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Administration

Hall Fletcher Administration Team

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Carrie Buchanan, Principal 

Carrie Buchanan has been in education since 1999.  She taught for 9 years at Lucy S. Herring Elementary (formerly Vance) and 4 years at Asheville Middle before becoming an assistant principal. She served as assistant principal at Asheville High School and Lucy S. Herring Elementary. Mrs. Buchanan earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from North Greenville University as well as her master’s degree in Education with a focus on Reading and Literacy from Walden University. Additionally, she received her National Board Certification and her Graduate Certificate in School Leadership from Appalachian State University in 2017. 

Mrs. Buchanan's main goal as principal is creating a safe, caring community where all students can grow and thrive; she wants all students to know they are loved. Building relationships with students and families is important to her. As Hall Fletcher’s principal, she wants to support staff as we continue to learn so we can deepen our commitment to making sure all students grow and achieve. 

When Mrs. Buchanan is not at school, she enjoys relaxing on her front porch, reading novels and supporting her family, regardless of whether they’re playing or coaching sports. She is married to Scott Buchanan, a teacher and coach at Asheville Middle School, and together they have three children. Their daughter, Kendall, is a graduate of Western Carolina University; she coaches volleyball. Their son, Will, is a student at UT-Chattanooga where he received a full scholarship for football, and their youngest son, Cooper, is a 2nd grader. 

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Shawn Benfield, Assistant 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.