Brookville High School names new principal

Brookville Middle School principal Bruce Abbott will take over as Brookville High School principal Tuesday. He will replace longtime principal Jim Whorley, who died in a boating accident last month.

Like Whorley, Abbott also started his career in Campbell County education at Brookville High School as a teacher and coach. Abbott said assuming his new role will be bittersweet; Whorley led the school for 14 years.

“Jim Whorley and I were friends and colleagues. I have known him since I was teaching at Brookville and he was princi-pal,” Abbott said. “It’s not a typical change of assignment.”

Still, Abbott said he will continue carrying on the Brookville tradition Whorley instilled in the faculty and staff. The school’s two assistant principals, Debra Guthrie and Tom Cole, will remain in their positions.

“I’ve known them for a long time,” Abbott said. “They were there when I taught at Brookville and they will be tremen-dous support. They’re very knowledgeable about the high school and what all takes place.”

Abbott, 41, will return to Brookville after more than 10 years. He left in 1997 to become assistant principal at Leesville Road Elementary School, a position he held for three years before becoming the school’s principal. He served as principal for seven years before being tapped to lead Brookville Middle.

“Bruce has done it all,” said Campbell County Schools’ Superintendent George Nolley, who made the appointment. “He’s a very strong leader.”

Abbott’s move up the road to the high school will create a domino effect in the school system. His post at the middle school will be filled by Eddie Martin, Campbell County Technical Center principal. Former Campbell County Schools’ ad-ministrator Robert Ashwell, will serve as Campbell County Technical Center principal until the end of the year. The division will consider a replacement for the technical center this summer.

Nolley said he was reluctant to make the moves in the middle of the year, but decided it would be best to get the new administrators acclimated so they will be ready in the fall.

Abbott said he’s been preparing Brookville Middle for the transition. Martin, who served as a Rustburg High School teacher and assistant principal prior to his time at the tech center, said he is looking forward to Tuesday.

“My top priority is going to be getting to know the faculty and staff and learning how they do things and getting to know as many students as I can, getting to know everyone and how they do things at Brookville,” he said.

Martin, 37, lives in the Brookville area and said he’s grateful for the opportunity and ready to get to work. He said his family, two members in particular, were excited about his new position.

“When my two daughters at Tomahawk found out, they were extremely excited. I don’t know if that will be the same when they end up at Brookville in a few years,” he joked.