COVINGTON, Ga. - Shannon Buff, director of secondary schools, is getting a new job within the Newton County School System (NCSS). Starting July 1 she will become principal for Newton High School. In that role, she will replace John Ellenberg who is resigning at the end of the school year.

The NCSS Board of Education approved Buff’s new appointment at a special called meeting on April 28. The vote for approval was 4 to 1.

Shakila Henderson-Baker, who lives in and represents district 3 where Newton High School is located and who herself is a graduate of Porterdale Elementary, Cousins Middle and Newton High schools, cast the dissenting vote.

“I always made it an important fact for the kids in that school to see someone who has come from the community that they come from doing good in the community,” Henderson-Baker said. “I think it is important that they see someone that looks like them doing good things; someone that comes from the neighborhood doing good things.”

She added that she has never based a vote on friendship or race, considering instead the qualifications of candidates relative to the culture, climate, and needs of the school and community as expressed by parents and constituents.

According to the NCSS website, Buff attended the University of Georgia, Georgia College & State University and Walden University studying social science education and educational leadership. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social science, a master’s degree, and an education specialist degree in educational leadership.