Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Isle of Wight County Schools announces administrative changes in preparation for the upcoming school year as Supt. Dr. Jim Thornton continues to strengthen leadership throughout the division. The changes will take effect on Wednesdasy, July 1, according to information provided by Lynn Briggs, spokeswoman for the school division.

Kristy Buggs has been named the new principal of Georgie D. Tyler Middle School. Buggs has 12 years of teaching experience, including positions with Suffolk Public Schools, State College, Pennsylvania and Isle of Wight County Schools. She served as the assistant principal at Windsor Elementary School, beginning in 2015, and is in the same position at Carrollton Elementary School.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies from Norfolk State University and her Master of Education in school administration from Cambridge College. Buggs will take over for Jessica Harding, who has been named Supervisor of Equity and Culturally Responsive Instruction for Loudon County Public Schools.

Completing the administrative team at Georgie Tyler will be Assistant Principal Jason Wheeler, who is in the same position at Smithfield High School.

“I am pleased to introduce Mrs. Buggs as principal of Georgie Tyler Middle,” said Thornton. “She has grown into a strong instructional leader who is passionate about establishing a positive, inclusive school culture where every child is loved and appreciated”

Wayne Briggs has been hired as a new assistant principal at Smithfield High School. Briggs comes to Isle of Wight from Portsmouth Public Schools where he served as an assistant principal since January of 2020. He has a combined total of 15 years of experience at Dinwiddie County Schools, Newport News City Schools and York County Schools as a Health & PE teacher and coach for various sports. Briggs has a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies and a Master of Science in health and physical education from Virginia Tech. He is pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership at Liberty University.

Also joining the division is Lisa White, who will serve as the new assistant principal at Carrollton Elementary School. She has been an assistant principal since 2016 with Hampton City Schools. Prior to that she taught for 13 years at various schools throughout Hampton. White earned her Bachelor of Arts in education at Clarion University and her Master of Science in education at Old Dominion University.

“Our goal is to establish a leadership team at each school that will most directly benefit our students and teachers,” said Thornton. “The strength of each school administrator complements their team and, together, moves our schools forward as we prepare our students to be college, career and life ready.”