Gwinnett Daily Post

SNELLVILLE -- District officials have selected a replacement for a longtime South Gwinnett High School principal who left Gwinnett County in July to work for Atlanta Public Schools.

The school board voted unanimously last week to name former Snellville Middle Principal Eric Thigpen South Gwinnett High School's new leader, a post he'll accept in the wake of former Principal Clay Hunter's announcement to leave the district July 10 for an administrative spot with APS.

Thigpen had served as principal at Snellville Middle since 2011, and assistant principal at South Gwinnett High from 2005-11.

In addition, he has worked as assistant principal and Title I math teacher at Bainbridge High in Decatur County, math teacher and coach at East Coweta High in Coweta County and math teacher and coach at Eastside High in Newton County.

A graduate of the district's 2009 Quality-Plus Leader Academy, Thigpen will make the transition to the high school in the next several weeks.

Following Hunter's departure in July, the high school was under the leadership of retired veteran educator and principal mentor Jane Stegall, who was named interim administrator.

According to a news release, Hunter announced his departure on July 10 with plans to fill a leadership position with APS.