The Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Board of Trustees this evening named Dr. Bennett Jones as its new superintendent.
Board member Ed Liverman made the motion to hire Jones, who is currently the director of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program.
School board Chairman Mike Williams said Jones will begin his duties on June 1, replacing former Superintendent Julie Thompson, who resigned in November.
“I am excited and honored to have been chosen to lead in the Roanoke Rapids community as the superintendent of the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District,” Jones said in a statement released by the school system. “The rich history of the schools is a source of community pride, and I look forward to working with the staff, students, families, and community to enhance our strengths while providing opportunities for each student to succeed.”
Jones added, “I pledge to be approachable, open, and communicative to ensure transparency and foster collaboration among all stakeholders for the betterment of our schools, community, and most especially our students.”
Jones was named superintendent following a 23-minute closed session.
Williams thanked the board and the school system’s attorney “for their diligent work in undertaking a search for a new superintendent. It’s been a long task filled with a lot of hours of considering a lot of information.”
He said the school system started with what he described as a great slate of 22 applicants. “Through a deliberate process, we narrowed the choice to one, and that’s Dr. Jones. He is very excited about coming to work here and being the school district’s next superintendent. There were many wonderful applicants in the pool, but you can only pick one, and I think the one we have chosen is the leader who has the skills, the background, and the experience to lead the school district forward into the next wonderful things that are going to happen here.”
According to his contract, Jones will receive an annual salary of $136,392 and an $18,000 local supplement. He will receive $500 per month for job-related travel and will be reimbursed at the state-approved rate for out-of-county travel.
The board provides a 90-day grace period to establish residency and will reimburse up to $10,000 for relocation expenses. He will receive $150 per month for technology and cell phone costs, and the board provides him with a laptop computer. The board will also pay him up to $3,000 annually for memberships in professional or civic organizations.
Jones has served as the director of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program since November 2022.
The RRGSD said that as director, Jones has led the Teaching Fellows program to its highest participation since its reinstitution in 2017—940 active fellows at 10 colleges and universities—pushing to expand the program to more licensure areas and partner institutions.
Prior to assuming his current role, Jones served for 25 years in North Carolina as a K-12 public school teacher and school administrator, serving the final six-and-a-half years as the principal at Clayton High School. He was named Johnston County Public Schools Principal of the Year in 2017, has presented at state and national conferences regarding school turnaround and innovation, and was instrumental in capital improvements at Clayton High School, including the awarding of a $250,000 grant from the NFL for stadium improvements and the implementation of a joint-use agreement between the town of Clayton and the school.
Prior to being named principal, Jones served as an assistant principal at South Johnston High School from 2012–2016. Before becoming a school administrator, he served as a high school teacher and coach for 15 years at three different schools: Clayton High, West Johnston, and Wilson Beddingfield.
Jones earned his doctorate in educational administration and supervision in 2019 from North Carolina State University. He received his master's in school administration from NCSU and a Bachelor of Arts in exercise and sport science with a minor in psychology from East Carolina University.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, spending time with friends and family, and watching sports. Jones is active in the community, serving as a past master and member of Granite Masonic Lodge 191, a member of the Sudan Shrine, and a Rotarian with Clayton Rotary; he currently serves on the Johnston County Board of Adjustment.
Jones and his wife of 26 years, Jennifer, have a daughter, Sydney, who is a graduating senior at UNC-Chapel Hill, and a son, Carson, who is a high school senior.
