The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system announced its selection of two new high school principals on Thursday — one being permanent and the other for an interim role.
The CHCCS Board of Education finalized the choice of Helena Thomas to lead Carrboro High School as its principal. Most recently, she’s served as principal of Walter M. Williams High School in the Alamance-Burlington School System in Alamance County for two years. Prior to that, she taught in Asheboro City Schools and Guilford County Schools before becoming an assistant principal for two schools in Georgia.
“I am excited and honored to join Carrboro High School as the new principal,” said Thomas in a message sent to the Carrboro High community on Thursday night. “I look forward to getting to know and working with our students, parents, teachers, and staff to continue the school’s success and build a strong, united school community.”
Thomas earned her doctorate of education at the University of Georgia Mary Francis Early College of Education after earning her bachelor’s degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and master’s degree at North Carolina State. She will assume the role from Beverly Rudolph, who served as the principal of the Jaguars community for six years.
Helena Thomas, Principal of Carrboro High School. (Photo via Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.)
As part of its announcement, CHCCS shared that current administrators Ileana Herrera Lobo and Diego Mureno will continue to serve as associate and assistant principals with Carrboro High. A meet-and-greet with Thomas will be held for the school’s staff sometime before the end of June and an event for families will be held before the end of summer.
Meanwhile, the district also shared Thursday that Shelba Levins will serve as Chapel Hill High School’s interim principal this summer and fall. Levins has served as an associate principal and athletics administrator for the school since 2019. Her selection comes after Charles Blanchard stepped down from the permanent role in April. Blanchard cited a desire to spend more time with his family and to depart public education, having spent 22 years as an educator and the last four with Chapel Hill High.
Shelba Levins, Interim Principal for Chapel Hill High School. (Photo via Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.)
The school district said Valerie Akins, who served as interim principal this spring following Blanchard’s departure, will stay on staff at Chapel Hill High School as an advisor to the school’s administrative team. CHCCS’ search for Chapel Hill High’s permanent principal will reopen later in June, according to its message to families. The search was paused as the school year finished and the district said new candidates will begin the interview process later in the summer, with families set to receive communication for when those efforts pick up again.
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