NC superintendent announces new leaders for school safety, low-performing schools

Robert "Bo" Trumbo has been named director of the Center for Safer Schools, and James Ellerbe has been named superintendent of the state's Innovative School District, also known as the ISD.

The ISD, which recently lost its superintendent and principal of the one school under its control, was created in 2016 to take five struggling schools from across the state and hand them over to charter school operators to try to improve their academic performance.

House education committee makes changes to the Innovative School District

So far, only one school – Robeson County’s Southside/Ashpole Elementary – has joined the ISD. The school is being operated by non-profit charter management organization, Charlotte-based Achievement for All Children. The group announced earlier this month that the principal it hired last year had resigned. 

Principal Bruce Major left on July 1 "to return his focus to international education," according to the charter group. He previously held multiple leadership positions at schools in China and has accepted a position abroad. 

Robeson County agrees to turn struggling school over to management organization

The ISD's former superintendent, LaTeesa Allen, was hired in September and left on June 28, but it's unclear if she resigned or was fired.

"Besides clarifying that her last day was June 28th, there is no more information to share," ISD spokesman Dave Prickett told WRAL News by email.

The ISD​​​​​​​'s new superintendent, James Ellerbe, comes from the Center for Responsive Schools where he served as director of administration and strategy. He is a veteran administrator and educator, having been a teacher and a principal in North Carolina public schools. He previously worked at the state Department of Public Instruction in a variety of roles, including as interim director of district and regional support and as a district transformation coach. 

The war over NC's Innovative School District

Trumbo, the new director of the Center for Safer Schools, previously worked with the U.S. Secret Service. 

His special agent career included investigative responsibilities as well as protective assignments that included a five-year tour with the presidential protective division and counter assault team.  Trumbo’s supervisory assignments included assistant to the special agent in charge of the agency’s liaison division; assistant to the special agent in charge/deputy campaign coordinator within the dignitary protective division and resident agent in charge of the Raleigh resident office.

"I am pleased that we are able to add both of these individuals to our team here at DPI," Superintendent Johnson said in a statement. "They are uniquely qualified and bring valuable experience to these two important positions. I look forward to working with each of them in their new roles."