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Shepherdstown Elementary School starts school year with new principal

By Tabitha Johnston - Chronicle Staff | Sep 9, 2022

A Jefferson County Schools bus drives down Duke Street on Friday afternoon, capping off the second week of the 2022-2023 school year for Jefferson County students. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Shepherdstown Elementary School’s students began their fall semester under new leadership, following the Jefferson County Board of Education’s unanimous decision to hire Scott Campbell as the school’s new principal in its regular, bimonthly meeting on Aug. 8.

With the return of the Jefferson County Schools faculty on Aug. 15 and students on Aug. 22, the choice was made just in time for the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.

“We take a great deal of time and care in the selection of principals,” said JCS Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson in the meeting. “We were very blessed, this time, in the selection of a new principal for Shepherdstown Elementary for my recommendation to you.”

According to Jefferson County Schools Public Information Officer Hans Fogle, Campbell came to Shepherdstown Elementary Schools with experience as an educational leader, as well as a strong educational background. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from West Virginia University, a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Shepherd University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Wheeling Jesuit University. He then worked in the public school system in a variety of positions, including as a middle school health and physical education teacher and as a high school assistant principal.

Campbell came to the school directly from Musselman High School, where he had served as an assistant principal since Jan. 2020. In that position, Campbell “managed disciplinary measures and attendance, observed and evaluated CTE/science, fine arts, served as teacher hiring coordinator and was liaison to juvenile drug court and teen court,” Fogle said.

Campbell

Prior to that position, Campbell taught health and physical education at Spring Mills Middle School, from 2009-2013.

“One of the great things that we love is to have someone who is local here. Mr. Campbell grew up here in Shepherdstown,” Gibson said. “[He is] someone who is local, [and] someone who has taken the time to educate himself. He spent 10 years putting those degrees to good use, as a teacher for our youth. He spent the last two years as an assistant principal and learning the craft, so I feel very blessed that he’s here.”

For Campbell, his new position is “an excellent opportunity.”

“I’m thrilled to get started there! The teachers, the staff there — I know I’m walking into a good situation, [because] I’ve done my research,” Campbell said, during the meeting. “Shepherdstown’s a great school. It’s going to be a good fit, I think. I know many of those families in Shepherdstown, and I’m excited to get to know them better and work with them more.

“My mission at Shepherdstown is, obviously, to give the students there the best education I can and guide teachers and staff members to do that, and make it a place where they want to be,” Campbell said. “I want kids to love school — that’s the most important thing!”

Along with growing up in Shepherdstown, Campbell also met his wife, Julia, here. Campbell and his wife, a teacher at Martinsburg South Middle School, currently live in Martinsburg with their three children: Rosemont Elementary School kindergartner Kathleen, South Middle School sixth grader Olivia and South Middle School eighth grader Lachlan.

“I am eager to begin my new role as principal at Shepherdstown Elementary School! I have many fond memories of living and working in Shepherdstown,” Campbell said. “Now, having the opportunity to come back to such a kind, welcoming and creative community is truly thrilling. I look forward to working with teachers, staff, parents, guardians and community members to motivate our students to achieve their maximum potential.”