School is officially back in session and we have a lot of new additions: new students, new teachers, and most importantly, a new principal. West Brunswick’s new principal, as of August 2017, is Mrs. Rhonda Benton. Benton is a Trojan alumna and has many ties to the community that surrounds West Brunswick. From being a teacher, a principal and executive director of elementary and middle schools, Benton has learned the true meaning of hard work.

           Benton is a former student of West Brunswick High school and was part of the graduating class of 1987. She attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh. After graduation, Benton returned home and began her teaching career at South Brunswick Middle. Once back in Brunswick County, Benton taught at Shallotte Middle and Waccamaw schools. Mrs. Benton then went through the process of becoming a principal, starting her advisory career at Union Elementary, where she worked for seven years. Eventually, she opened a new middle school, Cedar Grove.

            When asked about her return, Benton said that, “it is nice to be back in a building with teachers and students again.” she continued by saying, “it’s exciting to be back here and see what I can offer to the staff and to the community, parents, and to the kids.”

           One message that Mrs. Benton wants to give to the future leaders from West Brunswick is, “Don’t ever forget where you come from: don’t forget your roots and always give back to your home, whatever it is your: community, your home, your school. You know, don’t forget where you come from, and always give back to that.”