Two Bulloch Middle Schools to Have New Principals for 2023-2024 School Year

The Bulloch County Board of Education has approved two new middle school principals for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

Willie Robinson, Ed.D. and John McAfee, Ed.D., were recommended by Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson to lead Langston Chapel Middle School and William James Middle School respectively beginning July 1. The new administrators were part of a slate of personnel recommendations and administrator contract renewals that Wilson presented to the Board for a vote during its April 13 regular session.

“These gentlemen come to us with experience as principals at turnaround schools, and we believe that they not only will be a great fit for the schools they will be leading but will also be a great addition to the district’s leadership team,” Wilson said.

Both Robinson and McAfee were present at Thursday’s Board meeting, where they had the opportunity to meet Board members and other district administrators.

“I am honored to be selected to lead Langston Chapel Middle School, and I look forward to building relationships and collaborating with the students, families, faculty, staff, and community partners to ensure it remains a great school at which to learn and work, “Robinson said.

McAfee, who previously served in Bulloch County from 2010 to 2015 as a special education coordinator at Southeast Bulloch High School and later an assistant principal at Langston Chapel Elementary School, echoed those sentiments.

“I am honored and very grateful to be chosen as the next principal of William James Middle School,” McAfee said. “The hiring process designed by Bulloch County Schools is very thorough and comprehensive, and It’s a privilege to be able to help continue and contribute to the important work of student growth, achievement outcomes, and continuous improvement.”

Langston Chapel’s and William James’ current principals, Kelia Frances and Scott Chapman, Ed.D., each made requests in February to transfer to other administrative roles within the school district once this school year ends. Both will begin serving as assistant principals as of July 1, with Francis transferring to Statesboro High School and Chapman transferring to Mill Creek Elementary School. Each had the opportunity to speak with their faculty and staff prior to the principal positions being posted.

The school district publicly posted the positions in February, and a diverse group of 13 applicants from inside and outside the state were interested in the job openings.  No further principal changes are planned by the district for the 2023-2024 school year.

Willie Robinson, Ed.D
Willie Robinson, Ed.D., has 16 years of experience as an educator, seven of those as an administrator. He is currently the principal of Allendale-Fairfax Middle School, in Fairfax, South Carolina, a role he has held for three years after he was promoted from assistant principal. He has also served as an assistant principal at both Murphey Middle School and Sego Middle School in Augusta.

Prior to becoming an administrator, he served seven years as a classroom teacher in the Richmond County School System, where he was named teacher of the year at RC Technical Career Magnet High School. He also has experience as a special education specialist.

Robinson obtained his doctorate degree in school leadership from East Tennessee State University, and his specialist, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees from Augusta State University.

John McAfee, Ed.D.
John McAfee, Ed.D., has 20 years of experience as an educator with 9 of those years as an administrator. He is the principal of Jefferson County High School in Louisville, where he has served for three years. He previously served for four years as an assistant principal in Screven County, and two years as an assistant principal in Bulloch County at Langston Chapel Elementary School.

Prior to becoming an administrator, he was a high school teacher for eight years at Screven County High School where he worked with students with severe emotional behavior disorders. He then became the special education coordinator at Southeast Bulloch High School from 2011 to 2014.

McAfee is a quadruple Eagle, earning his doctorate, master’s, specialist, and bachelor’s degrees in education fields from Georgia Southern University. Prior to leaving Bulloch County, he was selected and completed Bulloch County School’s Aspiring Leaders program in 2015.  He also completed the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders’ Aspiring Principal Program in 2017.