Pinnacle Elementary School

06/04/2026

📚⭐ Please join us in giving a warm Pinnacle Panthers welcome to our new principal, Jennifer Walker! ⭐📚

Mrs. Walker brings a wealth of instructional and operational leadership experience to Pinnacle Elementary. Throughout her career, she has successfully led school improvement efforts, testing programs, and professional learning initiatives, always with a focus on student success and continuous growth.

Known for her collaborative leadership style and commitment to building strong relationships, Mrs. Walker is dedicated to creating a positive and supportive learning environment for students, staff, and families.

We are excited for the future of Pinnacle Elementary under her leadership and look forward to the great things ahead. Welcome to the Panther family, Mrs. Walker! 💚🐾

06/03/2026

WHY RCS WEDNESDAY 💙💛❤️💚
Celebrating Leadership Across Rutherford County Schools

This week, we're proud to recognize a remarkable group of leaders who will serve our students, staff, and communities in new roles during the 2026-2027 school year. Their experience, dedication, and passion for education reflect the very best of Rutherford County Schools.

⭐ Dr. Renee Collins

Interim Principal, East Rutherford Middle School
A former assistant superintendent, director of secondary education, principal, and teacher, Dr. Collins brings decades of educational leadership experience. Her commitment to building meaningful relationships and supporting student success has made a lasting impact across North Carolina and Rutherford County Schools.

⭐ Reagan Rippy

Principal, R-S Middle School
With more than 20 years in education and over a decade as an administrator, Mr. Rippy has served in numerous leadership capacities and is known for his commitment to students, staff, and community service. His extensive experience makes him exceptionally prepared to lead R-S Middle School.

⭐ Ashley Twitty

Principal, Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School
Mrs. Twitty is a dedicated instructional leader whose work has centered on supporting the whole child. A former Teacher of the Year and Principal Fellow, she is recognized for implementing trauma-informed practices that help students thrive through connection, trust, and support.

⭐ Jennifer Walker

Principal, Pinnacle Elementary School
Mrs. Walker brings strong instructional and operational leadership experience to Pinnacle. Known for her collaborative approach and commitment to continuous improvement, she has successfully led school improvement efforts, testing programs, and professional learning initiatives throughout her career.

⭐ Sanna Smawley

Principal, Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
Having served Rutherford County Schools as a teacher assistant, teacher, and assistant principal, Ms. Smawley exemplifies servant leadership. Recently named both Rutherford County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year and NCPAPA Assistant Principal of the Year, she has earned recognition for her outstanding service to students and families.

⭐ Karen Davis

Principal, East Rutherford High School
A 25-year veteran of Rutherford County Schools, Mrs. Davis has served as a teacher, coach, instructional coach, assistant principal, and district leader. Her broad experience and commitment to excellence position her well to lead East Rutherford High School into its next chapter.

⭐ Mark Snyder

Testing, Accountability & Student Services Coordinator
Mr. Snyder brings valuable school-level leadership experience to the district's Instructional Services Department, where he will support assessment, accountability, and student services initiatives that impact schools across Rutherford County.

⭐ Charlie Freeman

Assistant Principal, CHASE Middle School
A respected district leader who previously directed Career and Technical Education and other district programs, Mr. Freeman now brings his expertise and student-centered leadership directly to CHASE Middle School.

⭐ Laura Thompson

Assistant Principal, R-S Middle School
A 27-year veteran of Rutherford County Schools and recent graduate of the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program, Mrs. Thompson continues her commitment to educational excellence through this new leadership role.

⭐ Natalie Brown

Assistant Principal, R-S Central High School
Mrs. Brown's experience as a school principal and educational leader brings valuable perspective to the R-S Central leadership team as she begins her new role supporting students and staff.

Congratulations to these outstanding leaders as they begin new opportunities to serve Rutherford County Schools. Your dedication, expertise, and commitment to students make a difference every day.

06/03/2026

Tonight, it was announced that Ashley Twitty has been appointed as the next principal of Forest City Dunbar Elementary School.

While this new opportunity is exciting, it also marks the end of a meaningful chapter as she prepares to leave Pinnacle Elementary after three years of service as principal.

Twitty is deeply grateful for the trust that families placed in her and for the opportunity to be part of so many students’ educational journeys. The relationships built, memories made, and experiences shared will always hold a special place in her heart.

She is excited to continue serving Rutherford County Schools in her new role at Forest City Dunbar Elementary and looks forward to the opportunities ahead. At the same time, Pinnacle Elementary will always remain a place she loves and cherishes.

Pinnacle Elementary will welcome Jennifer Walker as its next principal. Mrs. Walker currently serves as Assistant Principal at RS Central High School and brings a wealth of experience, strong leadership, and a passion for students. The Pinnacle community is excited for the future under her leadership.

Mrs. Twitty’s final day as principal of Pinnacle Elementary will be June 5. She extends her heartfelt thanks to the students, families, staff, and community members who have made the last three years so memorable.

Thank you, Pinnacle, for three wonderful years. The impact of this school community will last a lifetime. 💚🐾

06/02/2026

📢 Transparency Tuesday

Did you know? Under Board Policy 4150, families may request a school reassignment for a student to attend an RCS school other than their assigned home school.

To help schools plan staffing and resources effectively, reassignment requests are processed on a set schedule:

🗓️ Requests received by May 29 → Decision by June 12

🗓️ Requests received by August 28 → Decision by September 9

🗓️ Beginning September 10 → Processed on a rolling basis, typically within 5 business days

This timeline helps us balance family choice with responsible planning for a successful school year.

06/01/2026

Myth Busting Monday

Many people assume selecting a school principal is as simple as posting a job and hiring the best applicant. In reality, it's one of the most important decisions a superintendent makes.

A principal influences everything from school culture and student achievement to teacher support and family engagement. That's why leadership assignments require more than reviewing résumés and conducting interviews. We consider the unique needs of each school, the strengths and leadership style of each candidate, and how every assignment affects the district as a whole.

At Rutherford County Schools, principal selection isn't about filling vacancies. It's about placing the right leader in the right school at the right time so students, staff, and families can thrive.

05/30/2026

05/30/2026

🌟 Future Focused Friday 🌟

A strong future starts with making sure our students are nourished, supported, and ready to learn. This summer, we’re proud to continue supporting families through our program!

🍎 Anyone 18 and under can receive a FREE weekly take-home meal bundle for breakfast and lunch this summer.

📅 The first meal pickup will be Wednesday, June 3
⏰ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Pickup at the site selected during preregistration

We encourage families to preregister using the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSRv8txiUaGPl7TJY4tWuR9Bdfe9qxUKan-X_RDPfBXxmheg/viewform

Together, we’re helping students stay fueled, focused, and future ready all summer long!

05/28/2026

TESTIMONIAL THURSDAY |

This season, the East Rutherford Cavaliers showed what can happen when talent, hard work, perseverance, and belief come together.

Now, they stand as the 2026 3A Western Regional Champions and are competing for a State Championship.

Their journey is more than a baseball story, it’s a testimony.

A testimony to dedication.
A testimony to teamwork.
A testimony to what young people can accomplish when they put heart into it.

RCS Education Matters is proud to celebrate these student-athletes, coaches, families, and supporters who have represented Rutherford County with excellence and heart.

Good luck, Cavs!

05/27/2026

Why RCS? 🎓

Because graduation is never just about a diploma.

It’s about the teachers who stayed after class.
The coaches who pushed students to grow.
The friendships built in classrooms, on fields, on stages, and in hallways.
The moments of challenge, growth, faith, laughter, and accomplishment that shaped the journey along the way.

Now that graduation season has come to a close, we’re celebrating not only what our students achieved — but who they’ve become.

Congratulations to all of our graduates. Once an RCS student, always part of the RCS family. ❤️

05/26/2026

TRANSPARENCY TUESDAY | What's ahead for RCS school leadership?

On June 2, the Rutherford County Board of Education will receive the Human Resources report as part of its regular monthly meeting. Among the items presented that evening will be a series of administrative assignments for the 2026–2027 school year. Here's a preview of what to expect.

At the principal level, upcoming retirements and role changes create openings at several schools. The anticipated assignments pair proven leaders with schools where they are well positioned to succeed, while also creating meaningful advancement opportunities for administrators who are ready for a new level of leadership.

At the district level, our Instructional Services department is advancing a thoughtful reorganization, realigning roles between the district and school levels to better reflect our instructional priorities and resources.

Together, these changes create additional opportunities at the assistant principal level, where several anticipated assignment changes are designed to strengthen school leadership teams and support the professional growth of current administrators.

Full assignment announcements will be made at the June 2 board meeting.

Good decisions take time. Transparent decisions build trust.