2023-2024 Administrative Promotions, New Hires, and Changes 

At the May 3, 2023, meeting of the School Board, the Hampton School Board approved two new principals and the director of athletics for the 2023-2024 school year, effective July 1, 2023.  

New High School Executive Principals

Bethel High School

Tanya Howard will be serving the Bethel Bruin students, families, and staff, as Ralph Saunders retires from Hampton City Schools at the end of June. 

Howard has been a Bethel academy principal for the past five years. Prior to her experience as an academy principal, she spent three years as a graduation specialist for HCS at Hampton High School. She also served one year as a college and career coach at Hampton High School and seven years as a business teacher at Kecoughtan, Hampton, Phoebus, and Bridgeport Academy.

 

She earned a bachelor of science in business management from Hampton University, a master’s in business administration from Strayer University, and her education specialist degree in educational leadership and administration from The George Washington University. Howard is further pursuing her education at The George Washington University and is projected to earn her Ed.D in educational administration and policy.

Kecoughtan High School

Dwayne Lucas will be serving the Kecoughtan Warrior students, families, and staff, as Dr. Violet Whiteman retires from Hampton City Schools at the end of June.

Lucas has served as the principal at Tarrant Middle School for the past three years. Prior to Tarrant, he was an academy principal at Kecoughtan High School for six years. He has also served as an assistant principal at Lindsay Middle School for eight years and during his last year at Lindsay was the acting principal for four months. Lucas began his career in education as an English teacher at Bethel High School in 2003, where he served the Bruins for three years. In 2001, he was an AVID tutor at Spratley Middle (now Kilgore Gifted Center). He also has experience as an evening GED administrator (2005-2006), an evening administrator at Y.H. Thomas (2007-2008) and an adjunct professor at Tidewater Community College (2009-2012).

 

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and his master’s in educational leadership from Regent University. Lucas is further pursuing his education and is projected to earn his Ed.D. in leadership and professional practice from Trevecca Nazarene University.

New Director of Athletics

Richard Fortune will be serving Hampton City Schools as the director of athletics. Fortune replaces Beth Mair who is retiring at the end of June. 

Fortune comes to Hampton from Suffolk Public Schools where he has served as the division’s activities director since July of 2021. Prior to Suffolk, he served three years as the athletic director for Hampton High School, the home of the Crabbers. 

He served as the Old Dominion University’s assistant women’s basketball coach from 2017 to 2018 and from 2012 to 2015. Between 2015 and 2017, he was the assistant women’s basketball coach for Virginia Commonwealth University.

 

Prior to his collegiate experience, Fortune began his career in education as a student support specialist for Caroline County Public Schools in Milford, Virginia, and a deputy zoning administrator, also for Caroline County Schools in Bowling Green, Virginia.  He has experience as a planning technician, a role he held for four years with the Prince William County Planning Department in Woodridge, Virginia.

 

Fortune is a graduate of Virginia State University with a bachelor’s degree in public administration.