The Habersham County Board of Education named their next principal for the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy at their Jan. 10 meeting: HNGA Assistant Principal David Leenman. His first day as principal will be on Feb. 28, 2022.
Current Habersham Ninth Grade Academy Principal, Dr. Connie Franklin, has been named the new superintendent for Stephens County Schools and will begin her new job on March 1.
“I think, considering the circumstances that he’s taking over in the spring during the school year, it’s a wonderful thing for that school,” Habersham County Superintendent Matthew Cooper said. “He knows our parents and our families, our students, Mr. Leenman knows our staff, and that positions him better than anyone to take over like this in the middle of the year.”
Leenman is currently in his sixth year as assistant principal at HNGA.
“As I told Mr. Leenman, he’s not entitled to this in any way simply because he was the assistant principal for six years,” Cooper told the Board of Education. “He has earned this. Mr. Leenman has grown tremendously in his six years as assistant principal.”
Leenman lives in Habersham County with his wife, Sarah Leenman, who is a teacher at Woodville Elementary. His three children also attend school in Habersham County. Cooper says his living in the community further communicates his dedication to Habersham’s schools.
Leenman will be joined by two veteran administrators, Darlene Hudson, principal at Level Grove Elementary School and former Fairview Elementary School principal, and Scott Kersh, former Habersham Central High School assistant principal. Hudson will serve as a part-time assistant principal and Kersh as a full-time assistant principal at HNGA through the end of the year.
The school system will post two open positions for assistant principals at the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy in February, and will announce the permanent assistant principals in March.
“Mr. Leenman is, without a doubt, ready to be a principal,” Cooper said. “I have full confidence in his abilities and his skills.”
