At their May 20 work session, the SCS Board of Education approved the recommendation from SCS Superintendent Dr. Jamie King for a new assistant principal.
Gabriela Blankenship will become the new assistant principal at Salemburg Elementary School. Originally from El Paso, Texas, she is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Before beginning her career in education, Blankenship proudly served in the United States Coast Guard for over 12 years and is now a retired veteran. Her military service shaped her dedication to leadership, service, and building strong communities; principles that continue to guide her work in education.
With seven years of experience in education, including six years teaching grades 3 and 4, and one year as an elementary school instructional coach at Union Intermediate in Sampson County, Blankenship is deeply committed to fostering inclusive environments where students feel valued and empowered to succeed. She is equally dedicated to supporting teachers and staff in enhancing student learning and building strong, meaningful relationships with families and the broader school community. Gabriela is excited to join the Salemburg Elementary team and looks forward to a successful school year ahead.
Blankenship holds a Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in English Language Learners from North Central University and a Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction from Gardner-Webb University. She is currently pursuing a Master of School Administration at Fayetteville State University, with plans to graduate in May 2026, and is also AIG certified.