Luffman currently serves as the principal of Jonesville Elementary School. He will start immediately, said Yadkin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Benfield.
"I think we're heading in the right direction," said Benfield
Parker informed the school district last week that she was resigning and taking a position as an assistant principal for a high school in the Triad.
To complete the personnel changes, Benfield said Christine Bryant, now serving as the assistant principal for Jonesville, will become the interim principal for the school.
The appointments of Luffman and Bryant will be subject to the Board of Education’s approval on Aug. 30.
Benfield offered Parker compliments for her performance while at Starmount High School.
"I thought she did a real good job, actually," he said. "On the instructional programs, I think she worked well on those improvements. I think test scores improved this year as a result of that. I'd give her a good mark."
Despite the sudden change, Benfield said Starmount continues to be a great environment for learning.
"I tell you, Starmount is a good place for children. It's got a real caring staff," said Benfield. "It's a good place. It's a good place for kids, and I think it's a place where people tend to stay. A lot of people have been there for generations."
In addition to the resignation of Parker, the school’s long-time Guidance Counselor James Blythe, also resigned to take a similar position in Mount Airy.
Benfield said the administrative staff will be looking to fill that position as soon as possible.
On Monday, Parker sat down and discussed her decision to leave Starmount.
"I chose to leave," she said. "I just resigned on my own. Nobody pushed me out. I was going to be here this school year. I just elected to look at other options for myself."
"I think we have accomplished that this year. We have really had a good academic school year. Starmount was already a good school to begin with. We were able to take it just a step further. We worked in collaborative teams. We did comment assessments."
The composite score for EOC tests went up, she said, from 64 percent proficient to 78 percent proficient, including writing.
"We made high growth," she said. "That's really good." In the old days teachers would have received a $1,500 bonus.
"That was a big gain in one school year," Parker said. Parker noted breaks were taken out of the schedule before she arrived. With less down time, students were able to stay focused on learning, she said.
"Our attendance was better. Our discipline referrals were less, and our overall performance was better, and we will did good in athletics," Parker added. "I really enjoy what I do. I have enjoyed my time here and have brought some positive elements to the instructional program here, and I hope some of them will continue."
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