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Isle of Wight County’s School Board recently approved multiple administrative changes for the 2024-25 school year.

Ellen Couch, formerly principal at Windsor Elementary School, has been named director of child nutrition. In her new role, she will oversee the Child Nutrition Program, which was previously managed by an outside company, Aramark.

Key responsibilities include ensuring fiscal accountability of the program and compliance with local, state and federal guidelines.  Couch received a bachelor’s degree in education from Longwood University, a masters degree in language arts from Christopher Newport University, and an educational specialist degree from the University of Virginia.  She served as the executive director of Smart Beginnings Western Tidewater for five years.  Couch has a total of 23 years with Isle of Wight County Schools, with the last nine at Windsor Elementary as assistant principal and principal.

Erin Yunker will serve as an Assistant Principal at Smithfield Middle School. Most recently, she held the position of academic coach at Elephant’s Fork Elementary School in Suffolk.  Previously, she was an elementary teacher with Suffolk City Public Schools. Yunker is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Old Dominion University with dual masters degrees in education administration and supervision, as well as elementary education.

Danielle “Mason” Carr will serve as an assistant principal at Westside Elementary.  Most recently, Carr served as the school testing facilitator at Westside Elementary.  Previously, she was a special education teacher with Virginia Beach Public Schools. Carr is a graduate of Radford University with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a masters of science in educational leadership and special education.

Mark Ruffin, formerly child nutrition unit lead at Windsor Elementary, has been named child nutrition technician for Isle of Wight County Schools. Ruffin has a total of 11 years with IWCS, with the last six months as the interim child nutrition liaison for the division.