Administration

Asheville City Schools is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeremy R. Gibbs as the new principal of the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville (SILSA), effective July 1, 2025.

Dr. Gibbs brings over two decades of distinguished educational leadership experience to SILSA, with a career spanning classroom teaching, school and district administration, and executive state-level leadership. Most recently, Dr. Gibbs has served as a Senior Consultant and Grant Writer for EducationNC, supporting educational leaders and institutions across North Carolina in leadership development and grant acquisition, with a special focus on recovery efforts in Western NC.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Gibbs to the SILSA community,” said Dr. Maggie Fehrman, Superintendent of Asheville City Schools. “His proven commitment to student achievement, innovative leadership, and dedication to educational excellence make him the ideal leader for SILSA’.”

Previously, Dr. Gibbs held the position of Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where he provided executive leadership for services impacting more than 1.5 million students across 115 districts. His responsibilities included directing school improvement initiatives, overseeing nearly $1 billion in annual grants, and supervising key statewide programs in school safety, nutrition, transportation, and facility operations.

Dr. Gibbs’s experience in Western North Carolina is extensive. As Director of Regional Support Services for NCDPI’s Western Region, he led support for 18 local school districts, designed school improvement plans, and served as a primary liaison for superintendents. He is also an adjunct instructor at Western Carolina University, teaching doctoral and master’s courses in educational leadership, human resources, and school finance.

From 2011 to 2019, Dr. Gibbs served Transylvania County Schools as Chief Academic Officer, Director of Human Resources, and Principal of Brevard High School. Under his leadership, Brevard High achieved its highest-ever graduation rate (over 90%) and was ranked among North Carolina’s Best High Schools by U.S. News & World Report. He is recognized for innovative initiatives, including implementing a 1:1 device program and restructuring schedules to maximize student support and teacher collaboration.

Dr. Gibbs holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Western Carolina University, a Master of School Administration from North Carolina State University, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from East Carolina University. He has been honored as Principal of the Year in Transylvania County Schools and is a recipient of the Dr. Sam Houston Leadership Award from the NC School Superintendents’ Association.

Dr. Gibbs is excited to join SILSA, a school nationally recognized for its rigorous, inquiry-based curriculum and commitment to preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century.  Dr. Gibbs shared, “I am honored and grateful to join the team at SILSA, a school celebrated for its spirit of innovation, exploration, and creativity. SILSA’s commitment to academic excellence and student-centered learning is deeply inspiring. I look forward to partnering with students, families, faculty, staff, and the community as we build on this proud tradition and shape an even brighter future together.

Stephanie Day is beginning her 16th year as an educator and her 8th year with Asheville City Schools. Prior to serving as the Assistant Principal for SILSA, Mrs. Day led the Alternative Learning Program on the high school campus   for four years beginning in the 2018-2019 school year. Mrs. Day joined the Cougar Family after working in Buncombe   County Schools as an English teacher for seven years and a substitute teacher for one year. While working in   Buncombe County Schools, Mrs. Day served on the English Language Arts Leadership team where she participated in   district level work to align teaching standards across schools and develop curriculum materials for all high school   English teachers. She led both school level and district level professional development on many topics, including   teaching tier 2 vocabulary, improving engagement for male students through the use of research-based best   practices, and using text-dependent common formative assessments to improve English 2 EOC scores. She was   voted department chair by her peers.

Mrs. Day is a graduate of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program and earned a Bachelor's degree in Literature from UNCA in 2010. Mrs. Day earned her principal license and a Master's in Executive Leadership Studies from Gardner-Webb University in 2016. Currently, Mrs. Day is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at Western Carolina University. 

Mrs. Day is a North Carolina native who grew up mostly in Robeson County and later in Ashe County. Mrs. Day moved to Asheville in 2006 to attend UNCA. Now Mrs. Day lives in Canton with her husband, two children, dog, and two cats.