PCS Announces New Administrative Leadership, Principal Appointments
Pitt County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve M. Lassiter Jr. on Tuesday announced an administrative leadership appointment within the district's academic services division and three principal assignments, effective July 1, 2025.
Dr. Jennifer James
Director of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Jennifer James will serve as PCS Director of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction after providing award-winning leadership to Innovation Early College High School since its doors opened on the East Carolina University campus in August of 2018.
This role is a newly repurposed position as part of restructuring efforts aimed at overseeing and enhancing the quality of education, aligning curriculum with standards and providing leadership for instructional improvement.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Pitt County Schools in this new role," Dr. James said. "I look forward to working with senior leadership, our curriculum specialist and instructional coaches on strengthening the academic programs in our district. A strong foundation has already been laid, and I am looking forward to collaborating with others to realize our shared vision of inspiring and motivating all learners. Leaving Innovation Early College High School is bittersweet. The journey with the IECHS team has been incredibly rewarding, and I am proud of all we have accomplished together over the past seven years."
Under Dr. James' guidance, IECHS has received an "A" school grade on the North Carolina Accountability Report Card and met or exceeded growth on an annual basis, which included a Top 15% state ranking. The school has been recognized for its commitment to STEM education, most recently earning the prestigious designation as a 2025 Cognia National STEM School of Distinction. In addition, IECHS was cited as an AVID School of Distinction during her tenure that was also distinguished by a selection as the Pitt County Schools Principal of the Year in 2023.
Prior to being appointed as Innovation's founding principal, Dr. James served five years in the top leadership role at Stokes School beginning in 2013. Stokes was a PBIS Model School, achieved The Leader In Me's Lighthouse status and stood among the Top 50% in the state for growth during the 2017-18 academic year. She began her PCS career in education as an exceptional children's teacher at North Pitt High School in 2006 before transitioning to an administrative role as assistant principal there in 2011 where she was named the district's Assistant Principal of the Year two years later.
A three-time ECU graduate, which includes a Doctorate of Education, Dr. James has been an educator for 19 years, 12 of which are as a principal. She also completed a Licensure Program for Exceptional Children (General Curriculum), also from ECU in 2006.
"A demonstrated instructional leader with vision, expertise, and a commitment to educational excellence, Dr. James has consistently elevated every school she has served," Dr. Lassiter said. "Her innovative approach to curriculum alignment, passion for inquiry-based teaching, and dedication to fostering positive school cultures have resulted in remarkable achievements and makes her uniquely qualified to direct our K-12 Curriculum and Instruction during this essential time of restructuring."
Dr. Kirby Maness
Principal, Ayden-Grifton High School
Dr. Kirby Maness, Ridgewood Elementary School's principal since January of 2023, will take over the top role at Ayden-Grifton High School.
His appointment to lead the Chargers will conclude a five-year overall tenure at Ridgewood, which began with an assistant principal assignment in 2020. Upon his promotion, Dr. Maness began the process of putting RES in a position to earn the prestigious designation as a Model Professional Learning Communities at Work® School — becoming the first school in Pitt County and one of only four in North Carolina to receive this national recognition.
"I am excited to join the Charger family and partner with students, staff, families, and the greater Ayden-Grifton community," Dr. Maness said. "This school has a rich tradition, and I look forward to working together to elevate every student’s opportunity to lead, grow, and succeed. I want to thank Dr. Lassiter for the opportunity to serve in this role and to lead such a remarkable school community. I am also deeply grateful to the students, staff, and families of Ridgewood Elementary School for the incredible journey we shared."
Dr. Maness has also been recognized for his engagement with the Pitt County Schools Transformational School Leaders Academy (Cohort 2) and was selected as the PCS Assistant Principal of the Year for the 2020-21 academic year. Additionally, he recently completed the Early Career Principal Academy through the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals' Association (NCPAPA).
His relocation to AGHS will mark a return to the high school level that includes 13 years of prior experience. Dr. Maness spent four years at J.H. Rose High School in two capacities beginning in 2016, serving first as a social studies teacher and athletics director before being promoted to assistant principal status in 2018.
Dr. Maness began his career as an educator in 2007 as a social studies teacher at Sanford's Southern Lee High School before moving to Riverside High School in 2010 and teaching in the same curriculum area along with handling AD duties during his last three years in Williamston. He was named the Martin County Schools Teacher of the Year for 2013-2014.
After earning his bachelor's degree from East Carolina University, Dr. Maness added master's degrees from UNC Charlotte (education) and ECU (school administration) before following with an Ed.D. in educational leadership (PreK-12), also from ECU.
"Dr. Maness is a proven leader whose dedication to student achievement and school improvement is evident in every role he has held within Pitt County Schools," Dr. Lassiter said. His visionary leadership at Ridgewood not only elevated the school to national recognition, but also set a new standard for collaboration and academic excellence in our district. His return to the high school setting is a tremendous asset to Ayden-Grifton, and I am confident that under his guidance, the school will continue to thrive and inspire success for every student."
Casey Hyatt
Principal, Innovation Early College High School
Casey Hyatt will lead Innovation Early College High School into its next pivotal era with her appointment as principal at the East Carolina University-based campus.
The move will follow nearly three years of service as Ayden-Grifton High School's principal, a position she assumed in January of 2023. Hyatt is credited for implementing data-driven decision-making processes which has resulted in proficiency and overall growth for the school, and providing visionary leadership for over 700 students, 85 staff members and families.
"I'm honored to join Innovation Early College High School as principal and excited to lead a community where academic excellence and innovation drive student success," Hyatt said. "I’m deeply grateful to Dr. James for her exceptional leadership and the strong foundation she leaves behind. Building on that legacy, I look forward to fostering innovation, accelerating achievement, and empowering every student to grow as a confident learner and future leader.
"I also want to thank the Ayden-Grifton community, where I spent a third of my life as a student, teacher, and administrator, for shaping the educator and person I am today."
Before her promotion to principal status at AGHS, Hyatt spent four years in administrative capacity at Grifton School and earned PCS Assistant Principal of the Year accolades in 2022. Additionally, she served as the school's testing coordinator and AVID site coordinator, playing an instrumental role in creating an articulation, implementation and streamlining plan.
Hyatt owns 12 overall years as an educator, beginning her career as a math teacher at East Duplin High School in 2013. She joined Pitt County Schools a year later teaching math and serving as an administrator intern at Ayden-Grifton High School, her alma mater.
She earned her Master of Arts degree in executive leadership from Gardner-Webb (N.C.) University after receiving both a Bachelor's of Arts (mathematics) and Bachelor's of Science (mathematics education) from ECU in 2013.
"Mrs. Hyatt brings both experience and a forward-thinking approach to her new role at Innovation Early College High School," Dr. Lassiter said. "Her leadership at Ayden-Grifton was marked by meaningful growth and a collaborative spirit that was inspirational to all. As IECHS enters this important period of transition, I am confident Mrs. Hyatt will nurture the school’s unique culture while introducing new ideas that will benefit the entire learning community. We are excited to support her as she leads the school into a future filled with promise and possibility."
Alison Covington
Principal, Sugg-Bundy Elementary School
Alison Covington, who has spent the last eight years in top elementary school leadership roles at Belvoir and South Greenville, will transition to H.B. Sugg & Sam D. Bundy in Farmville beginning in the 2025-26 year.
The 2022 PCS and Wells Fargo Northeast Region Principal of the Year has spent 17 of her 20 years as an educator within the district, which includes 12 as an administrator. Prior to principal appointments at Belvoir in 2017 and South Greenville in 2020, Covington held assistant principal titles at Falkland Elementary (2013-16) and SGE (2016-17).
"While I will deeply miss the amazing team at South Greenville Elementary, I am excited to begin this new chapter at Sugg-Bundy," Covington said. "It’s an honor to join a school community with such a strong sense of purpose and commitment to students. I’m looking forward to working alongside all students and staff, learning from what’s already been accomplished, and growing together. I’m excited for all we’ll achieve!"
Covington is responsible for several integral accomplishments during her five-year tenure at South Greenville, such as creating support positions and providing professional development opportunities to build teacher capacity by strategic use of Restart and Title 1 funding. She also led the school out of Targeted Support and Improvement (TSA) status, inserted and supervised teachers in Advanced Teaching Roles, and created a Guiding Coalition - which made SGE the first school in the district to adopt the model.
Additionally, at Belvoir, she facilitated the implementation of the 50/50 Spanish Dual Language Immersion program and helped promote the endeavor by developing partnerships with Participate Learning, other N.C. school districts, businesses and community members.
Covington also recently completed the Distinguished Leadership in Practice Program (DLP), a year-long leadership development program designed and provided by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals' Association (NCPAPA).
Before moving into positions of leadership, she served PCS as a sixth-grade math teacher at Wintergreen Intermediate and Hope Middle (2003) before accepting a similar role at Ayden Middle (2010).
Covington holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Longwood (Va.) University and a master's of school administration degree from East Carolina University where she was also a North Carolina Principal Fellow.
"Ms. Covington’s commitment to educational excellence and her proven leadership have had a transformative impact on every school she has served in Pitt County," Dr. Lassiter said. "Her innovative approach, whether it’s building teacher capacity, championing dual language immersion, or leading schools out of targeted support status, has consistently elevated outcomes for students and staff alike. Her vision, expertise, and dedication, along with her ability to unite diverse teams, will empower her to successfully foster a thriving learning environment and guide students across both campuses in the Farmville community."
