Newsroom

2025-26 School Year Leadership Appointments

York County School Division Superintendent Victor Shandor, Ed.D., has announced the following principal and assistant principal changes for the 2025-26 school year. All appointments are effective July 1, 2025.

Principal Appointments:

Vadella Ellis-Pope will be joining York County School Division as the new Principal of Bruton High School. Mrs. Ellis-Pope currently serves as the Associate Principal at Meadowbrook High School in North Chesterfield, Virginia. She values open communication, building trusting relationships, and believes a culture of growth and excellence are vital for continued student success. She is National Board Certified and holds endorsements in both ESL and Science. Mrs. Ellis-Pope earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Virginia and is currently a doctoral candidate at UVA, with an anticipated graduation in May 2026.

Danesha Bazemore will be joining the York County School Division as the new principal of Tabb Middle School. Mrs. Bazemore brings a wealth of leadership experience and a strong commitment to student success. She currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Crittenden Middle School in Newport News and has demonstrated a deep passion for supporting students, staff, and families. Prior to her career in education, Mrs. Bazemore proudly served our country as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mrs. Bazemore's leadership style is rooted in service, collaboration, and building strong school communities. We are excited to welcome her to the Tabb Middle School team, and we know she will continue to build on the school’s strong foundation. And in case you're wondering—yes, her favorite color is orange!

Assistant Principal Appointments:

Aaron Dodge, currently the ACC at Grafton Middle School, has been selected as the new Assistant Principal of Yorktown Elementary School. He will be stepping into the role previously held by Meagan Gavin, who was recently promoted to Principal of YES. Mr. Dodge brings a strong instructional background and a student-centered approach to leadership. He is excited to join the Falcon team and looks forward to supporting the students, staff, and families of Yorktown Elementary School. Please join us in congratulating Mr. Dodge on his new role!

Dr. Leah Horrell, Assistant Principal at Magruder Elementary School, will be transferred to Seaford Elementary School effective July 1, 2025.

The search for administrators to fill these new vacancies will begin immediately.