Six Principals Appointed by School Board The Virginia Beach School Board, during recent meetings, approved the recommendations for a number of administrative appointments. Dr. Miriam Freeman has been named principal of Rosemont Elementary School. At present, she is the assistant principal at Princess Anne Elementary, a position she has held since 1997. Prior to this position, Freeman served six years as an assistant principal at Point O'View Elementary (1992-97) and two years as a teacher at College Park Elementary (1990-92). She has also taught one year in Suffolk Public Schools (1989-90) and eight years in the public schools of Baton Rouge (LA). She holds a doctorate from Virginia Polytechnic and State University, a certificate of advanced study from Old Dominion University, and earned her master's and bachelor's from Southern University of Louisiana. A highly experienced professional with 20 years in public education, Freeman will replace William R. Skaggs, who is retiring. Lou Anne Rheins has been named principal of Shelton Park Elementary School. She is presently an assistant principal at Seatack Elementary, a position she has held since the start of the 2001-02 school year. Prior to her present post, Rheins served eight years as an assistant principal at Alanton Elementary (1997-2001) and at Tallwood Elementary (1994-97). She also served three years at Glenwood Elementary as a teacher and has three additional years of teaching experience with Norfolk and Henrico County public schools. She holds a master's from The George Washington University, and a bachelor's from Virginia Commonwealth University. She replaces Emma Davis, who is retiring. Dr. Cheryl Zigrang, a veteran of 12 years with VBCPS, has been named principal of Thoroughgood Elementary School. She is presently an assistant principal at Thoroughgood, a position she has held since 1998. She also has nine years of teaching experience at Point O'View Elementary. She attended Regent University where she earned a master's, and a certificate of advanced study, and a doctorate. She earned her bachelor's from Virginia Wesleyan College. She replaces Rebecca Harvey, who is retiring. Rita Simpson, at present the assistant principal at Virginia Beach Middle School, as been promoted to the position of principal at the school. She has held the position of assistant principal since 1998. Prior to this position, Simpson worked as a principal and an instructional specialist for Dexter (MI) Community Schools (1994-98). From 1972 until 1991 she worked as a classroom teacher, coordinator, and a training specialist respectively with District of Columbia Public Schools, New Castle County Schools, and Virginia Beach City Public Schools. She holds a master's from The University of Michigan, a certificate of advanced study from Eastern Michigan University, and a bachelor's from Bennett College. An experienced professional with more than 28 years in public education, Simpson will replace Wiley French, who is retiring. Dr. Gene Soltner has been named principal of Bayside High School. The 20-year veteran of VBCPS is presently principal of Salem Middle, a position he has held since the start of the 1999-2000 school year. Prior to his present post, Soltner had served eight years as an assistant principal at Bayside High (1991-1999). He also served as student activities coordinator at Virginia Beach Junior High (1990-91), a teacher trainer with the Department of Instruction (1989-90), and seven years as a teacher at Virginia Beach Junior High (1986-89) and Brandon Junior High (1982-86). While teaching at Virginia Beach Junior High School, Soltner was named the division's Teacher of the Year (1988). He holds a doctorate from Virginia Polytechnic and State University, a master's from The George Washington University, and a bachelor's from West Chester State University. He replaces Joshua Darden, who is retiring. Replacing Soltner as principal at Salem Middle School is Shea Paisley, a 12-year veteran of VBCPS. Paisley is at present director of secondary instructional services in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, a position she has held since 2000. In addition, she served as an assistant principal at Ocean Lakes High for four years (1996-2000) and as a teacher at OLHS (1994-96) and Kempsville High (1990-94). She holds a master's from The George Washington University, and a bachelor's from Mary Washington College. All six appointments will begin their new positions July 1, 2002. In other news, Dr. Perry Pope has resigned his position as principal of Cox High School effective June 30, 2002 and has accepted a position as principal of Osbourn High School of the Manassas City Public School division. He served as principal at Cox for nine years. ###