2026-2027 Administrative Promotions, New Hires, and Changes 

Leadership update as of July 6, 2026. 

Assistant Principal/Academy Principal Changes

Dr. Sharmaine Grove will serve as an academy principal at Phoebus High School.

Grove has served as an academy principal at Bethel High School for the past two years. She joined Hampton City Schools in 2012 and has spent the majority of her tenure at Kecoughtan High School, where she served for 10 years in the roles of assistant principal and academy principal. She began her career in education in California as an English teacher and curriculum support specialist with Travis Unified School District. In 2003, she relocated to the East Coast and held several administrative positions with Williamsburg-James City County Schools before joining Hampton City Schools.

She earned her bachelor’s in English from Christopher Newport University and her master’s in education from California State University. She furthered her education and earned her doctorate in educational policy, planning, and leadership from William & Mary.

Dean McDowell will serve as an assistant principal at Jones Magnet Middle School.

McDowell has served as an assistant principal at Andrews PreK-8 School for the past two years. Prior to joining Andrews, he served as an assistant principal at Jones Magnet Middle School. Earlier in his career, he was the director of exceptional learning at Norfolk Christian School. McDowell began his educational career in Norfolk Public Schools as a high school band and orchestra instructor. He also served as an assistant principal at both the middle and high school levels in Newport News City Public Schools.

 

He earned his bachelor’s in music education from Hampton University, as well as both his Master of Divinity and master’s in educational leadership from Regent University.

Travis Oliver will serve as an assistant principal at Andrews PreK-8 School.

Oliver has served as an academy principal at Bethel High School for the past four years. He joined Hampton City Schools in 2017 as a math teacher at Lindsay Middle School, where he taught across all grade levels. Prior to joining Hampton City Schools, Oliver taught middle school mathematics in Greensboro and Henderson, North Carolina.

 

He has a bachelor’s in business management from Hampton University and a master’s in educational leadership from Regent University.

Aisha Rucker will serve as an assistant principal at Lindsay Middle School. 

Rucker has served as an assistant principal at Tarrant Middle School for the past five years. She joined Hampton City Schools in 2017 as a program advisor and was promoted to special education coordinator the following year. Rucker began her educational career in 2007 as a special education teacher in Virginia Beach and later served students in Newport News Public Schools and Chesapeake Public Schools before joining the Hampton City Schools team.

 

She has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Norfolk State University. She has a master’s in education with a concentration in students with moderate disabilities as well as a certificate of advanced graduate studies in education leadership, both from Cambridge College. Rucker is currently working on her Ed.D. from Regent University.

 

Dr. Tandie Taliaferro will serve as an assistant principal at Jones Magnet Middle School.

Taliaferro brings nearly 30 years of experience with Hampton City Schools, for a total of 37 years of experience. Since 2018, she has served as an assistant principal at Tarrant Middle School, following 12 years as an assistant principal at Syms Middle School. She joined the division in 1996 as a social studies teacher at Spratley Middle School after beginning her educational career as a middle school teacher in Georgia.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Georgia, a Masters of Education in School Leadership and Supervision from Regent University, and an education specialist degree in higher education administration from The George Washington University. She then earned an Ed.D. in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University.

 

Ogelynn Taloute will serve as an assistant principal at Tarrant Middle School. 

Taloute has served as an assistant principal at Syms Middle School for the past three years. Prior to joining Hampton City Schools, she served as a curriculum specialist with Franklin City Public Schools during the 2025–2026 school year. She began her career in education with Newport News City Public Schools, where she taught English at both the middle and high school levels, and later served as a high school English teacher in Suffolk Public Schools. 

 

She earned her bachelor’s in English and her master’s in secondary education from Hampton University and her Ed.S. in educational leadership and administration from The George Washington University.

Paulette Townsend will serve as an assistant principal at Tarrant Middle School.

Townsend has served as an assistant principal at Jones Magnet Middle School for the past two years, following two years as an assistant principal at Lindsay Middle School.  She began her educational career as a social studies teacher with Norfolk Public Schools in 2007 and joined Hampton City Schools in 2018, where she taught Civics and Economics at Tarrant Middle School before moving into administration.

She holds a bachelor's degree in political science/pre-law from Norfolk State University, her teaching program certification from Virginia Wesleyan College, a master's in curriculum and instruction from Averett University, and an ED. S. in educational leadership from Liberty University. 

 

Leadership update as of June 18, 2026, for the 2026-2027 school year. 

Principal Changes

 

Robyn Crump will serve as the principal of Forrest Elementary School.

Crump began her career in Hampton City Schools as a second-grade teacher at Cesar Tarrant Elementary School. She later taught at Bryan Elementary School before transitioning into the role of Curriculum Integration Technology Teacher (CITT), where she supported the integration of technology and instruction. She then moved into school leadership, serving as an assistant principal at both Langley Elementary School and Smith Elementary School. For the past four years, she has led Kraft Elementary School as principal.

 

She earned both her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Christopher Newport University. She participated in Old Dominion University’s Educational Leadership Cohort with Hampton City Schools where she completed her education specialist degree.

 

Rodney Richardson will serve as principal of Mary W. Jackson Fundamental Elementary.

Richardson has served as principal of Peake Elementary School for the past three years. Prior to that, he joined the administrative team at Phenix PreK-8 School and served as an assistant principal for three years. Before entering administration, he was a teacher and history/social science department chair at Spratley Gifted Center, now Kilgore Gifted Center. Earlier in his career, he served students in Norfolk Public Schools before joining Hampton City Schools.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Christopher Newport University and a master’s in education/administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix.

Additionally, the school locations for the two principal appointments that were approved at the June 3, 2026, School Board meeting are as follows:

• Sandra Taylor, principal, Kraft Elementary School
• Sierria Ware, principal, Peake Elementary School

Assistant Principal Changes

 

Jennifer Richardson will serve as an assistant principal at Armstrong School for the Arts.

Richardson has served as the Out-of-School Time assistant coordinator for the past three years. During her more than 25 years with Hampton City Schools, she has also served as an elementary inclusion teacher, Title I elementary math teacher, and Title I math support specialist for 11 years. 

She earned a bachelor’s in elementary education and psychology from The

State University of New York at Potsdam and her master’s in educational leadership from Old Dominion University. 

 

Dr. Amanda P. Corbin-Staton will serve as an assistant principal at Barron Elementary School.

Staton has served as an assistant principal at Forrest Elementary School for the past three years. She brings nearly 30 years of experience in public education, having served students and staff in Newport News, Hampton, and York County. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of roles, including classroom teacher, building administrator, and central office administrator. 

 

She earned her bachelor’s in English from Hampton University and her master’s in school leadership as well as her doctorate in school leadership and policy studies from The George Washington University.

 

Love Kane will serve as an assistant principal at Bassette Elementary School.

Kane has served as a middle school assistant principal at Andrews PreK-8 School for the past two years. Her career in education began at Smith Elementary School as an early reading interventionist assistant. She later served as a self-contained instructional assistant at Syms Middle School while pursuing her teaching degree. After earning her degree, Kane transitioned into the classroom, teaching at both Phillips Elementary School and Aberdeen Elementary School before moving into school leadership.

She earned her bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies from Old Dominion University as well as her master’s in educational leadership as a part of the Hampton City Schools and Old Dominion Monarch LEAD cohort. 

 

Martha Grondin will serve as an assistant principal at Forrest Elementary School. 

Grondin has served as an assistant principal at Armstrong School for the Arts for the past two years. Before transitioning into administration, she spent many years as a music teacher in Hampton City Schools, where she served students since 2007. Prior to joining Hampton City Schools, she taught in Chatham County Schools in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

She has a bachelor’s in music education from Meredith College, a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech, and an Ed.S. in educational leadership from Old Dominion University. She was a member of the HCS ODU Leadership Cohort.  

 

Jessica Townsend will serve as an assistant principal at Machen Elementary School.

Townsend has spent the past three years serving as an assistant principal, the past two years at Bassette Elementary School and a year at Phillips Elementary. She began her educational career as an elementary school teacher in Newport News City Public Schools and joined Hampton City Schools in 2011 as a math interventionist at Forrest Elementary School. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and completed the HCS Teacher Leadership Series in June 2021. 

She earned her bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, her master’s in elementary education, and her Ed.S. in educational leadership, all from Old Dominion University. 

 

Brittany Foster will serve as an assistant principal at Eaton Fundamental Middle School.

Foster has served as an assistant principal at Lindsay Middle School for the past two years. She began her career in education as a PreK teacher in Washington, D.C., before joining the Downtown Hampton Child Development Center as a PreK teacher. In 2014, she joined Hampton City Schools as a language arts teacher, serving students at Syms Middle School for one year and Eaton Fundamental Middle School for six years. Prior to moving into administration, she spent three years as a literacy support specialist at Syms Middle School.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a bachelor’s degree in African-American Studies, both from the University of Virginia. She was a part of the Career Switcher Program at Old Dominion University where she earned her endorsement in secondary English language arts. She continued her education at Old Dominion University and earned her master’s in educational leadership as a part of the Hampton City Schools and Old Dominion Monarch LEAD cohort.

Dr. Brady Payne will serve as an assistant principal at Syms Middle School.

Dr. Payne has spent the past two years serving as an assistant principal at Lindsay Middle School. Before moving into administration, he was a behavior specialist at Andrews PreK-8 School and previously served as both a school counselor and elementary school teacher.

He has a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s in professional school counseling from Hampton University and a doctorate in educational policy, planning and leadership from William & Mary.

 

Ronnie Ratliff Jr. will serve as an academy principal at Bethel High School.

Ratliff has served as an academy principal at Hampton High School for the past three years. Prior to joining Hampton City Schools, he worked in Portsmouth Public Schools, where he served students as both a high school special education teacher and an elementary physical education teacher.

He has a bachelor’s in mass communications from Bethune Cookman College and a master’s in educational leadership from Old Dominion University.

Additionally, the school location for the academy principal appointment that was approved at the May 6, 2026, School Board meeting is as follows:

• Maurice Horton, academy principal, Hampton High School

 

Leadership update as of June 8, 2026, for the 2026-2027 school year. 

Interim Chief Academic Officer

 

Dr. Jennifer Thomason will serve as the interim chief academic officer, effective immediately. 

 

Dr. Thomason began her career with Hampton City Schools in 2010 as an elementary teacher, serving students at both Tarrant Elementary School and Bryan Elementary School. In 2020, she was promoted to digital learning specialist and later advanced to coordinator of innovation and digital learning in 2023. For the past two years, she has served as the director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, providing leadership for teaching and learning initiatives across the division.

 

She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Old Dominion University, as well as an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech.

 

She later returned to Old Dominion University to earn her doctorate in educational leadership.

Interim Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

 

Michele Vinnie will serve as the interim director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, effective immediately. 

 

Vinnie brings nearly two decades of experience in Hampton City Schools. She began her career as a mathematics teacher, spending 10 years teaching at Syms Middle School, Kecoughtan High School, and Hampton High School. She later joined the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment team as a mathematics teacher specialist, where she served for four years before being named the school division’s mathematics curriculum leader, a role she has held for the past four years.

 

She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Christopher Newport University and a master's degree in education from Regent University.

 

Interim Math Curriculum Leader

 

Ashley O’Malley will serve as the interim math curriculum leader, effective immediately. 

 

O’Malley began her career in education at Syms Middle School in 2011 as a math teacher. Her leadership roles have included but not limited to assistant principal, math coach, and most recently as a secondary math teacher specialist. 

 

She earned her bachelor’s in secondary education from Kutztown University and her master’s in administration and supervision from Old Dominion University.

 

At the June 3, 2026, meeting of the School Board, the Hampton School Board approved the following administrative promotions, effective July 1, 2026:

Principals

 

Sandra Taylor has been promoted to an elementary school principal, location to be determined.

 

Taylor has six years of service as an assistant principal in Hampton City Schools. She most recently served three years as assistant principal at Machen Elementary School and, prior to that, spent three years as assistant principal at Cooper Elementary Magnet School for Technology.

 

Before joining Hampton City Schools, Taylor began her career as a Freshman Academy and English teacher in Suffolk Public Schools. She also taught in two other school divisions before joining Hampton City Schools as a literacy support specialist at Syms Middle School, where she served for two years.

 

Taylor earned a bachelor’s in English from Washington & Jefferson College, a master’s in education from Regent University, and a post-master's certificate in educational leadership and administration from The George Washington University. 

 

Sierria Ware has been promoted to an elementary school principal, location to be determined.

 

Ware has served the past three years as an assistant principal at Phenix PreK-8. Prior to Phenix, she served as an assistant principal at Andrews PreK-8 for two years. 

She began her career in education at Hampton High School where she served in the roles of an English teacher, the Academies of Hampton Maritime Academy team lead, an English instructional leader, and a credit recovery coordinator.

 

Ware earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Old Dominion University and holds a postgraduate professional license in administration and supervision.

 

 

At the May 6, 2026, meeting of the School Board, the Hampton School Board approved the following administrative promotions, effective July 1, 2026:

Assistant Principals

 

Maurice Horton has been promoted to a high school academy principal, location to be determined. 

 

Horton has served as a middle school assistant principal at Syms Middle since 2023. He joined Hampton City Schools in 2019 as a special education teacher at Bethel High School. Prior to coming to Hampton, he worked with Newport News City Schools as an instructional assistant and later as a special education teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels.

 

His leadership experience includes serving as interim dean of students at Bethel High School, lead facilitator for the HCS math department collaborative learning team, an HCS induction mentor, and leader of the Boys 2 Men Mentorship program. He is committed to supporting student achievement and building a positive, collaborative school environment for both students and staff.

 

Horton earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation and leisure studies from the University of Mount Olive, a master’s degree in special education from Grand Canyon University, and a certificate in administration and leadership from the Virginia Department of Education.

Heather Woodruff has been promoted to the role of academy principal at Phoebus High School.

 

Woodruff has served as interim academy principal at Phoebus High School since November 2025. Prior to Phoebus, she was at Bethel High School as a CTE teacher since 2013. During her time at Bethel, she held several leadership roles, including Academy lead for Transportation, Analytics, Information, and Logistics; CTE instructional lead; and summer school site coordinator. She also facilitated and engaged students in the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, a national leadership development program. She began her career with Hampton City Schools in 2002 at Jones Magnet Middle School, later serving as an instructional technology resource teacher from 2007 to 2010, and then supporting both Phenix and Andrews from 2010 to 2013. Before joining HCS, she taught high school business education in Westmoreland County Schools.

 

Woodruff holds a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a focus on instructional technology, both from Virginia Tech, as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership from William & Mary.