New leadership at Newport News elementary school where teacher was shot

The marquee at the entrance of Richneck Elementary School wishes students and faculty a “Happy New Year” in Newport News, Va. on Monday Jan. 9, 2023. The Virginia teacher who authorities say was shot by a 6-year-old student is known as a hard-working educator who’s devoted to her students and enthusiastic about the profession that runs in her family. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

by: Michelle Wolf

Posted: Jan 13, 2023 / 06:28 PM EST

Updated: Jan 17, 2023 / 10:55 AM EST

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Richneck Elementary School is under new leadership.

A district spokesperson tells 10 On Side that Karen Lynch, the NNPS Extended Learning supervisor and a former elementary school principal, is leading the Richneck team right now.

Briana Foster Newton, who was overseeing the school as of the 2022-2023 school year, is still employed by the district. Foster Newton was named principal in July 2022, per the school’s social media pages.

In Thursday’s town hall for Richneck families, Superintendent Dr. George Parker said that Lynch would be “leading training and preparation activities for Richneck staff moving forward.”

In addition, school board chair Lisa Surles-Law revealed Thursday that administrative changes would be taking place at the elementary school.

“On the re-entry plan, although we are not at liberty to state specifics, after reviewing the preliminary results of the internal investigation, administrative changes have been proposed at Richneck Elementary,” Surles-Law stated.

A re-entry plan for Richneck students is set to be announced next week.

This is a breaking story and will be updated. Read WAVY’s full coverage about the Richneck shooting and updates here.