Durham Public Schools Board Approves Leadership Recommendations

DURHAM, NC – The Durham Public Schools (DPS) Board of Education has approved Superintendent Pascal Mubenga’s recommendations for the following school leadership positions:

DPS Principal Emmet Alexander, Jr. will transition from Hillandale Elementary to become the next principal of Northern High following the departure of longtime Principal Danny Gilfort. Alexander will begin his new assignment in January 2024. He joined DPS in July to lead Hillandale Elementary. 

Prior to coming to DPS, Alexander was an educator and administrator in the Alamance-Burlington School System, serving as principal of Alamance Virtual School and Cummings High School. He has also served as an assistant principal, exceptional children’s teacher, and an assistant superintendent for administration. He earned his Master of School Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Hillandale Elementary Assistant Principal Michael Bloom will serve as interim principal starting in January following Alexander’s departure. Bloom has served as Hillandale’s assistant principal since 2018. He joined DPS in 2007 and served as a social studies teacher at Rogers-Herr Middle School for 10 years before taking a leadership role as a school administrator. He earned a master’s in school administration from North Carolina State University.

About DPS

Durham Public Schools is one of the ten largest districts in North Carolina, with 56 schools serving more than 32,000 students in the city and county of Durham with a vision of igniting the limitless potential of its students. It is one of the top 30 districts in the nation for employing teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, boasting two National Blue Ribbon Schools and a commitment to equity and excellence. Driven by its five-year Strategic Plan, DPS embraces, educates, and empowers every student to innovate, serve, and lead.