Administration
Hall Fletcher Administration Team
Shawn Benfield, Interim Principal
I am Shawn Benfield and I am honored to be the new Assistant Principal of Hall Fletcher Elementary School. My teaching career began at Asheville High School as Associate Band Director in 1996. From there I spent 6 years at Valley Springs Middle School as band director and for the past 16 years I have served as band director at North Buncombe Middle School. I am a 4th generation native to Western North Carolina. I graduated from Erwin High School in 1991. Upon graduation I attended Western Carolina University where I earned my B.S. ed in Music Education. In 2014 I went back to college and earned my Educational Leadership Masters from Gardner-Webb University.
This will be my first opportunity as an Administrator. My focus will be and always has been a student, teacher and family FIRST focus. Throughout my career I have held high standards and expectations while creating pathways to success for ALL of my students. I will always seek to do what is best for students. I will also continue challenging others to be their best self.
I have 2 daughters Abeni, a Freshman at ETSU and Macee a Sophomore at NBHS. Of course, both are in band and have had very successful musical endeavors. My Wife, Jayme is the School Counselor at Weaverville Elementary. As a family we enjoy watching our girls in the marching bands, watching Macee play Soccer, camping trips to remote places, hiking, biking and just hanging out at the beach.
Kelly McCarthy, Assistant Principal
I am Kelly McCarthy, and I am thrilled to return to Hall Fletcher Elementary. This place is special to me as it is where my teaching journey began in 2010. I spent six years here teaching first and second grade. Afterward, I taught third grade at Claxton Elementary for eight years. Earlier this school year, I was a Principal Intern at Asheville Middle School. I moved to Asheville from the eastern part of the state in 2001 after graduating from Salisbury High School in 1998. I earned my undergraduate degree in Psychology and a K-6 teaching licensure from the University of North Carolina, Asheville. In 2023, I began my school leadership journey as an NC Principal Fellow at Western Carolina University, where I earned a Master's in School Administration. I live in Candler with my husband, our 9-year-old son, and two fur babies. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, yoga, and camping. I am returning to Hall Fletcher as an assistant principal with 15 years of experience in Asheville City Schools and an unwavering dedication to the students, families, staff, and beloved community.