big Creek this year has been such a privilege,” Webb said. “This experience has affirmed my belief that when great teachers, strong leaders, supportive parents and amazing community wrap their heart around a vision, students can soar to unimaginable heights.
“I am excited to be able to continue the tradition of excellence that has been established at Big Creek.”
Von Esh will transfer to Settles Bridge from Daves Creek Elementary, where she has been an assistant principal since 2010.
“It has been a pleasure to serve the students, staff and parent community of Daves Creek,” Von Esh said. “… I am honored and thrilled to accept the position of principal at Settles Bridge … and am greatly looking forward to continuing a tradition of strong community involvement and excellent student achievement there.”
Before moving into administration, Von Esh spent eight years as a teacher at Chattahoochee and Brookwood elementary schools.
Current Settles Bridge Principal Lee Anne Rice is taking the same position at Cumming Elementary in the fall.
McClelland will become North Forsyth Middle’s principal after serving as assistant principal at Piney Grove Middle since 2008.
He has worked in education for 18 years, including as an assistant principal and teacher in Colorado and a teacher in Texas before coming to Forsyth.
“There is no doubt that my time spent at Piney Grove has been the most formative in my professional career,” McClelland said. “One amazing thing about Forsyth County is that every school has a culture where the students come first.
“It is clearly obvious that this is the case with North Middle, and I know that the staff has worked hard to achieve this positive, student-focused culture.”
North Middle’s current principal, Jeff Hunt, is moving to the system’s human resources department next school year.
These appointments mark a total of eight elementary or middle schools that will have new principals for the 2016-17 school year.