Two new principals up for approval at tonight’s Muscogee County School Board meeting
Two Columbus public schools found out Monday night who will be their next principal.
The Muscogee County School Board unanimously approved without public discussion the following recommendations from superintendent David Lewis during its monthly meeting:
- Ryan Hutson, an assistant principal at Shaw High School, to become principal of Jordan Vocational High School. The Ledger-Enquirer reported last week Jordan principal Craig Fitts plans to retire at the end of this school year.
- Ricky Stone, an assistant principal at Northside High School, to become principal of Aaron Cohn Middle School. The L-E reported last month Aaron Cohn principal Richard Green plans to retire from the state system at the end of this school year to become head of St. Luke School.
According to the agenda and their resumes, Hutson and Stone have spent their combined 43 years as educators in MCSD, including as coaches for several sports.
Hutson, a 16-year educator, was a social studies teacher at Double Churches Middle School (2004-07) and Veterans Memorial Middle School (2007-15), an academic coach at Arnold, Baker, Double Churches and Eddy middle schools (2015-17) and an assistant principal at Arnold (2017-19) before joining Shaw.
Stone, a 27-year educator, was a math teacher at Columbus High School (1993-94) and Shaw (1994-2003), assistant principal at Richards Middle School (2003-07), principal at Jordan (2007-11) and assistant principal at Northside since 2011, interrupted by a stint as assistant principal at Baker (February 2013-May 2013).
Hutson was educated in Columbus schools throughout his life. He attended Georgetown and Wesley Heights elementary schools and Rothschild Middle School and graduated from Kendrick High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s degree in science and math education, a specialist’s degree in middle grades social studies and a specialist’s degree in educational leadership from Columbus State University.
Stone earned a bachelor’s degree in math education from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Troy University and a specialist’s degree in educational administration from Troy. Where he attended K-12 wasn’t available.
In an email Tuesday to the Ledger-Enquirer, Lewis explained why he recommended Hutson and Stone.
“Mr. Hutson has a solid instructional background as a teacher, academic coach and administrator,” Lewis said. “Moreover, his previous role as an assistant principal at Arnold Middle School, which is a feeder school to Jordan, will provide familiarity with many of the Jordan students and families.
“Mr. Stone is an experienced and proven administrator at the secondary level. This, combined with his personal characteristics and demeanor, will complement the Aaron Cohn Middle School community.”
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 1:29 PM.
