Orange County Schools is shuffling around two of the district leaders for next year.

Eric Yarbrough is the current principal of Gravelly Hill Middle School. But come next year, he will serve as the new principal of Orange High School.

The current principal of Orange High School, Jason Johnson, will become the Director of Secondary Education for Orange County.

The shift is part of the district’s succession planning and promotes each educator to a new leadership role. Both men have had long careers in education and have each received the Principal of the Year award for Orange County.

Johnson said his new leadership position will allow him to play a different role in the district and use his past experiences from Orange High School.

“I’m so thankful for the staff and students and families at Orange,” Johnson said. “Without them, I would not have been able to grow and learn the leadership lessons that I’m bringing to the district level.”

Yarbrough also thanked his school and said it has prepared him for this next step.

“Gravelly Hill has a wonderful staff that is truly dedicated to making a difference in the lives of their students,” he said.  “The school community has been so supportive throughout my time at Gravelly and I thank them for their support.”

Yarbrough will inherit Orange High School from Johnson and said he is excited to continue Johnson’s work.

“Mr. Johnson has done some great things over the past four years and I look forward to building on these successes,” Yarbrough said.

Both men will start their positions at the end of this school year.

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