WCPS hires finance officer, EC assistant
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 31, 2015 1:46 PM
Wayne County Public Schools has made two administrative changes at central office, with the hiring of a new finance officer and assistant director in the Exceptional Children's program.
The posts will be officially filled after the holiday break. Classes resume on Monday, Jan. 4.
Michael Hayes, senior administrator with Wake County Public Schools, will take over as the district's finance officer on Monday.
The veteran CPA, with over 38 years of combined corporate and education finance experience, began his finance career in 1977 as an accountant at Daniel International Corporation in Greenville. The following year, he joined Phillip Morris Companies, spending seven years working as a senior auditor and staff accountant.
In 1985, he began a 10-year stint at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, working in such capacities from senior financial manager for account marketing services to managing a $150 million coupon redemption operation. He temporarily left the company in 1995 to become vice president of finance for PYA Monarch Inc. and later product delivery organization manager for Industrial Financial Systems, returning to R.J. Reynolds in 2001 as manager of financial services. From 2003-2013, he served as chief financial officer for Avoca, Inc.
Hayes opened his own CPA/PA practice in 2009, providing support for clients in all phases of accounting. He continues to operate that business today. He was named a senior administrator for the Wake County public school system in 2014, managing eight staff members who providing the accurate processing and reporting to governmental agencies of all payroll information for all 20,000 school system employees.
His education includes a bachelor's degree in accounting and economics and a masters of business administration-finance. He is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Payroll Professional.
On Jan. 11, Dawn Herring will join the exceptional children's program as assistant director.
Her previous role was special education occupational course of study teacher for grades 9-12 with the Greene County school system.
She has 17 years of special education experience, officials said. She began her career in 1996 with Pitt County Schools as a grades K-3 special education teacher. She spent eight years in the field, leaving briefly before returning in 2006 as a grades K-2 special education teacher in Greene County, until taking her current position in 2010.
Ms. Herring holds a bachelor's degree in special education, mental retardation with a concentration in psychology. She also holds a master's degree in special education, learning disabilities and is currently pursuing a master's degree in school administration from East Carolina University.
She also holds certifications in learning disabilities and middle grades math, and a National Board Certification in early childhood through young adulthood/exceptional needs specialist.
"I am very excited to have Mr. Hayes and Ms. Herring join Wayne County Public Schools," WCPS Superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore said. "Mr. Hayes' understanding of school finance rules and guidelines, along with his extensive finance management background and experience, will allow the district to more effectively manage its $180 million budget while maintaining a high level of fiscal integrity.
"Ms. Herring's special education background and experience will lend valuable support to our exceptional children's program."