New Assistant Principals named for Brevard Elementary, Brevard Middle, and Brevard High School.
The Transylvania County Board of Education approved new assignments for our Transylvania County Schools Administrative team members during the board meeting on Monday, June 6th. Starting the new school year for 2022-2023, Laurie Kleppe will join the hive at Brevard Elementary as the third addition to their administrative team. She will serve as assistant principal. Wythe Newberry and Jenna Sorrells are helping lead the way at Brevard Middle School as assistant principals, and Tonya Treadway is making the jump to high school and joining the team at Brevard High School as assistant principal. These changes will be effective July 1, 2022.
Laurie Kleppe brings 16 years of education experience as a Brevard Middle Blue Devil with her to help lead the Brevard Bees. Kleppe has had the amazing opportunity to have taught Science, Social Studies, and English Language Arts during her time at Brevard Middle and has been the assistant principal since 2015.
"Having worked closely with Ms. Kleppe for two years at Brevard Middle, I am excited to see the focus and energy she will bring to BES. She will understand long-term learning goals for students from elementary through middle school,” said Director of Elementary and Middle School Curriculum Carrie Norris.
Kleppe earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Western Carolina in 2005 and completed her Master's of Art in Elementary Education in 2009, and she went on to complete her school administrative licensure in 2014.
She is excited for this next step in her career and looks forward to finding her new home at Brevard Elementary School. “Brevard Middle has been my home for the past 16 years. The students, staff, experiences, relationships, and love this community has shown me is what has shaped my path in education. Moving from BMS to BES is an exciting opportunity that will continue to shape my path and allow for continued growth and lifelong learning. BMS has taught me that a school community is like a family, and I am looking forward to building those same lasting relationships within the Brevard Elementary School community,” stated Kleppe.
“I have truly enjoyed my first year in Transylvania County Schools as the community has been caring and welcoming. I am thrilled about the opportunity to serve as an assistant principal at Brevard Middle School, and I look forward to building relationships with staff, students, and families,” said Wythe Newberry.
Newberry was new to Transylvania County Schools in August 2021, joining the Rosman Middle and High School Tigers as an Intervention Specialist. But he was far from new to the education world. He has been in education for 20 years, with his early years working as a band director in West Point, VA, and Charlotte, NC, and then transitioning to assistant principal at Socrates Academy in Charlotte, and finally before making his way to Transylvania County he was the Dean of Students the Oaklawn Language Academy.
With his experience at many levels of education, Norris states, "Mr. Newberry brings a vast amount of knowledge from his former positions. He is poised and ready to guide Brevard Middle, based on best practices and the need for strong relationships.”
Newberry earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus in education from Virginia Tech in 2011 and his Master's in Music from Boston Unversity in 2011, and he completed an additional Master's in Executive Leadership in Education from Gardner-Webb University in 2015.
Joining Newberry at Brevard Middle School will be Dr. Jenna Sorrells. "Brevard Middle is fortunate to have Dr. Jenna Sorrells join the administration team. An advocate for Social-Emotional wellness, she understands the need to educate the whole child,” said Norris.
Sorrells earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Physical Education with teacher licensure in 2008 from Appalachian State University. She has since continued to complete a Master of Public Health - community health education from UNC-Greensboro and added her principal licensure from High Point University in 2020. This year she completed for Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership.
Sorrells brings over twelve years of education experience, working from the middle school level to a college lecturer and most recently serving as the Brevard High School assistant principal for the last three years. Sorrells is excited for the next part of her journey with Transylvania County Schools and states, “I have really enjoyed working with the students and staff at BHS and especially our admin team. Working as a school administrator through COVID will be an experience I will never forget. We have overcome and endured an abundance of loss, change, and obstacles over the past three years together, but we have also been able to come together as a work family and celebrate each other, grow as a school and build something new, and better together. I truly hope to leave BHS better than when I started three years ago. As far as starting a new position at BMS, I hope to find the same awesome students, teachers, and staff there and build relationships with the staff, students, and families. I feel like knowing what students need to be successful at the high school level will help me with my role in supporting the students in middle school.”
“I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve this community as an educator for 25 years. Leading and learning alongside so many amazing people has prepared me for each new challenge, both personally and professionally. Service leadership can take shape in many ways and I am looking forward to a bright future with Brevard High School. Go Big Blue!” states Tonya Treadway as she shares her excitement for her new assignment with Transylvania County School.
Treadway’s time with Transylvania County Schools has given her the opportunity to work in many of our schools; starting as an elementary teacher at T.C. Henderson and Pisgah Forest Elementary, she then transitioned to assistant principal at Brevard Middle School and finally spent the last six years as principal at Pisgah Forest Elementary. Through all of her experience, she brings a vast amount of knowledge and experience to her new role at Brevard High School.
Treadway, a National Board Certified Teacher, has her Bachelor of Science from Appalachian State University, her master's from Gardner-Webb University, and her school administration certification from Appalachian State.
Director of High School Curriculum Missy Ellenberger said, “I have had the pleasure of working with Tonya Treadway for several years. She makes each and every student feel valued and is driven to help students reach their individual goals. Mrs. Treadway is extremely hard working and will be able to support students and staff with kindness and understanding while encouraging each to reach his/her full potential.”