Hester will assume the reins on July 1 following the retirement of current PHS Principal Margaret Bradsher, who has been behind the principal’s desk for the past three years.

The incoming high school principal is a native of Person County who graduated from Person Senior High in 1979. He lives in Hurdle Mills and currently serves as principal of Granville Central High in Stem.

When reached by phone Friday, Hester said, “I am extremely excited to return to my home high school to be a part of the Person High School team.”
He added, “My career has been a blessing to me and I look forward to coming back home and serving again.”

After receiving his B.S. in physical education from Elon University in 1983, Hester went on to earn a Master of Education in education administration from North Carolina Central University in 1991.

He taught P.E. at Earl Bradsher Elementary School in Roxboro from 1984 to 1988 before moving to Northern Junior High as a P.E. teacher for two years. Hester then served as assistant principal of South Elementary School and Southern Middle School before becoming principal at South in 1996.

He left that post in 1999 and served as principal of Butner-Stem Elementary School in Butner until February 2007, when he went to Granville Central.

Hester was the Wachovia Principal of the Year for Granville County Schools in 2006. He serves as Boy Scout Committee Chairman of Troop 293 at Salem United Methodist Church and is on the Officer Nominating Committee at Salem. He has served as Person Rocket Invitational Annual Wrestling Tournament Chairman as well.

He completed the Principal’s Executive Program and has served as a Teacher Academy leader and has completed High Performance Model and Facilitative Leadership Training.

Hester said that, while he had loved working in Granville County Schools, and it had “been a growing experience for me that I very much appreciate,” he looks forward to “coming home and serving there again.” >>

Person County Schools Supt. Dr. Larry W. Cartner said Friday, via e-mail, “Steve Hester is a veteran educator who brings curricular, personnel and community relations skills to PHS. In addition to being a genuinely wonderful person, he will be a tremendous positive force as PHS moves forward.”

Cartner also announced that another former Person County educator will return home when Joe Ferrell succeeds Jerry Caricofe as Northern Middle School principal beginning July 1.

Ferrell was a teacher at South Elementary School from 1995 until 2000. He then moved to Northern Middle School as teacher and assistant principal before moving to Guilford County Schools as principal of Hunter Elementary and Eastern Middle.

He served as Eastern Middle principal from 2004 until the present.

Ferrell is currently pursuing an education specialist degree and an education doctorate at UNC-Greensboro. He plans to complete the education specialist degree this month, and the doctorate in 2009.

He holds a B.A. in elementary education from Elon University and a Master of School Administration from N.C. State University.

Cartner said, “Joe Ferrell brings an outstanding record of student achievement and strong personnel experience as he returns home. Joe has many positive accomplishments in his role as a principal in Guilford County.”

Also announced Friday, after the school board met Thursday night to discuss personnel, Melody T. Wilson, currently assistant principal at Joe Toler-Oak Hill Elementary School in Granville County, will replace the retiring Cheryl Pegram as principal at North End Elementary School on July 1, and Simon Justice, currently assistant principal of Eastman Middle School in Enfield, will take over as director of Person County Learning Academy as Jonathan Nettles steps down on June 30.

Cartner said in his e-mail to The Courier-Times Friday afternoon, “We are very pleased to welcome these outstanding leaders to our PCS Family. As we welcome these new family members, I want to also express my great appreciation to the teachers who served on each interview team. The teams made outstanding selections and the teachers brought so much wisdom and insight to the process.”