Rockingham County School Press Release • June 10, 2025
(Rockingham County, NC – STAFF REPORT) – Rockingham County Schools is proud to announce the appointment of Ms. LaRinda Redd Neal as the new principal of Douglas Elementary School in Eden, North Carolina. Ms. Neal will begin her leadership role on July 1, 2025.
Ms. Neal’s passion for education began more than 22 years ago when she started as a Phonological Awareness Literacy Screener (PALS) at her children’s school. This early experience ignited a deep love for teaching and a desire to inspire students.
“I enjoyed not only ensuring my two sons excelled academically but also fostering a growth mindset—building confidence, self-worth, and a lifelong love of learning in every student I met,” Ms. Neal shared.
Driven by this passion, she pursued a teaching degree from Greensboro College and began her teaching career right here in Rockingham County Schools as a first-grade teacher at Douglas Elementary. Known for her relationship-driven and collaborative approach, Ms. Neal’s students consistently achieved growth beyond expectations.
To expand her leadership capabilities, Ms. Neal earned a Master of School Administration degree through the Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools (PPEERS) program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She completed principal internships at Rockingham County Middle School and Dillard Elementary, where she embraced the importance of building meaningful relationships and cultivating a safe, supportive environment—principles that continue to guide her leadership philosophy.
Most recently, Ms. Neal served as Assistant Principal at Rockingham County High School for three years, where her dedication was recognized with the 2024 Assistant Principal of the Year award.
Expressing her excitement to return to Douglas Elementary, where her Rockingham County journey began, Ms. Neal said, “Coming full circle to serve this wonderful community is a true privilege.”
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