Mr. McCullough is excited to serve as the PROUD principal of Salem Middle School. A native of Hickory, NC, and a 2010 graduate of NC State University, he began his career as a high school science teacher and intervention coordinator at Cary High School, developing a passion for helping all students succeed. This led him to school administration, where he served as a high school assistant principal before joining Salem Middle in 2022 as the 6th-grade assistant principal.

In August 2023, Mr. McCullough became principal of Salem Middle School, continuing to work with Salem staff and families in creating a supportive environment for students. Mr. McCullough has always enjoyed the school environment, as a student, teacher, and now principal, and strives to make school a place where students feel seen, heard, challenged, and successful! 

Contact: dmccullough3@wcpss.net

Dr. Timothy Belton hails from Kinston, North Carolina, where he was born and later grew up in the close-knit community of Snow Hill, North Carolina. His passion for education was ignited early, leading him to pursue higher education at North Carolina Central University in Durham. There, he embarked on a career in teaching, where he spent 12 transformative years educating students in both K-5 and middle school settings. Driven by a desire to make a broader impact on student achievement, Dr. Belton sought to enhance his expertise and leadership capabilities. He pursued a master’s degree in administration from Regent University in Virginia Beach, where he also earned advanced educational credentials that complemented his vision of becoming an instructional leader. Since April 2017, Dr. Belton has served as an assistant principal at Salem, working primarily with students in Grades 6 and 8, where he continues to dedicate himself to fostering academic excellence. 

Contact: tbelton@wcpss.net

Contact: sashburn@wcpss.net

Ms. Foster was born and raised in North Carolina. She attended UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) and began a teaching career after college. She worked with Teach for America to teach Robotics in Warren County. During this time, she also attended East Carolina University and earned a master’s degree in education. After this she moved to Durham and taught 5th grade math and science. Ms. Foster then returned to UNC-Chapel Hill to study a master's degree in school administration. 
 
Ms. Foster and her family live in Durham and enjoy traveling during their free time. They are working to travel to all the national parks and often visit family in Colombia. During her free time Ms. Foster also enjoys exercising and practicing her Spanish speaking skills.
 
Ms. Foster joined the Spartan family in 2023. She looks forward to getting to know the new sixth grade students and families this year.

Contact: lfoster7@wcpss.net