Administration

Mrs. Jennifer Swartz

Dr. Jennifer Swartz

Phone: 919-934-7333

Email: jenniferswartz@johnston.k12.nc.us

Welcome to West Johnston High School.

I hope that you will love being a part of our Wildcat community as much as I do. I was one of the first staff members who helped open West Johnston in the fall of 2002. I taught English for several years and achieved National Board Certified Teacher status before serving as a curriculum coach and assistant principal. I left West to work as a middle school assistant principal at McGee's Middle School before returning to West as the principal in 2017. I earned my doctorate through NC State in Educational Leadership. 

I have been married to Chip for 27 years and we have a beautiful daughter and spunky Bassett Hound. We have lived in the Benson, Four Oaks, and Clayton communities, maintaining our church home in Four Oaks. 

I encourage you to check our website frequently for important announcements and the outstanding achievements of our students.  You can also sign up to receive our daily announcements at WJHS Daily Announcements. We share a great deal of information on our social media pages through Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter in addition to sending information directly to students through their school email accounts. You can view our weekly Smore newsletter on Facebook and Twitter that highlights our amazing Wildcat community. 

One of the easiest ways to ensure that you are receiving current information is to keep your contact information up to date. Please contact Student Services as soon as your address or phone numbers change to ensure we have the most up-to-date contact information for your family. 

I look forward to working with you and your family throughout the year.

Jennifer Swartz, Principal

Sarah Lewis

Sarah Lewis

1oth Grade Admin

Email: sarahlewis@johnston.k12.nc.us

Hello, Wildcats! My name is Sarah Lewis and I am thrilled to be part of the administration team and the Wildcat family! I am a Johnston County native and attended East Carolina University for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. This is my 24th year in education and served at the middle school level for 21 years before transitioning to high school. I have three children: Hannah (19), James (16), Charlie (12).

Most of my free time revolves around my children and their extracurricular activities, but in any other spare time, I enjoy baking breads and visiting new places. I look forward to getting to know you and serving the great Wildcat community.

P. Alan Hagen

P. Alan Hagen

11th Grade Admin

Phone: 919-934-7333 ext 5910

Email: philiphagen@johnston.k12.nc.us

Hello Wildcat family!  My name is Alan Hagen and it is great to be a part of the West Johnston community.  In 2001 I started my career in education teaching for Martin County schools in the field of Health/PE and Science. After receiving the Principal Fellows Scholarship in 2007, I served as an administrator at the high school and middle school levels. This is my 19th year in education.

My duties at West Johnston include 10th grade discipline/mentorship, athletics, health/PE PLC, and fine arts PLC. It is a pleasure to serve the community and be a part of the growing traditions at West Johnston High School.

I have three children: Brett(16), Grant(11) and Kaylin(8). A majority of our spare time involves extracurricular activities, exploring nature and anything outdoors. I look forward to getting to know you and serving the communities that make up West Johnston High School.

Tonya Painter

Tonya Painter

12th Grade Admin

Phone: 919-934-7333 ext 5910

Email: tonyapainter@johnston.k12.nc.us

Hello, I am excited to serve as an assistant principal at West Johnston High School. I have been an educational leader in the Johnston County Public Schools System and lived in the West Johnston community for twenty-two years. This is home!

I began teaching in Johnston County after graduating Cum Laude from East Carolina University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.  As a first-year teacher, I planned my wedding to my Clayton High School sweetheart, Christian, and somehow managed to be my school's first-year teacher of the year nominee. We welcomed our son, Aaron, into the world in 2006, now a senior at West Johnston High. 

I am honored to have earned many recognitions and awards as a teacher, such as Flame for Learning. I have participated in many leadership roles and earned licensure add-ons and National Board Certification. These leadership opportunities developed a desire to step out of the classroom teacher role and into the role of a school administrator.  I have made it a priority to be informed about relative and innovative educational practices and procedures. I earned a Master of School Administration from East Carolina University in May 2023. 

I am prepared to be a school leader that makes a difference and positively impacts students, staff, community members, and families. I enjoy spending time with my family in my free time, especially traveling to National Parks.

Tonya Painter

Tosha Pullen

9th Grade Admin

Phone: 919-934-7333

Email: toshapullen@johnston.k12.nc.us

Hello Wildcats! I am excited about serving West Johnston High as one of your assistant principals. This is my twenty-sixth year in education and my fifth year as a school administrator for Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS). Before coming to JCPS, I spent six years as an assistant principal in Wake County Public Schools (WCPS).

I began my teaching career as a lateral entry Special Education, Algebra teacher. I then transitioned to Health and Physical Education, where I had many roles in coaching multiple varsity volleyball and basketball programs across the state. I also served as one of the first High School Intervention Coordinators in WCPS. During my tenure in the classroom, I received my Master of Science in Physical Education, National Boards Teaching Certification, and the high school Healthful Living Teacher of the Year for WCPS.

While in the classroom as a teacher and an Intervention Coordinator, I realized I wanted to have more of a school-wide impact, so I decided to become a school administrator. I received my Master of Science in School Administration and Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction from Emporia State University.

In my spare time, I love hanging out with my daughter who is starting her senior year, going to sporting events, reading, traveling, and working out. I can't wait to serve the West Johnston Community. Go Wildcats!