Superintendent Dennis Sawyer says he’s looking forward to the new school year and “the continuation of our positive momentum and upward trend in student achievement. “

Jeff White has been named principal at Chaloner Middle School. White has been an administrator for seven years, working at both the high school and middle school levels. He also currently serves on Governor McCrory’s Safe Schools Task Force.

Former Chaloner Principal Tom Davis will become the district’s Student Support Services Director and serve as the Athletic Director at Roanoke Rapids High School.

Terence Wyche will become the district’s Director of Secondary Education.

Longtime Educator Eric McDaniels has been named the new high school football coach.

Coach McDaniels grew up in Elizabeth City where he attended Pasquotank School System and graduated from Northeastern High School.

He attended Chowan College — now Chowan University — where he played football and baseball, transferred to Atlantic Christian — now Barton College — where he played baseball, and finished his last semester at Elizabeth City State University with a BS in Health and PE.

He has 21 years teaching and coaching experience.

From 1985-1987 he was at Murfreesboro High School, and in 1987 he went to Northeastern High School where he taught and coached for 17 years. He has coached 4A and 2A schools.

Coach McDaniels entered the business realm for a few years and then decided he wanted to get back into education and coaching.

In 2011 he began his recertification process while he worked at Camden Middle School.

He has recently taught Health/PE and physical training, and been the assistant coach at John A. Holmes High School in Edenton.

Coach McDaniels has a son, Jake, who is a sophomore at Elizabeth City State University where he plays basketball, and a daughter, Jordan, who is a senior and a three sport athlete at Camden County High School.