Guilford County Schools (GCS) added a new principal to its roster and removed the “interim” designation from the title of its chief technology officer. 

Eric Puryear will join the district and will be assigned to a school at a later date. Puryear currently serves as principal of Lexington Senior High School, and under his leadership, Math I and Math 3 scores improved by 15 percent and 8 percent, respectively, during the first semester. He also introduced SWAG time (Students Wanting Academic Greatness) as an in-school opportunity for tutoring. 

Puryear was a principal at Hickory Career and Arts Magnet High School for three years and an assistant principal for three years. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from North Carolina Central University, a Master of Business Administration from Southwest Baptist University, a business education and marketing licensure certification from North Carolina State University and a school administrator license from North Carolina A&T State University. 

Rashad Slade, interim chief technology officer, will become chief technology officer with GCS. Slade has held the interim position since earlier this year. Prior to that appointment, he was senior executive director of student assignment from 2021 to 2023, and executive direction of student assignment from 2020 to 2021. Slade was also director of blended learning and director of instructional technology and innovation, as well as a classroom teacher and instructional technology specialist. 

Slade holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration for computer information systems from Appalachian State University, a Master of Education from North Carolina State University and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.