BCS announces new Owen High School principal

Dawn Rookey replaces retiring Dr. Samantha Sircey

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
July 1, 2023

Dawn Rookey will return to Owen High School, July 1, as BCS announces new principal assignments for the 2023-24 school year. Photo by Fred McCormick

A familiar face will return to Owen High School as the top administrator, July 1, following a Buncombe County Schools announcement of 2023-24 principal assignments. 

Dawn Rookey, who taught at the school from 2001-2019, will step into the role, as Dr. Samantha Sircey retires. 

Rookey has been an assistant principal at Enka High School for three years, and held the same position in the interim role at T.C. Roberson in 2019-2020. The 2013 BCS Teacher of the Year earned her Bachelor & Master of Arts and Master of School Administration from Western Carolina University. The career educator brings over 20 years of experience to her new position.

Sircey left the same position at North Buncombe last summer, replacing former Owen principal Meg Turner. 

The district also announced Cathy Haughney will serve as the principal of Community High School in Swannanoa. The former Enka and Reynolds Middle Schools principal was a teacher in the Day Treatment Program at Owen Middle for seven years. 

The new administrators were among three announced, June 29, by BCS Superintendent Dr. Robert Jackson. The appointments were approved unanimously by the BCS Board of Education.