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Talley is named principal
City schools tap administrators
Zebedee Talley Jr.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
A seasoned Martinsville school administrator will take the helm of Patrick Henry Elementary School this year.
Dr. Zebedee Talley Jr., who has a doctorate of education from Virginia Tech, is the new principal. He succeeds Dr. Terry Wiita, who resigned in June.
Talley has 34 years of experience in the Martinsville schools, most recently as co-principal of Martinsville Middle School since 2007. During that time, he and co-principal Cynthia Tarpley led the transformation of the middle school — improving student passing rates, narrowing achievement gaps, raising the rigor of the curriculum and earning state and national recognition.
During the 2011-12 school year, Martinsville Middle School was named one of three new Schools to Watch in Virginia. In spring 2011, it was among 20 finalists nationwide for the Panasonic National School Change Awards.
When both of Patrick Henry’s administrators left this summer to move out of the area, school division officials turned to their most experienced building administrator to fill the vacancy.
“With the short summer, we needed someone who could hit the ground running and build upon the great things that are happening at Patrick Henry Elementary. Zeb has a proven track record of success in school leadership, and I know he will be a wonderful asset in his new role,” said schools Superintendent Pam Heath.
Talley taught social studies for 25 years at Martinsville High School and became assistant principal in 1993. In addition to his doctorate, he has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Radford University and a bachelor’s of art in history/social science from Elon College.
Joining Talley as Patrick Henry’s assistant principal is Stephanie Sedor. Sedor, formerly a kindergarten teacher at Albert Harris Elementary School, has a master’s of arts in supervision and K-12 instruction from Hampton University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Clarion University. She also participated in Harvard University’s New and Aspiring Leaders program.
Most recently, Sedor was an administrative intern for the school division, which included assisting with staff hiring and training, conducting professional development and faculty meetings, collaboration with teachers on curriculum changes and student remediation, and organizing the Extended School Day program at Albert Harris, among other duties.
The new principal of Albert Harris Elementary School is Felicia Preston, previously the school’s assistant principal. She succeeds Tamra Vaughan, who now is the school division’s K-8 math coordinator.
In additional to completing her administrative endorsement, Preston has a master’s degree in counselor education and a bachelor’s in psychology, both from Radford University. Before becoming assistant principal in 2011, she was a guidance counselor for seven years at Albert Harris Elementary and Martinsville Middle School. She also has worked as a behavioral intervention specialist at Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services.
Succeeding Preston as Albert Harris Elementary’s assistant principal is Robert “Bobby” Dalton, who had served as Martinsville High School’s dean of students since 2007. Before that, he taught alternative education at Martinsville Middle School and served as a guidance counselor at Albert Harris and the former Clearview Elementary School.
Dalton has a master’s of education in curriculum and instruction and a bachelor’s of science in sociology, both from Averett University.
Earl Flynn, formerly the assistant principal of Martinsville High School, now is associate principal of Martinsville Middle School, where he will work with Principal Cynthia Tarpley.
Flynn was the high school’s interim co-principal in the 2010-11 school year and was assistant principal for five years. Before that, he taught government and history at MHS for 10 years and social studies at Martinsville Junior High for nine years.
He has a specialist degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of Virginia, a master’s of arts in education from Eastern Kentucky University and a bachelor’s of arts in history and political science/education from Eastern Kentucky University.
Two new assistant principals have joined Martinsville High School.
Angie Weinerth is the assistant principal for instruction. Weinerth most recently was instructional coordinator at Martinsville Middle School for three years and taught for 31 years in Martinsville and Danville before that. She has a master’s of education from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s of science in education from Averett University, along with endorsements in gifted education and as a reading specialist.
The other assistant principal is Benny Baliles Jr., who had been a coach and health/physical education teacher at Patrick County High School for four years. He also was an administrative intern for one year for Patrick County Schools, which included handling student discipline and parent communications.
Baliles has a master’s of education in administration and supervision from Liberty University, post-graduate certification in K-12 administration and supervision, and a bachelor’s of science in exercise and sports science/education from Bluefield College.
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