News Summary
Jamie Brooks, principal of Ardrey Kell High School, has been suspended with pay, leaving the school community in uncertainty. With over 30 years at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Brooks has a lengthy background in education and administration. While the reasons for her suspension remain undisclosed, her absence raises concerns about leadership stability at the school. Assistant principal Tomica Wright has temporarily taken over her responsibilities, ensuring that daily operations continue smoothly. The community is awaiting clarity on this situation amidst previous leadership changes and past controversies.
Charlotte, NC – Jamie Brooks, the principal of Ardrey Kell High School, has been suspended with pay since May 2, 2025, as confirmed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). The reason for her suspension has not been disclosed, leaving students, staff, and parents in uncertainty regarding the ongoing situation.
Brooks, 53, has a long history with CMS, with over 30 years of service that began in 1994 as a middle school language arts teacher. She transitioned into administrative roles after teaching at Carmel Middle School from 1994 to 2000, eventually becoming an assistant principal at multiple schools, including Ardrey Kell and Mint Hill Middle School.
Prior to her current position at Ardrey Kell, Brooks served as the principal at Community House Middle School from 2008 until her appointment at Ardrey Kell in 2020. With an annual salary of $189,915.02, Brooks is currently under a four-year contract set to run through 2026.
In her absence, assistant principal Tomica Wright has taken over the leadership at Ardrey Kell, supported by executive director Crystal Houser. CMS has assured that the daily operations of the school will continue without disruption during this interim period.
Before her suspension, there were no reported disciplinary actions against Brooks. However, her tenure has not been entirely free of controversy. Earlier this year, an incident on campus involving a fight between a Muslim student and a Black student sparked discussions but did not lead to any criminal charges.
Additionally, a prior lawsuit against Brooks, related to a student’s injury during an allegedly unsupervised track practice, was dismissed in March 2024. This lawsuit was among the few public difficulties Brooks faced during her career, which primarily remained uneventful in terms of disciplinary actions.
The current suspension of Brooks follows previous leadership changes at Ardrey Kell. The former principal, David Switzer, was suspended and subsequently reassigned in June 2020 due to allegations of misconduct. These past changes have heightened attention on the school’s leadership stability.
As the school community awaits further clarity on Brooks’ situation, the focus remains on maintaining a positive educational environment at Ardrey Kell. CMS continues to prioritize the school’s operational stability and the well-being of its students amidst the leadership shift.
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Additional Resources
- WCNC
- QC News
- WCCB Charlotte
- WSOC TV
- Charlotte Observer
- Wikipedia: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Google Search: Ardrey Kell High School
- Google Scholar: Ardrey Kell High School principal suspended
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Education
- Google News: Ardrey Kell High School news
