Augusta School Board names Draft principal

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: May 1, 2008

The interim principal of Stuarts Draft High School for the past four months was appointed the school’s permanent principal by the Augusta County School Board Thursday night.
Donna M. Abernathy previously had served as an assistant principal at both Fort Defiance and Buffalo Gap high schools.
Abernathy holds a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from James Madison University and a master’s in education/administration from Shenandoah University.
Earlier in her career, Abernathy was a health and physical education teacher in Augusta County, Rockingham County and Shenandoah County.
“Donna is doing a splendid job as interim principal,’’ said Bobby McAllister, assistant superintendent for personnel with the Augusta County Schools. “She is well-trained and ready for this position. We are fortunate to have her in Augusta County.”
Taking Abernathy’s old job as assistant principal at Fort Defiance High will be Alan Shull.
Shull has been a longtime band teacher and director at Fort Defiance.
“Alan is an institution at Fort Defiance. He has been teaching band for years,’’ McAllister said.
The school board also appointed veteran Waynesboro teacher Phillip Coltrane as the new assistant principal at Riverheads Elementary.
“Phil has had a lot of training on teacher coaching,’’ McAllister said. “He is going to do an excellent job with in-service training for teachers.”
All of the appointments made Thursday night take effect July 1.