About Mr. Gatewood

Mr. Jared Gatewood was appointed principal of East Union Middle School in July 2023. Mr. Gatewood was born and raised in Hamlet, North Carolina, and was a graduate of Richmond Senior High School in 2008. He attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he received his BA in Political Science and minored in History. He then moved to Charlotte in 2015 to pursue a teaching career, beginning as a Social Studies teacher at Harding University High School with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In 2018, he accepted a position with Union County Public Schools as a Social Studies teacher at Forest Hills. Mr. Gatewood was also credited with teaching the first African American Studies course in Union County Public Schools history, beginning in 2018. 

In 2019, Mr. Gatewood graduated with his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Wingate University and completed his administrative internship at Forest Hills. He also served as interim Assistant Principal during the 2019-2020 school year. He accepted an Assistant Principal position at Forest Hills High School in July 2020. Mr. Gatewood lives in Indian Land, South Carolina with his wife, Kimberly, who is an Associate Manager of Finance at the Association of International Certified Public Accountants, and his daughter, Halle. Mr. Gatewood is passionate about every student reaching their highest potential, and empowering them to be the best version of themselves each day. His motto, as it relates to educating students, is to “love them first, and teach them second.”

Contact Mr. Gatewood

• Email: jared.gatewood@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Ms. Gainey

Ms. Gainey is excited to serve as the 6^th grade assistant principal of East Union Middle School. Ms. Gainey was most recently the 8^th grade assistant principal of Sun Valley Middle School and feels honored to now work at the middle school that directly serves the community in which she lives.

Ms. Gainey began her educational career as a high school civics, economics, and geography teacher at McCluer High School, in St. Louis MO. After serving as a teacher, volleyball and basketball coach for 5 years, she was blessed with the opportunity to return to the Tarheel state in the role of assistant principal role at Albemarle Middle School in Stanly County NC. Ms. Gainey worked within Stanly County Schools for ten years as both an assistant principal and head principal. Ms. Gainey joined the UCPS family in 2014 and served as the Career Development Coordinator at Monroe High School for nine years prior to returning to administration.

Ms. Gainey has three children that have all attended East Union Middle School and gone on to pursue a higher education.  Justin (graduate of Western Carolina University), Ryleigh (Jr. at West Virginia State University) and Parker who is a current 7^th grader at EUMS.  Ms. Gainey believes that the rich history of East Union Middle School will fuel her passion to make a difference for the students and the community. She believes that “students don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care”.

Contact Ms. Gainey

• Email: rhonda.gainey@ucps.k12.nc.us\

About Mrs. Williams

Mrs. Williams is excited to be a part of the EUMS family.  She started her career as an exceptional children's teacher, working with students in grades 6-12 in both co-taught and self-contained behavior support settings.  She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Akron.  After moving to North Carolina in 2016, she went on to get accepted in the NC Principal Fellows' Program and completed her Masters in School Administration along with a Curriculum Development licensure add-on.  Ms. Williams resides in Union County with her husband and sons.  When she is not in school, she loves family time with her boys, traveling, crafting, reading, and playing with the family's golden doodles.

Contact Mrs. Williams

• Phone: 704-290-1540
• Email: jamie.williams@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Mr. Lewis

Mr. Lewis is excited to be joining the EUMS family. He grew up in Union County, North Carolina, and is happy to now serve in the school system that he went through himself as a student. He earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University, and began his educational career teaching at Monroe Middle School. He was later accepted into the NC Principal Fellows Program, and obtained his Masters in School Administration and a Curriculum Instructional Specialist add-on from UNC Charlotte. Mr. Lewis lives in Monroe with his wife, Andrea, who is a teacher with UCPS, and his daughter, Xiomara. When not in school, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing board games with his friends, reading, and playing video games.

Contact Mr. Lewis

• Email: steven.lewis@ucps.k12.nc.us

About Mrs. Veras

Mrs. Veras is excited to be joining the East Union Eagles as the 7th grade Assistant Principal. As a Union County graduate, she has always wanted to give back to her home community. Mrs. Veras holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel HIll.  She has served in Union County Public Schools as a teacher and MTSS Coordinator at East Elementary since 2008. Her role as MTSS Coordinator led her to value how school-based changes create positive growth for both students and educators. Mrs. Veras earned her Master's in School Administration from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 

Mrs. Veras currently lives in Union County with her husband Gustavo and daughters Camille and Iris. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors and spending quality time with her family.

Contact Mrs. Veras

• Phone:  704-290-1540
• Email: lauren.veras@ucps.k12.nc.us

• Dr. Bashawn Harris
• 704-296-0824, ext. 4031

• Principal: Jared Gatewood
• Representative: Janis Maurer