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New DPS leaders named as a longtime principal announces her retirement
Following the Thursday, August 11, work session of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education, the school board approved the following recommendations and announcements from DPS Superintendent Pascal Mubenga.
Renée Price, principal of The School for Creative Studies, has announced her retirement from Durham Public Schools, effective August 31. Ms. Price began her DPS journey as a teacher, principal intern, and assistant principal at Brogden Middle School before being promoted to principal there. She then became the first principal of The School for Creative Studies on the former Chewning Middle School campus in 2013.
All of us in Durham Public Schools wish her a happy retirement and thank her for her many years of service to students and educators.
A thorough search process for the next principal of The School for Creative Studies will be conducted and the position has been posted.
Serving as interim principal for The School for Creative Studies following Ms. Price’s departure will be Neill Ferguson, currently an assistant principal at SCS and a finalist for DPS Assistant Principal of the Year in 2021-22. Mr. Ferguson has been with the school since 2017, following his time as an assistant principal at Northern High and Chewning Middle, and dean of students for the Men of Honor enrichment program. He began his career with DPS as a teacher at Bethesda Elementary and holds master’s degrees in school administration and counseling from North Carolina Central University.
Michelle Hayes is joining DPS as executive director of talent acquisition and employee recognition, a newly designed leadership position focused on recruiting and retaining outstanding educators and staff in an increasingly competitive environment. Hayes has been a principal in Alamance-Burlington Schools as well as a director of extended learning, principal, and administrator for Guilford County Schools. She earned her master of school administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Eva Delvina Howard comes to DPS as executive director for safety and security. She currently serves as director of safety and security and university Clery compliance officer for A.T. Still University in Kirskville, Missouri. She was previously director of investigations and compliance for La Salle University in Philadelphia after spending 12 years in various capacities for the North Carolina State University Police Department. She holds a certificate in advanced law enforcement from the North Carolina Justice Academy.
Dr. Linda Tugurian has been named interim executive director for K-12 curriculum and instruction. Dr. Tugurian has served in C&I since 2014 providing support for math, science, and STEM, most recently as coordinator for K-12 math and science. She began her career at DPS as a science and technology facilitator for R.N. Harris and Forest View elementary schools. She earned her Ph.D. in science education from North Carolina State University.
Tomeka Ward-Satterfield is also taking on an interim leadership role as interim director of engagement and access for Student Support Services. Ms. Ward-Satterfield has been DPS’s K-12 school counseling coordinator since 2018, after holding school administration roles for Alamance-Burlington Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She began her education career with DPS at Hillside High School as a teacher assistant, later serving multiple schools as a school counselor. She earned her master’s degree in K-12 school counselor education from North Carolina Central University.