Rowan-Salisbury Schools (RSS) announced six new leaders at the Board of Education meeting on Nov. 14, and several key leaders are moving into new roles as well.

“One of my top priorities from day one was to stabilize Rowan-Salisbury Schools, and I’m confident that these new hires and organizational changes are the first big step toward that goal,” said Superintendent Dr. Kelly Withers.

Dr. Sajata Latten is the district’s new Chief Academic Officer. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning at Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. Latten started her career as a mathematics teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and has held teaching, coaching and advanced leadership positions in North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University, a master’s degree from Liberty University, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Mercer University.

Kenneth Simeone will fill a new position, Executive Director of Alternative Learning, and he will oversee RSS’s alternative, early college, and virtual programs. Simeone currently serves as principal of Cabarrus County Schools Virtual Academy. He has worked extensively with Exceptional Children students, alternative programs, and virtual learning programs throughout his career. Simeone has both a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Russ Snyder was named as the Executive Director of High Schools. Most recently, he is serving as principal at Mt. Pleasant High School, and was previously principal of East Davidson High School and Tyro Middle School. In addition, he served as an assistant principal, teacher, and coach in secondary education. Snyder holds a bachelor's degree in health fitness from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He earned his Master of School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Lori Furr will be Director of School Relations, a new position for RSS. Furr will be a liaison between school leadership, central office support, students and families. She has served in a variety of customer service and office coordinator positions in Cabarrus County Schools since 2005, most recently as the school relations coordinator. She has completed coursework at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Brad Hinson,  RSS’s new Director of Athletics, has spent his career teaching physical education in Cabarrus County and Union County, as well as coaching basketball, football, tennis and soccer. He has served as a school athletic director since 2013, and is currently on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association. Hinson has a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Wingate University.

Michelle Shue will serve as Director of Marketing and Communications. Shue is a veteran educator with 23 years of experience in high school classrooms teaching English and journalism and advising student newspapers and yearbooks. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, and earned her bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Several existing leaders within RSS will also take on new roles. 

April Kuhn, Esq., will lead the Human Resources department as Chief Talent and Equity Officer with a strategic, people-centered approach to talent acquisition, development and retention. Kuhn currently serves as the Chief Student Services and Compliance Officer. 

Dr. Greggory Slate, who currently serves as the Chief of Schools, is the new Chief Administrative Officer. In this role, Slate will strategically lead student support services, including safety, athletics, technology, accountability, parent engagement and partnerships, counseling, student and family health, and alternative learning. 

Stacey White, who currently serves as the Executive Director of Human Resources, will transition into the Executive Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) role.

“Rowan-Salisbury Schools is filled with employees who are incredibly talented and who care deeply about our students. These changes and additions put the best people in the right places to achieve our vision of providing extraordinary education every day to our students,” Withers said.