Administration

Antonio Covington is an educator of 15 years, where he has worked in three North Carolina school districts, Wilson County Schools, Cumberland County County Schools, and Hoke County Schools. Mr. Covington has been recently named the Principal of East Hoke Middle School, where he believes with the right opportunity, all students can succeed. Mr. Covington joined Hoke County Schools in 2010 as a CTE Teacher and a varsity football coach at Hoke County High School. Previously, Mr. Covington served as College and Career Coordinator at Hoke County High School, Assistant Principal at West Hoke Middle School, and Principal at Turlington Alternative School.

In 2009, Mr. Covington was named “Teacher of the Year” at Westover High School in Fayetteville, NC. Mr. Covington was awarded “Instructional Support Staff of the Year” in 2014 at Hoke County High School. In 2018, Mr. Covington was named the "Assistant Principal of the Year" for Hoke County School District and in 2021, he was named "Principal of the Year" again, for Hoke County Schools.

Mr. Covington is married to Nicole Covington, an Educator, and is the father of two daughters Amari and Analise Covington. Mr. Covington's motto is W.I.N. Today! Achieving excellence one day at a time!

Ms. McGill joined East Hoke Middle School as an Assistant Principal in 2014, following 8 years of service within the Hoke County School District. Her career began at East Hoke, where she taught 7^th grade mathematics for seven years before beginning her journey in administration.

Ms. McGill grew up in North Carolina and attended school in the Cumberland County School District, graduating from Westover Senior High School. She received her undergraduate degree from Fayetteville State University in Middle Grades Education with a specialization in Mathematics and a concentration in Special Education. Ms. McGill earned her master’s degree in Middle Grades Mathematics from Fayetteville State University in 2011. She attended the Sandhills Leadership Academy, completing a year-long administrative internship for turn-around principals to obtain her Principal Licensure.

Ms. McGill views an inviting school environment as the key to creating successful teachers and students. She believes partnerships between the school, parents and community partners are essential to enriching the learning experience for all students.

During her free time, Ms. McGill enjoys traveling, shopping, and spending time with family.

She feels honored to have the opportunity to continue serving the families of East Hoke Middle School.

Joy Meekins is “from” Fayetteville, NC, as much as any military child is from anywhere. She attended UNC Charlotte and received her degrees in Sociology and International Studies, with a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, she joined a highly effective teacher training program: Memphis Teacher Residency. She was embedded into a faith-centered community that aims to provide rigorous teacher training, education and support to improve teacher quality and advance student achievement as a response to social injustice and inequality. Attracted to that call, after pairing with a mentor teacher for a year, she taught English at a highly diverse school for the next few years.

She returned to Fayetteville for family, and upon her arrival from traveling abroad, taught middle school, grades 6-8 at Alpha Academy, high school grades 9-12 at Alger B Wilkins Alternative School, and last, 8th grade English at her alma mater, Anne Chestnut middle. She finally joined the Hoke County High Family, where she feels at home and completed her administrative program, and she is excited to serve the community at East Hoke Middle School. Her passions are health, wellness, fitness, natural nutrition, systems, learning, cultures, Jesus and travel.

Ms. Meekins believes that every child can succeed with thorough and attentive support, and brings her passion for data, planning, holistic student-support systems, order, ingenuity and integrity to the East Hoke family. She believes that teacher support is vital, student support is critical, and community involvement is essential to see every child succeed. She is eager to serve, loves to see people smile, and thrilled to positively impact student achievement.