Muscogee principal transferring to another school as predecessor heads to Harris County
A Muscogee County School District principal will transfer to another Columbus school as the replacement for a principal taking a position in Harris County.
Gentian Elementary School principal Danielle Ernst will succeed Jessica Burnett as the principal of North Columbus Elementary School, MCSD superintendent David Lewis told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email.
The L-E reported last week Burnett is leaving her position as principal of North Columbus to become principal of New Mountain Hill Elementary School, where Mark Gilreath is retiring.
Lewis said he will ask the MCSD board to vote on his pending recommendation of a new principal for Gentian at the June 27 meeting.
Asked why he is transferring Ernst to fill the North Columbus vacancy instead of hiring a new principal, Lewis said, “Mrs. Ernst is an experienced principal with a proven record of successful leadership benefiting all learners. She possesses a passion for curriculum and high-yield instructional practices while promoting a positive, student-centric culture that I believe will serve the North Columbus Elementary School community well.”
The transfer will be effective July I.
This is the second time Ernst has followed Burnett as a school’s principal. Ernst was promoted from assistant principal to succeed Burnett at Gentian in 2019, when Lewis transferred Burnett to North Columbus. Burnett replaced Gayla Childs, whom Lewis transferred to Veterans Memorial Middle School as the successor to the retired Melanie Knight.
This story was originally published June 6, 2022 at 10:37 AM.
