Oconee County Schools recently announced two hires – Dr. Susan Stancil, who has served as principal of Malcom Bridge Elementary since 2014, has been named principal of Dove Creek Elementary School, effective June 1, 2018. At the Oct. 2 Board of Education meeting, Jennifer Haygood, who has been assistant principal at Malcom Bridge Elementary since 2015, was unanimously approved to serve as principal at the school, also effective June 1, 2018.

"Research is clear that the greatest way to impact student achievement is first with great teachers and next with great building level leaders. We are proud to have both exceptional teachers and leaders in Oconee County Schools,” said Superintendent Jason Branch. 

Continued Branch, “Dr. Susan Stancil is one of those experienced leaders, and I am pleased that she will be utilizing her talents to open Dove Creek Elementary next fall. I am equally excited that Ms. Jennifer Haygood will remain at Malcom Bridge Elementary to lead her school community into the future," said Superintendent Jason Branch.

Stancil holds bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctorate degrees from the University of Georgia. She began her teaching career in special education in Barrow County, and was later their special education coordinator. She became the assistant principal of Malcom Bridge Middle in 2011, and then became principal of Malcom Bridge Elementary in 2014.

"I look very forward to opening Dove Creek Elementary this fall, and working with the incredible faculty, staff, students and parents who will be part of the school community," said Stancil. "I have been a part of the Malcom Bridge Elementary family since 2014, and will certainly miss my MBES Eagles. I look forward to leading another strong and supportive school community by establishing the same high expectations at my new Dove Creek Elementary home."

Haygood hold bachelor’s and educational specialist degrees from the University of Georgia, and a master’s degree from Wesleyan College. She began her elementary teaching career in 2003 at Rosa Taylor Elementary School (Macon, Ga.), followed by Colbert Elementary School, then two schools in Oconee County – Malcom Bridge Elementary and High Shoals Elementary. She became assistant principal of Malcom Bridge Elementary in 2015.

"I could not be more pleased to begin my 8th year with Oconee County Schools next fall as principal of Malcom Bridge Elementary," said Haygood. "As a former teacher and current assistant principal at MBES, I look very forward to continuing the standard of excellence shared among our wonderful teachers and support staff, incredible students and committed parents. Malcom Bridge Elementary is a nurturing, challenging, engaging learning environment, and I feel very blessed to have this opportunity to lead at MBES."

Said Branch, "These outstanding educators have fostered challenging and nurturing learning environments wherever they have served in Oconee County, and I am confident they will continue to lead their respective schools with the same student-first approach."