Leadership

About Dr. Houlihan

Dr. Andrew G. Houlihan is currently in his tenth year as Superintendent for the Union County Public Schools, NC (UCPS). In 2022, Education Week recognized him as a national Leader to Learn From for his strategic leadership, continuous improvement strategies and focus on student safety both during and coming out of the pandemic.

In addition, he was named the 2022, 2024 and 2025 Superintendent of the Year for the Southwest Regional Alliance (Region 6) and was a 2024 finalist for the North Carolina State Superintendent of the Year.

Prior to joining UCPS, he served in numerous senior leadership roles, as well as elementary school Principal, within the Houston Independent School District. Dr. Houlihan began his career as a second-grade teacher at AB Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a NC Teaching Fellows graduate of Elon University, earned his Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University and his Doctorate in Education at the University of Texas at Austin.

Contact Dr. Houlihan

• Phone: 704.296.0766
• Fax: 704.282.2171
• Email: andrew.houlihan@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Mrs. McLamb

Shanna McLamb is the Chief Finance Officer for Union County Public Schools. She has over 15 years of experience in accounting and finance with the majority of that time spent with Union County Public Schools. Prior to being named Chief Finance Officer for UCPS, she was the CFO for Stanly County Schools.

Shanna is active in the North Carolina Association of School Business Officials and has served as state district representative. In February 2012 she obtained a certification as a Certified School Business Manager. She has also presented on numerous school business topics at local and state conferences.

Shanna is a native of Union County and a graduate of Piedmont High School. She received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Western Carolina University.

Contact Mrs. McLamb

• Phone: 704.296.5314, ext. 4117
• Email: shanna.mclamb@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Mr. Moore

Colon Moore joined Union County Public Schools in December 2021 as the Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Operations.  In that role, Colon oversees facilities and maintenance, planning and construction, transportation, school nutrition, athletics, driver’s education, and the after school program.

Before joining UCPS, Colon was the Director of Facility Planning and Construction for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County (NC) Schools.  There, he oversaw an eight-year, $350 million bond that allowed for facility construction from 2017 to 2024.

Colon came to WS/FCS in June 2016 after spending his career in the commercial general contracting and construction consulting business.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Construction from North Carolina State University and has been a licensed general contractor in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. He currently serves on the board of the NC Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) and as a member of the Union County (NC) Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Committee. 

In his free time, Colon enjoys traveling, spending time with close friends and family, and watching sporting events.  

Contact Mr. Moore

• Phone: 704.225.8420
• Fax: 704.282.2171
• Email: william.moore@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Mrs. Morris

Michele Morris serves as General Counsel, where she leads all legal operations for the district and provides oversight for departments including Risk Management, Student Assignment and Title IX. 

Prior to her current position, she served for more than seven years as Associate General Counsel for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. A recognized leader in education law across North Carolina, Ms. Morris has held two terms as Chair of the North Carolina Council of School Attorneys and one term as Chair of the Education Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and has been a speaker at state and national conferences.

Ms. Morris earned her Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College.

Contact Mrs. Morris

• Phone: 704.296.5177
• Fax: 704.282.2171
• Email: michele.morris@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Mr. Parker

Jay Parker is the Chief Technology Officer for Union County Public Schools. He has over 19 years of technical management experience with one of the largest school districts in North Carolina.

Before coming to UCPS in May 2017, Jay was the Assistant Director of Technical Support and progressed to Director of Student Applications and Web development in Technology Services with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He oversaw five student information system migrations, managed the development of a centralized data warehouse, and led in the design of many web applications, performance dashboards, and portals supporting student achievement across all grade levels.

He has years of experience providing cutting-edge technical solutions for innovative instruction. Jay has also has been part of several personalized learning teams that supported 21^st classroom technology requirements.

Jay is currently serving on the NC Department of Public Instruction steering committee that represents multiple school districts across the state. He also was selected by his peers to serve on the Change Control Board and User Advisory Panels that shape digital tools for students.  He is a member and active participant with Consortium of School Networks (CoSN).

Jay received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Chief Technology Officer Certification from UNC-Chapel Hill.

He is a resident of Union County, married and a father of three children.

Contact Mr. Parker

• Phone: 704.296.3143
• Fax: 704.296.3147
• Email: james.parker@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Dr. Plue

Kevin Plue was named the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for Union County Public Schools in May 2024 after serving for a year as the Director of Middle School Performance. Dr. Plue spent 30 years as a classroom teacher, an assistant principal, and a principal before moving to Central Services.  For more than 17 of those years, he was a principal in UCPS at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Dr. Plue believes there is no substitute for high quality teachers.  This is why he is passionate about leading the Human Resources Division. Recruiting, hiring, training, supporting and retaining high quality teachers is critical to ensuring high levels of learning for all students.

Dr. Plue met his wife Melinda while they taught together at a high school in Atlanta, GA. They married in 2000 and they have two daughters Georgia and Juliet. Georgia is an elementary classroom teacher here in UCPS and Juliet is studying to be a Spanish teacher. Dr. Plue enjoys working in his gardens in his spare time.

Contact Dr. Plue

• Email: kevin.plue@ucps.k12.nc.us
• Phone: 704.296.1007, ext. 4114

About Dr. Rodgers

As the Assistant Superintendent of Academics for Union County Public Schools, Dr. Susan Rodgers supports the Superintendent and leads her team in overseeing the areas of Exceptional Children, Innovation & Ed Tech, College Readiness, Career Readiness, as well as Curriculum & Instruction.

Prior to becoming the Assistant Superintendent of Academics in December 2022, Dr. Rodgers served in various leadership roles within Union County Public Schools. Most recently, she served as the Director of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction.

Prior to the district level position, Dr. Rodgers was the proud principal of Sun Valley Elementary and Shiloh Valley Elementary in the Sun Valley Cluster for five years. As principal, Dr. Rodgers engaged the school and community stakeholders to build a culture of excellence that impacted student learning. Her belief in the potential of every learner supported a strong mission of leadership and collaboration. She supported the transformation to a new school model with the reorganization of Sun Valley Elementary and Shiloh Elementary to the Shiloh Valley Schools. This innovative school model consisted of Shiloh Valley Primary School K-2, and Shiloh Valley Elementary School 3-5.

Prior to principalship, Dr. Rodgers served as an Assistant Principal at Parkwood Middle School. She also served as a curriculum coordinator and a classroom teacher before moving into school administration.

Dr. Rodgers’ education includes a B.A. in Education from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Her Masters in Educational Leadership, as well as her Doctorate in Educational Leadership were earned from Wingate University.

Contact Dr. Rodgers

• Email: susan.rodgers@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Ms. Stalberte

Tahira Stalberte is the Assistant Superintendent for Communications and Community Relations for Union County Public Schools. She has more than 25 years of experience in communications and public relations and has worked in several of the largest school districts in North Carolina. Stalberte earned the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation in 2019.

She is a native of New Orleans, LA, and started her career as a Promotions Producer and Public Affairs Assistant with WDSU-TV (December 1996 to July 2002).

She then worked as a video production manager with Guilford County Schools (July 2002 to May to 2006).

As the Chief Communications Officer in Durham Public Schools (2010 to 2011), she organized community events to showcase student and staff achievements and directed all internal and external communications -- web, television, marketing, media relations and community relations.

Before coming to UCPS in June 2014, Tahira was the Executive Director of Communications with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools where she led media relations, crisis communication efforts and advised executive leadership on key messages and strategies. She also created media opportunities to support students, staff and district programs and planned and executed district events, including the strategic plan launch and new school dedication programs.

She has extensive experience in video production, internal/external communications and crisis management. She has earned Blue Ribbon Awards from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) for video production, marketing, special events and programs and photography.

Stalberte currently serves on the board for United Way of Greater Charlotte (Union) and Atrium Health Union. She has also served on the NCSPRA Board of Directors.

Stalberte received her Bachelor's of Arts in degree in Mass Communications from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1996. Ms. Stalberte is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Contact Ms. Stalberte

• Phone: 704.296.5188
• Fax: 704.298.2457 
• Email: tahira.stalberte@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Dr. Tyson

As the Chief of School Performance for Union County Public Schools, Dr. Jonathan Tyson supports the superintendent and leads his team in overseeing all areas of school performance, student accountability, and federal programs.

Prior to becoming the assistant superintendent of school performance in December 2022, Dr. Tyson served in various leadership roles within Union County including director of research and accountability and director of school performance.

Prior to moving into these district-level leadership positions, Dr. Tyson served as a high school principal for seven years at Piedmont High School.  As the principal of Piedmont High School, he experienced great success with student achievement as measured by test scores and a high graduation rate, as well as athletics, visual and performing arts, and philanthropic endeavors. Dr. Tyson attributes the success to great teamwork by the students, parents, faculty, and administration. He was recognized as the 2017 Wells Fargo District Principal of the Year. 

Dr. Tyson served as assistant principal at Forest Hills High School. He also taught at East Union Middle School and Forest Hills High School prior to moving into school administration. While a teacher, he coached, basketball.

Dr. Tyson’s education includes a B.S. in Education from Wingate University, where he played basketball.  He received a Master in Education from East Carolina, his Certificate of Educational Leadership from Wingate University, and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership Wingate University. 

Contact Dr. Tyson

• Phone: 704.296.1002, ext. 4115
• Email: jonathan.tyson@ucps.k12.nc.us