Open High School and five preschool centers will have new principals when Richmond Public Schools begins the 2020-21 academic year.

Superintendent Jason Kamras announced last week that Clary Carleton has been named to lead Open High School, while Dr. Victoria M.O. Hampton has been named principal at Maymont Preschool Center; Crystal Hartsfield, principal at Martin Luther King Jr. Preschool Center; Dr. Johnnye Massenburg-Johnson, principal at Mary Scott Preschool Center; Dr. Elaine Probst, principal at Blackwell Preschool Center; and Kelly Tobe, principal at Summer Hill Preschool Center.

“In each one of these candidates, we saw great leaders who we know will lead with love and inspire our students to greatness,” Mr. Kamras stated in the announcement.

“Every student deserves to have a school leader who will set high expectations and provide a loving and motivating environment,” stated School Board Chairwoman Linda Owen.

Ms. Carleton, the 2017 RPS Teacher of the Year, has spent her entire 20-year teaching career at Open High School. She has taught AP English literature and served as the school’s administrative dean. Most recently, she served as the school’s interim principal. She has a bachelor’s in art history from George Mason University; master’s in English literature from Virginia Commonwealth University; and a post-master’s certificate in educational leadership and policy from the University of Richmond.

Dr. Hampton began her career in education as a teacher at J.L. Francis Elementary School. She has held various leadership roles, including professional development specialist, instructional specialist and academic interventionist. Most recently, she served as assistant principal of Lakemont Elementary School in Petersburg. She has a bachelor’s in elementary education from Virginia Union University; a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Averett University; and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Capella University.

Ms. Hartsfield most recently served as building leader at MLK Preschool Center, and previously served as an instructional coach and inclusion teacher. She has a bachelor’s in elementary education from VUU; a master’s in education with a con- centration in curriculum and instruction from Averett University; and a postgraduate certificate in educational leadership from Longwood University.

Dr. Massenburg-Johnson is a 32-year veteran with RPS, most recently serving as preschool manager for the school system’s early childhood program. Her previous experience includes serving as a speech pathologist and audiologist for

public schools in Baltimore and Durham, N.C., and serving as an adjunct professor at Virginia State University. She has a bachelor’s in speech pathology and audiology from Hampton University; a master’s in audiology from Towson State University; a master’s in theology from Richmond Virginia Seminary; a master’s in educational leadership and a master’s in crisis trauma and disaster care from Liberty University; and a doctorate in theology from Piedmont Theological Institute.

Dr. Probst, a former lead coach for the Virginia Preschool Initiative Plus Grant, has more than 25 years of early childhood and elementary education experience focused on building collaborative relationships with parents, staff, students and community partners. Most recently, she served as the building lead at the Blackwell Preschool Center. She has a bachelor’s from Bennett College and a master’s and doctorate in educational leadership from VSU.

Ms. Tobe has led several Title I schools to accreditation in Chesterfield County and Petersburg. She has held central office and administrative positions, including assistant principal, Virginia Preschool Initiative Plus coordinator and as an adjunct professor at VCU. She has a bachelor’s in Spanish and speech from Indiana University; a teaching degree from UR; a master’s in reading from VCU; and two post-master’s certificates in administration and English as a Second Language.