Whitaker, Goforth Approved For New Roles With OCS

The Oconee County School Board signs off on school staffing changes: Jennifer Whitaker will be Oconee County Schools’ new director of elementary education, and Tamara Goforth will replace Whitaker as the principal at High Shoals Elementary School. They will start their new jobs in June.

From Oconee County Schools…

ennifer Whitaker and Tamara Goforth, two veteran educators for Oconee County Schools, have been selected for new positions for the 2024-25 school year.

On Monday, the Oconee County Board of Education unanimously approved Ms. Whitaker as the Director of Elementary Education and Ms. Goforth succeeding Ms. Whitaker as the Principal of High Shoals Elementary School. They will begin their new positions on June 3, 2024.

“We are excited that Ms. Whitaker and Ms. Goforth will be taking on these new leadership positions,” Superintendent Jason Branch said. “Jennifer has been an integral part of the district for two decades, and she has demonstrated dedication, enthusiasm, and foresight for her students and for her schools. In her short time in Oconee County, Tamara has led with great passion and has worked tirelessly to support and empower students and staff. Each will continue to make a tremendous impact in her new role.”

Ms. Whitaker began her career with OCS in 2003, serving as a kindergarten, second-grade, and fourth-grade teacher for Oconee County Primary and High Shoals Elementary through 2010. She was named an Assistant Principal at Oconee County Primary in 2010 and an Assistant Principal at Rocky Branch Elementary in 2017. Ms. Whitaker was selected in 2018 as the Oconee County Primary Principal. She began her current tenure as the High Shoals Elementary Principal in 2019.

“Stepping into this new chapter of my career is bittersweet,” Ms. Whitaker said. “I have enjoyed every moment as the HSES Principal. It has been an honor to work with such a talented staff and to get to watch students grow and mature academically and socially. I am excited about the opportunity to work with the other primary and elementary schools on curriculum and instruction.”

Ms. Whitaker will be succeeding Ms. Jennifer Adams, who is retiring, as Director of Elementary Education.

Ms. Goforth joined OCS in July of 2023 after a distinguished 28-year career in education in North Carolina. She served nine years as a teacher at Jefferson and Marion Intermediate, six years as Assistant Principal at Marion, five years as Principal at Boiling Springs Elementary, and eight years as Executive Director of Elementary Education and Title I Services for Cleveland County Schools. Since July of 2023, Ms. Goforth has been the OCS Director of Student Services, overseeing such areas as attendance, school choice, nursing, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

“I am excited to lead High Shoals Elementary School and continue the stellar work of Jennifer Whitaker and her team,” Ms. Goforth said. “We will strive to have an empowering and nurturing learning environment because the students deserve nothing less. With a committed staff, engaged students, and supportive families and stakeholders, I believe the Hawks will continue to soar. Being a Principal was one of the highlights of my career, and I am looking forward to returning to that role at High Shoals.”

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