Welcome to the home of the Benson Middle School Phantoms! My name is Dana Jernigan, and I am the Proud Principal of the Phantom Phamily! I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a school with a tradition of family and community support. Before serving as your principal, I served principals and teachers across the district as the Director of Professional Learning and the Executive Director of Secondary Education for Johnston County Public Schools. I also served as a teacher and administrator at South Johnston High School for 10 years--Go Trojans! I know the Benson community is special, and I am forever grateful to be in this area. I plan to continue Benson's legacy of community engagement while working alongside teachers and support staff to strengthen core instruction. 

Socrates said, "the secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." This year as we partner with Marzano Academy, we have the opportunity to reflect on our beliefs and behaviors and how those manifest in our instructional strategies, processes, and school policies. This partnership will allow us to transform our school culture and equip our teachers with the tools and resources to plan for individual students needs. Our teachers are committed to do Whatever It Takes!  

Thank you so much for your support! Whether you are a parent or community member, we appreciate all you do for kids.

Kristy Washington has confirmed her degree of Masters of Arts in School Administration from North Carolina State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a minor in physics from Fayetteville State University, along with a Master of Arts in Mathematics from Wake Forest University. Additionally, she received her Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, with a concentration in Teacher Leadership from Gardner Webb University. 

Kristy started her educational journey by following her passion to impact student growth in mathematics. She began her career as a mathematics teacher in secondary education in Cumberland County Schools. While teaching, she obtained her National Board Certification. After obtaining her National Board Certification, she pursued her passion for not only impacting students but for supporting teacher growth.  Next, she expanded her level of versatility by completing her principal internship at the elementary level.

Kristy is excited about joining the Phantom Phamily at Benson Middle School and she looks forward to learning and growing with everyone.

Fun Facts about Kristy:

•  In 2020, Kristy willingly jumped out of a perfectly well-crafted, flying airplane.

• Kristy is extraverted and bubbly.

• Kristy loves crafting.

• Kristy is extremely competitive and uses this to truly propel others to meet their best selves.

•  On family trips, Kristy, her husband, and her son collect magnets from every new place they visit. With the magnets, they decorate their "Travel Adventures" magnet board.

• Kristy's favorite season is summer, her favorite place is the beach, and her favorite candy is a Reese’s cup.

Hello! My name is Wilson White, and I am proud to serve as the Assistant Principal at Benson Middle School. With a passion for supporting student growth and fostering a positive school culture, I am committed to helping every student succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

I bring 8 years of experience in education, having served as a Math and Science teacher at BMS before moving into my role as Assistant Principal. My focus is on building strong relationships with students, families, and staff, and creating an environment where learning thrives.

At Benson Middle School, I work closely with our leadership team to support instructional excellence, maintain a safe and respectful school environment, and ensure that all students are given the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential.

My motivation is summed up by the great Neil deGrasse Tyson: “The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you look for things in life like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people in life recognize, that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation. For me, I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the world than I knew yesterday. And lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you.”

I am honored to be part of the Benson Middle School family and look forward to a great school year ahead!