Peal plans to take job in Wilkes

About one year after accepting the job as Alleghany High School's principal, Jeff Peal has announced plans to step down from the post. Peal, who is from Wilkes County, plans to return there to take a job as the principal of North Wilkes Middle School (NWMS). The Wilkes school, which happens to be about four miles from Peal's home, is currently under construction and will be ready for use by the first of next year.

Peal will apparently finish out the school year as AHS principal. As for the school system's administration, Superintendent Duane Davis said Tuesday that he hadn't officially received a resignation from Peal, but he and Peal had discussed the possibility of the Wilkes job.

"My hope was that he would stay," Davis said. "He's done such an outstanding job. I couldn't praise him any higher."

Davis said Peal has met or exceeded all of the school system's expectations. "I think he's done exactly like what I would have hoped," Davis added.

Peal, who was approved for the job by the Wilkes County School Board last night, said his leaving Alleghany has nothing to do with the Alleghany school system or anyone working in it.

"I want to be clear about that," he said. "I'm leaving a great job. The reason is purely time and convenience for my family."

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