Beaufort County schools name new principals at 2 elementary schools

BEAUFORT, Sc. (WTOC) - Beaufort County School District has announced new principal selections for two elementary schools ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

Justin Vaughn, the current assistant principal at Red Cedar Elementary School, has been selected to lead the school following the retirement of longtime principal Dr. Kathleen Corley.

District leaders say Corley spent 47 years in education, including 27 years with Beaufort County School District, where she helped establish both Bluffton and Red Cedar elementary schools.

Vaughn’s entire education career has been with Beaufort County schools. Before becoming assistant principal at Red Cedar, Vaughn spent more than a decade at Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts as a teacher, MTSS coordinator and math interventionist. The former Teacher of the Year holds degrees in educational administration and early childhood education from the University of South Carolina and USCB.

The district also named Dr. Staci Souhan as the new principal of Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts.

Souhan currently serves as associate principal at Mounds View High School in Minnesota and will replace Nikki Lucas, who accepted a district-level position.

District officials say Souhan brings more than 20 years of educational experience, including leadership roles at both elementary and high schools in Minnesota, along with teaching experience in Florida and Minnesota.

She holds doctorate and master’s degrees in education from Hamline University and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of St. Thomas.

“Every exceptional district has strong school leaders, and I’m excited to see these superb educators be successful in their new roles,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said. “They’re experienced, they understand the importance of creating a district and school culture of moving academic achievement and ensuring our students succeed.”