At its Thursday, April 13 meeting, the Clarke County Board of Education approved the hire of veteran educator Dr. Kenneth Vaughan as the new principal of Hilsman Middle School, effective July 1, 2023.

Dr. Vaughan has 20 years of educational experience with time spent in the classroom as well as in various leadership roles. He currently serves as an assistant principal of Benjamin E. Mays High School in Atlanta Public Schools, a position he has held since 2021. He previously spent time in the Clarke County School District as assistant principal of Alps Road Elementary School from 2010-2013. He later served as an assistant principal at Central Gwinnett High School, lead math instructional coach at Parklane Elementary School in Fulton County, and behavior specialist at Mays High before assuming his current role. 

Dr. Vaughan holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Norfolk State University, a master’s in Educational Administration and Policy from Regent University, and earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. He also has extensive educational consulting experience and is the author of more than a dozen books on various topics. 

"I am humbled and thankful for the opportunity to serve as the principal of Hilsman Middle School,” said Dr. Vaughan. “I am looking forward to partnering with students, staff, parents, and community leaders to cultivate the future leaders of the Hilsman community."

Dr. Vaughan will replace former principal Capucina Douglass, who left Hilsman in February to take a position as principal with the Gwinnett County School District. Mr. Nick Hussain, who has served as interim principal since February, will remain in that role for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year and will return to his role as an assistant principal for the 2023-24 school year. Interim assistant principal Dr. Randall Watkins will return to his classroom teaching role next school year. 

“We are happy to welcome Dr. Vaughan back to the Clarke County School District,” said Dr. Jennifer Scott, CCSD’s Chief of Academics and Student Support. “He brings a strong instructional knowledge and commitment to sustaining a collaborative and inclusive school community.”