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Sarah Campbell

scampbell@salisburypost.com

The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education named principals for Carson and Henderson Independent high schools Monday.

Kelly Withers, who is currently an assistant principal at Carson High, will take over for retiring principal Henry Kluttz.

Trisha Hutson-Baptist, an assistant principal at South Charlotte Middle School, will assume the top spot at Henderson.

“We have two very competent people coming into the system,” board Chairman Jim Emerson said Monday.

The board voted unanimously to approve the recommendations made by a selection committee during a called meeting Monday.

“I feel their recommendations are right on track,” Emerson said.

Withers said she plans to maintain the high level of leadership put in place by Kluttz by adding to the school’s strong foundation.

“I’m very excited to continue at Carson,” Withers said Monday. “We’re going to miss Mr. Kluttz, but I can’t wait to get started.”

A Facebook page supporting Withers for the job dr

ew hundreds of members, including current Carson teachers and students, though school system officials said that would have no bearing on whether she was selected.

“I think we have a good process in place for selecting principals,” Emerson said. “We’re not doing it by Facebook or Wikipedia.”

Emerson said school board members, school administrators, staff members and parents made up the selection committee that interviewed a combined 16 candidates for the two positions.

“Mrs. Withers brings a strong sense of continuity to Carson,” board Vice-Chairwoman Jean Kennedy said. “She is well-established in the community.”

Hutson-Baptist replaces Ken Sherrill. Rowan-Salisbury officials learned earlier this month the school system had won a nearly $2.2 million grant to improve student achievement and increase the graduation rate at Henderson. Among the requirements for accepting the grant money was replacing the principal and at least half the teaching staff.

School system officials said Sherrill would be reassigned within the system.

Hutson-Baptist, who worked as an administrator for Boston Public Schools for five years before taking a position with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in 2008, has been an educator for more than 20 years. She has served in roles ranging from language arts teacher to English department chairwoman to assistant principal of instruction and curriculum.

“She has very impressive credentials,” Kennedy said. “I feel that she will provide excellent leadership with her prior knowledge and potential skills.”

Kennedy said she feels bringing a fresh face to Henderson is a step in the right direction.

“I think she is the woman for the job,” she said. “Sometimes you need to bring someone new to the community.”

Hutson-Baptist said Monday she is waiting to speak to RSS officials before commenting on her new position.

Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom declined to comment on the new principals Monday.

Contact Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.