CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS: Board of Education Approves Six Leadership Transfers

By Press release submission

Jun 17, 2022

Cumberland County Schools issued the following announcement on June 17.

Cumberland County Schools Announces Six New District Leaders. Learn more about these premier administrators at: https://bit.ly/3Ocm1Iv.

Following the recommendation of Cumberland County Schools (CCS) Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr., the Cumberland County Board of Education approved six district-level appointments during Tuesday evening's Board meeting.

Dr. Jane Fields has been named the new Associate Superintendent of School Support. Dr. Fields joined CCS in 1996. Beginning as a social studies teacher at Douglas Byrd High School, she served in multiple positions as she advanced into leadership roles. After obtaining her master’s degree in school administration from East Carolina University, Dr. Fields earned an Education Specialist Degree in 2013 and a doctorate in educational leadership in 2016 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She most recently served the district as the Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction as well as the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education.
Jay Toland has been named the Associate Superintendent of Business Operations. Toland most recently served the local community as a City of Fayetteville Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2007 and has worked in the Sandhills area since 2001. Toland has served the Hoke County Board of Education as an assistant finance officer and the Scotland County Board of Education as the chief financial officer.
Melody Chalmers McClain has been named the Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services. She joined CCS in 2004 and obtained her master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2005. Since 2018, in her most recent position as Assistant Superintendent of Transformation and Strategic Initiatives, Chalmers McClain has fervently supported the district’s schools and administrators. Her commitment to advancing education is also evident through her previous and current memberships in organizations such as the North Carolina Principal’s Advisory Council, the NC Association of Principals and Assistant Principals Board of Directors, and the Governor’s Commission on Access to a Sound Basic Education.
Kevin Coleman has been named the Associate Superintendent of Auxiliary Services. Coleman’s career with CCS started in 1997 when he began teaching at Rockfish Elementary School. While serving as an assistant principal at Bill Hefner Elementary School, he obtained his master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2005. Coleman advanced as a school administrator before becoming the district’s Executive Director of Technology. When the COVID-19 Pandemic presented the challenge of virtual and remote learning, Coleman led his team in implementing the 1:1 Program to support student and teacher success.
Kimberly Nash has been named the Executive Director of Data & Accountability. Nash joined CCS in 1994 as a Mathematics teacher at Terry Sanford High School. She went on to earn her master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2009 before serving as an assistant principal at Gray’s Creek High School. Most recently, Nash served as the district’s Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Services Instructional Programs Coordinator.
Maria Pierce-Ford has been named the Executive Director of Federal Programs. After joining CCS in 1994, she served as a Biology teacher at Westover High School and E.E. Smith High School. While serving as an assistant principal at John Griffin Middle School, Pierce-Ford obtained her master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2006. After serving as principal at multiple CCS schools over 13 years, she became CCS’ Federal Programs Title I Coordinator. She also maintains membership in education organizations such as the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators and the National Alliance of Black School Educators.

Original source can be found here.