Dr. Crystal Isom-Adu has been named principal of Little River Montessori Elementary School, effective July 1, 2026. She succeeds Dr. Cory Hogans, who has announced his retirement after 14 years at the helm.

Dr. Isom-Adu brings more than 20 years of K-12 transformational leadership, curriculum and instructional experience to Little River, including prior service in the Durham Public Schools as a principal and assistant principal on the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She also earned the Montessori Living Legacy Scholarship Award for championing equity-centered leadership while a principal at City Garden Montessori in St. Louis, Missouri. In her leadership roles, she has demonstrated proven success in strategic curriculum development, instructional leadership, and leveraging data-driven decisions to foster academic excellence district-wide.

She has also recently served as a director of Exceptional Children where she led and participated in professional development for continuous improvement to stay abreast of compliance and legal requirements for EC programs and service delivery. Among Dr. Isom-Adu’s areas of emphasis are MTSS, equity-centered leadership, student achievement optimization, and teacher coaching and development, culturally responsive instruction, and academic accountability. 

“I am thrilled to return to Durham Public Schools to serve as principal at Little River Montessori School. Having previously contributed to the district, I bring a deep commitment to Montessori pedagogy, a collaborative leadership style, and a proven track record of elevating student achievement, teacher empowerment, faculty and staff development, and community engagement. I look forward to building upon Dr. Hogan’s work of guiding the school in fostering a nurturing, inquiry-driven environment where every student can flourish and parents feel empowered as partners in their child’s education,” she said. 

Dr. Isom-Adu earned an AMS Primary Certification in Early Childhood from Hope Montessori Educational Institute, a Bachelor of Arts from Lincoln University of Missouri, and a Master of Education in Clinical Psychology and Special Education from North Carolina Central University.  She earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Missouri at St. Louis and has received numerous leadership and industry certifications.

Dr. Asia Cunningham has been appointed to serve as Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools. Dr. Cunningham has a proven track record of successful leadership and building positive cultures focused on student success.

A Milken Educator, Dr. Cunningham has served in school principal roles for seven years. During that time, she has led schools to distinction status, led schools out of low-performing status, increased school proficiency, built meaningful school-community and organizational partnerships, and designed and launched an SEL framework to support students and families through the COVID-19 pandemic. As an assistant principal, she once led a 35-point increase in second grade ELA proficiency through targeted instructional coaching and progress monitoring. 

In addition to being a Milken Educator, Dr. Cunningham’s certifications include Distinguished Leadership in Practice, an NC LETRS Certified Trainer, and a North Carolina Distinguished Leader.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from North Carolina Central University; a Master’s in Teacher Leadership from Walden University; a Master’s in School Administration from North Carolina Central University; and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from National University.

“Durham has never just been a district to me. It has been home, purpose, and a community that believes deeply in the power of children. Accepting the role of Assistant Superintendent is both humbling and deeply personal. I step into this opportunity with gratitude, passion, and an unwavering commitment to every student, every family, every educator, and every school community that makes Durham extraordinary," she said.

"I believe in the brilliance of our children. I believe in the strength of our educators. I believe in the voice of our families. Most importantly, I believe that together, we can continue building a district where excellence, equity, innovation, and love for children lead every decision we make. Thank you, Durham, for trusting me to continue serving this community at an even greater level. I am ready to lead, listen, advocate, and work alongside you as we move our district forward together.”

DPS has appointed a seasoned human resources professional to the role of Senior Executive Director of Employee Relations, effective June 15. Calvin Hooker, currently a Human Resources Business Partner with the City of Raleigh Municipal Government, has been tapped to lead the district through complex employee relations matters with a commitment to fairness, professionalism, and organizational integrity.

With several years of experience in public education and local government, Hooker has successfully supported thousands of employees, supervised teams, led sensitive investigations, advised executive leadership, collaborated closely with legal counsel, and coached administrators through high stakes personnel matters. His work supporting principals and supervisors with employee performance concerns has contributed to stronger instructional environments and increased organizational accountability.   

“I am incredibly excited to serve as the Senior Executive Director of Employee Relations for Durham Public Schools. I am eager to be a dedicated resource for employees, students, and parents, focusing on building trust and deep engagement across our district,” he said.

Most recently, he has served as a Senior Administrator in Human Resources and Employee Relations with the Wake County Public Schools System and as Director of Human Resources in Pitt County Schools. He was also the Director of Student Enrollment for Wake County Public Schools; Executive Director of HR Operations and Employee Relations for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Additionally, he has served in the U.S. Army.