Spindale Elementary School

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.

06/02/2026

📢 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

As we wrap up another amazing school year, SES teachers and staff would like to thank our students and families for a wonderful year. We are proud of the growth, progress, and accomplishments achieved throughout the 2025–2026 school year and look forward to even greater success in 2026–2027.

We hope everyone has a fun, safe, and relaxing summer break. We can’t wait to welcome you back next school year! 💛🐝☀️🎊

06/01/2026

As we close out the 2025–2026 school year, we want to celebrate two very special retirees.

Congratulations to Mrs. Michelle Funderburke on 26 years of dedicated service and Ms. Mignone Whitaker on 20 years of service to our students, school, and community. Their impact reaches far beyond the classroom, and we are grateful for the difference they have made in the lives of so many.

Thank you both for your years of commitment, care, and service. We wish you all the best in your retirement! 💛🐝🎉

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.

05/26/2026

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.

05/25/2026

05/23/2026

Thank you to everyone for your donations and support for sweet June and her family over the past few days.

Donations can continue to be dropped off at Spindale Elementary’s front office as well contributing to the families GoFundMe campaign.

My niece’s life changed in an instant after a terrible accident. She fell and h… Macy Silvers needs your support for Support My Niece’s Brain Surgery Recovery

05/19/2026

Our Kindergarten student, June, is currently in the hospital, and we’re asking the HIVE community to help show support to her and her family. 💗

Wear pink any day this week and consider donating $1 to help support June’s care and recovery journey. Every little bit makes a difference and reminds this family they are not alone.

Donations can be turned in to your teacher. Thank you for your kindness and support!

Edit - I am also including the families GoFundMe Page to the post in hopes that we are able to get it shared and reach its goal and beyond.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-my-nieces-brain-surgery-recovery?attribution_id=sl:4f63065c-0f79-4b11-9916-ea0d949c8cf9&lang=en_US&ts=1779227163&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp17_td-amp20_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwR5281leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEerjl-sD4q4T3XhI8q150x7gWLwaRtRS30-nN59jk3lWjM5xwj2pF6VLfWpXY_aem_cmyfkFWeFeKzP4UZSQgXOg

My niece’s life changed in an instant after a terrible accident. She fell and h… Macy Silvers needs your support for Support My Niece’s Brain Surgery Recovery