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LINCOLNTON, N. C. - At the June 4 Special Called Meeting, The Lincoln County Board of Education approved the hiring of two new principals.

• Jesse Beane has been named principal at West Lincoln Middle School.  Mr. Beane earned his Master of Arts in Executive Leadership Studies School Administration from Gardner-Webb University in 2018.  In 2018, Beane began his career with Lincoln County Schools by serving as the Instructional Facilitator at West Lincoln Middle School.  The following year, he moved to North Lincoln High School where he was the Athletic Director and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher for two years.  Beane then became an Assistant Principal at West Lincoln High School in 2021.  In addition, Mr. Beane has completed Basic Training and finished Officer Candidate School with the North Carolina National Guard within the last two years.  Beane said, “I will be dedicated to working closely with our talented staff, community members, our incredible student body, and the high school to ensure that our school is achieving at a high level inside and outside of the building.” Beane replaces Kristie Ballard, who has been named Principal at Lincolnton High School.
• Matthew Hovis has been named principal at Lincolnton Middle School.  A graduate of Lincoln County Schools, Hovis received his Master’s in Educational Leadership from High Point University in 2019.  He began his teaching career at Lincolnton Middle School in 2011, then transitioned to an Assistant Principal position at East Lincoln Middle School from 2020-2023.  Hovis then moved to Lincolnton High School as an Assistant Principal for the 2023-2024 school year. “I look forward to continuing to serve the community as the principal of Lincolnton Middle School,” Hovis said.  Mr. Hovis will replace Allison Rhyne, who has accepted a position with Gaston County Schools.

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