Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year. My name is Igor Gorbatovski.  Although I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, my ties with Johnston County go back to 1997 when I first visited Clayton as a chaperone and interpreter for a group of Belarusian children.  While visiting Johnston County, I was very fortunate to meet the most generous and caring people who treated me as a family member and helped me learn and appreciate their culture and traditions.  When my dream to move to the United States finally came true, I knew exactly where I wanted to settle down.  I started my teaching career with Johnston County Schools in 2001 and it has been the most amazing journey ever since.  After twelve years of teaching English as a Second Language at Cooper Elementary School, I continued to serve its community as the assistant principal until I was offered an opportunity to serve as the assistant principal at Cleveland Elementary School in 2016. In 2025, I graciously accepted the offer to serve as principal of Cleveland Elementary School.

I am looking forward to another successful year at Cleveland Elementary. I believe that building a long-lasting relationship and trust between a school and its community is the foundation of a successful school.  I am committed to supporting our teachers, students and parents in their collaborative efforts to continue our school's tradition of academic excellence.

Degrees and Certifications:

Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Teaching Foreign Languages from Minsk State Linguistic University (1996)

Post-Master's Certificate in School Leadership from Western Carolina University (2011).

Phone: (919) 550-2700

Email: igorgorbatovski@johnston.k12.nc.us

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year. My name is Lisa Graham, and I am truly honored and grateful to return to Cleveland Elementary School as your Assistant Principal. This school holds a special place in my heart, and it is a privilege to once again serve this incredible community.

Prior to this role, I dedicated 16 years to Cleveland in various capacities, including teacher assistant, bus driver, and classroom teacher. During that time, I taught Kindergarten, First Grade, and K–3 Spanish. I later had the opportunity to serve as Assistant Principal at Selma Middle School for two years, where I continued to grow as an instructional leader.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University in 2012, followed by a Master’s degree in 2014. In December 2021, I completed my School Administration add-on at Gardner-Webb University.

Originally from Texas, I moved to North Carolina in 2002. I am blessed with a wonderfully supportive husband, David, and together we have four amazing children—Grace, Tomas, Ariana, and Luke—who are my greatest joy. Both Ariana and Luke attended Cleveland Elementary throughout their early school years, deepening our family’s connection to this school. We are also active members of our church community, and in my free time, I enjoy working in my garden.

I am deeply passionate about education and committed to ensuring that every student feels valued, supported, and successful in their academic journey. Being a part of the Cleveland Family once again is a true privilege, and I look forward to a fantastic school year ahead.

It’s great to be back home!

Degrees and Certifications:

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education K-6 from East Carolina University (2012)

Master of Arts in Education Reading Concentration K-12 from East Carolina University (2016)

Add–On Licensure in School Administration Gardner-Webb University (2021)

Phone: (919) 550-2700

Email: lisagraham@johnston.k12.nc.us