Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Superintendent Bennett Jones announced the following administrative hirings for the 2026-2027 school year.
Larry Catalano has been named the principal of Roanoke Rapids High School beginning July 1. In addition, Catalano will serve as the director of secondary education, helping to lead secondary programs and initiatives in the district.
Catalano had served as principal at Chaloner Middle School since January 2022 and has over 25 years in public education. “I am deeply committed to translating educational philosophies and district objectives into tangible, active terms that directly benefit every single student," Catalano said. "I look forward to continuing our work at Roanoke Rapids High School while scaling effective, data-driven strategies to support secondary education across the entire district."
Katina Hantz has been named the principal of Chaloner Middle School beginning July 1.
Hantz was previously the director of Clara Hearne Pre-K Center and has a wealth of administrative experience at the secondary level, having served as assistant principal at Chaloner and RRHS.
As the new principal of Chaloner Middle School, Hantz is excited to return to a school community she knows and loves. She is committed to fostering a positive learning environment, supporting student achievement, and partnering with families, staff, and the community to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed. “It is an honor to return to Chaloner Middle School as principal. I look forward to working together with the community and staff to ensure academic excellence and growth for all of our students,” said Hantz.
In addition to the two principal assignments, Hunter Jenks has been hired to serve as the executive director of community relations and auxiliary services.
Jenks will lead district efforts as a community liaison to improve school safety, disciplinary processes, district partnerships, and athletics, as well as other assigned district initiatives. Jenks has previously served as a successful teacher and coach in four districts over his
19-year career in North Carolina, including his most recent role at Millbrook High School in Wake County.
Jenks stated, “I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to join the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District and sincerely thank Dr. Jones and the board of trustees for their trust and confidence in me. I look forward to serving the district's students, families, faculty, and staff while building strong relationships and supporting opportunities that help every student succeed.“
Jones stated, “I am excited about the new opportunities for Mr. Catalano and Mrs. Hantz as they continue their leadership in our district. I am confident that they will enhance the great things happening at Roanoke Rapids High School and Chaloner while also working collaboratively with their respective staffs to make improvements where needed. Also, I am thrilled to welcome Mr. Jenks to the district, as he has a skill set and background in building high-quality relationships throughout schools and communities, which will greatly benefit our students, community members, and families. Working together, these leaders are fully committed to fostering a supportive environment where our students can thrive and excel, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make as we work together to serve our school community.”
Catalano
Described by the RRGSD as an established and forward-thinking leader in North Carolina public education, Catalano brings decades of administrative experience and a proven track record of student and institutional growth to this dual role.
He has served as the principal of Chaloner Middle School since January 2022, during which time he spearheaded historic academic gains.
Under his leadership, Chaloner Middle School jumped a full letter grade from a "D" to a "C" performance rating. The school also exceeded its growth metrics for the first time since 2017, placing in the top 10 percent of the entire state for its 5.17 growth index during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Notably, during his tenure, math grade-level proficiency surged by 14 percentage points, while every student subgroup successfully exceeded growth targets.
“Catalano’s deep institutional knowledge of the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District makes him uniquely qualified for this expanded directive,” the RRGSD said.
He previously served the district as the assistant superintendent for human resources, where he worked closely with district leadership to maintain high-quality educational programs and evaluate administrative staff.
Between March and October of 2019, Catalano stepped up as acting superintendent, successfully supervising all facets of school district business, managing community and personnel issues, and collaborating with the board of education.
His prior leadership positions in the district also include serving as the director of alternative programs and the director of pre-kindergarten and after-school care.
Before joining Roanoke Rapids, Catalano spent 13.5 years as a principal within the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools system, following three years as an assistant principal and seven years as a classroom teacher across multiple North Carolina counties.
A certified professional in administration and supervision, curriculum instructional specialist, pre-K through 8 teaching, and middle grades social studies, Catalano holds a Master of School Administration from East Carolina University and a bachelor of arts in education from Canisius College.
Outside of his school administrative duties, he is active in civic life, having served as a delegate for the Smart Investing Forum representing the Down East Partnership for Children and as President of the Tar River Youth Soccer Association.
Hantz
Hantz is a graduate of Roanoke Rapids High School, Class of 1996, and a lifelong Yellow Jacket. She earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary science education and biology from East Carolina University and later completed a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration in 2012.
Hantz brings more than two decades of experience in education, including 18 years as a middle and high school science teacher. Her teaching career includes service at Roanoke High School, Martin County, Greensville County Schools, Roanoke Rapids High School, George Washington Middle School in Montgomery, Alabama, and Chaloner Middle School, where she taught from 2012 to 2018. She also served as a driver education instructor from 2003 to 2020.
In 2018, Hantz was honored as Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Teacher of the Year. She transitioned into school leadership as Assistant Principal at Roanoke Rapids High School, serving from 2018 to 2024, followed by a year as assistant principal at Chaloner Middle School before moving to her current role as director of early childhood learning for the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District. As a classroom teacher and administrator, Hantz led students to outstanding academic success, with learners consistently demonstrating proficiency and exceeding growth benchmarks. “Her dedication to excellence, student-centered instruction, and continuous improvement is the foundation of her educational philosophy.”
Jenks
Jenks joins the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District leadership team with 19 years of experience as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and behavior specialist. A native North Carolinian, Jenks graduated from Wake Forest High School. Following high school, Jenks earned his bachelor's degree from Elon University, where he was a scholarship football student-athlete. He is currently completing his Master of School Administration and holds teaching licenses in both Special Education and Physical Education.
Throughout his career, Jenks has spent 12 years teaching physical education and 7 years in special education, specializing in behavioral support and intervention. He has also coached in Wake, Johnston, Vance, and Martin counties, serving as head coach in football, basketball, track and field, and athletic director.
Under his leadership, more than 40 student-athletes have continued their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. He was named Johnston County Coach of the Year in 2018 and has earned three conference Coach of the Year honors.
Jenks has served on school and district leadership teams focused on safety, security, and emergency planning, while leading efforts to improve school discipline and student outcomes. Known for his ability to build strong relationships, he has collaborated with students, families, staff, and community partners to create meaningful pathways to student success. Outside of work, he coaches his daughters' travel basketball team and actively supports youth and high school athletic programs.
