New assistant principal coming to Monelison

By Annie McCallum

Published: July 24, 2008

For Monelison Middle School’s new Assistant Principal Regina Phillips, coming to Amherst County was coming home.

Phillips joins the staff of Monelison after serving as assistant principal for two years at Roanoke’s Lucy Addison Middle School. The Lynchburg native, a graduate of E.C. Glass High School, was commuting from the Hill City to Roanoke.

“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m not far from home.”

Phillips said she enjoys the pace of life in the Lynchburg area and is thrilled to be in Amherst.

“The culture and climate in Lynchburg are much different than Roanoke,” she said.

The transition to her new post has been smooth, Phillips said. She’s becoming acclimated to her new duties and, she added, leaving behind her 60-mile commute is something she doesn’t miss.

“I’m not exhausted from driving,” she said. “It was doable the first year.”

Before making her transition to administration in Roanoke, Phillips worked in Lynchburg City and Campbell County schools.

She has a bachelor’s degree in history from East Carolina University and a master’s degree from Lynchburg College in administrative supervision.

Since she started in the beginning of July, Phillips said she’s been organizing and becoming familiar with how things work.

“Everyone has their own way of doing things,” she said.

She said student achievement is her top priority. That, Phillips said, is something that can always be improved.

At the moment she said there aren’t any initiatives she’d like to start. Phillips said she wants to reinforce the good things happening at Monelison.

“My goal as assistant principal is to support the goals and objectives of the principal,” she said.

Phillips will be able to roll up her sleeves and start work on that goal when classes begin Aug. 18. Until then, the halls of Monelison are unusually quiet.

Phillips joked about the calm summertime months. The quiet has helped her to settle in.

“You can start a task and finish it,” she joked.

Phillips, who hasn’t met faculty yet, introduces herself to staff Aug. 11.