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 26 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

Email: tamarabarbour@johnston.k12.nc.us

I attended Johnston County Public Schools from Kindergarten through 12th Grade.  After high school, I attended and graduated from North Carolina State University. I began my career in education in 1996, teaching Math at Selma Middle School and then moved on to Clayton High School, where I also taught Math.  I have been an administrator with Johnston County Public Schools since 2003. In that time, I have worked at Benson Elementary, Wilson Mills Elementary, West Johnston High, and West Smithfield Elementary. I am glad to be back at West Johnston.

I enjoy spending time with my family.  I have two kids ages 19 and 23, who are both in college.  My husband is a teacher and football coach.

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 twenty-second year in education. I have served at the middle school level for 21 years and look forward to time at the high school level. I have three children: Hannah (17), James (14), Charlie (10).

Most of my free time revolves around my children and their extracurricular activities, but in any other spare time, I love good food, good coffee, and a workout here and there. I look forward to getting to know you and serving the great Wildcat community.

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.

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.