Danielle Howard, currently serving as the assistant principal at Hillandale Elementary School, has been named principal at Oak Grove Elementary School, effective September 7. Howard is passionate about building positive school culture, strengthening community partnerships, and leading collaborative teams focused on continuous improvement.

Ms. Howard brings district-level experience as a K-5 literacy specialist who led initiatives aligned to the science of reading. She designs professional development to support instructional alignment and family engagement. She is also an experienced classroom teacher.

Ms. Howard holds a Master of School Administration from N.C State University and graduated from the North Carolina State Leadership Academy.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Mount Olive University and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from North Carolina Central University. 

“I am honored and excited to serve as the next principal of Oak Grove Elementary! I look forward to building relationships, celebrating our students and staff, and partnering with families to continue growing a school community where every child feels known, valued, and empowered to succeed. I am ready to be Grounded in Excellence and Rooted in P.R.I.D.E.!” Howard said.

Darneise Massey has been promoted to Director of Partnerships, Special Projects & District Ombudsman.

In this role, she will interact with members of the community who have concerns or questions and help to identify appropriate resolutions. She will also conduct onboarding for community partners that support school initiatives for student success.

Massey has served as a principal, assistant principal, Exceptional Children’s teacher, a professional learning coordinator, and a school improvement coordinator. 

“I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to cultivate and sustain meaningful relationships, advance shared goals, and foster a culture of excellence,” Massey said.

Massey holds a Master of School Administration, a Master of Education in Special Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University.