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Watauga County Schools Begins Search for New Watauga High School Principal

By Jesse Wood

Watauga County Schools is searching for a new principal at Watauga High School after Marshall Gasperson was granted a medical leave of absence in late November.  

Watauga County Schools posted a job opening on the system’s website on Friday. The posting states that the position begins on Jan. 3, 2017.

Watauga County Schools spokesman Garrett Price released this statement from WCS Supt. Scott Elliott on Monday morning, which was part of a note sent to Watauga High School staff recently: 

“Mr. Gasperson will not be returning to WHS … We posted the vacancy announcement for the position of principal at WHS. The timeline for filling the position will depend on the quality of the applications we receive. I want to give us the best chance possible to select the best leader for our school. Dr. Eberle will continue to serve as the lead administrator for the remainder of the semester.”

This announcement follows an article in the Watauga Democrat that connected Gasperson’s absence to a traffic stop on Nov. 22, the day before his medical leave of absence was granted. Gasperson, according to the report, was arrested for suspicion of DWI. In the end, Gasperson pled guilty to failing to burn headlamps.