Lyndal Duke named interim principal of Buchanan Elementary

Retired Principal Lyndal Duke will lead Buchanan Elementary School for the remainder of the current school year, following the recent resignation of the school’s current principal, Michael Hickman.

Hickman has accepted a principal position in Wilson County — where he lives — and his last day will be Friday, March 24. Duke will assume the interim principal role on Monday, March 27, which is the beginning of Rutherford County Schools’ spring break. Duke retired from Rutherford County Schools two years ago as principal of Lascassas Elementary School.

“He brings extensive experience in closing out the school year and state protocols associated with testing,” Director of Schools Don Odom said.

Odom decided against naming a permanent principal at this time because, with it being near the end of the school year, selecting a new principal would potentially affect personnel at other schools.

“I did not think it would be wise to create a ‘domino effect’ within the district by pulling a current administrator from another school to begin at Buchanan on March 27,” Odom explained. “The result would be to leave the sending school without a position or to possibly move a teacher away from his/her students just before testing. Classroom teachers would also be required to complete state training before being permitted to participate in evaluations.”

The district will accept applications for the principal position later this school year and Odom will name a permanent successor at that time.