Seventeen-year education veteran, Dr. Teague Burchfield, is the new principal at Pelahatchie High School (PHS). The former Brandon High School assistant principal started on June 13.
A Mississippi College and University of Southern Mississippi graduate, Burchfield spent nine years as a social studies teacher and coach, and eight as an administrator. He previously served as assistant basketball coach at Madison Central and head basketball coach at Lafayette High School in Oxford. He was assistant principal at Vicksburg, Warren County Schools, Ridgeland High School and Brandon High School.
He is from an education family, both his father and mother, Phil Burchfield and Bobbye Taylor, his step-parents, Nita Burchfield and the former Mickey Taylor, and his siblings, Jodie Burchfield and Shea Taylor, are either teachers or administrators. Even his wife, Robyn, works for the Foundation at Hinds Community College. His father, Phil Burchfield, retired as superintendent at the Clinton Public School District in 2017 and is now the director of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents.
Burchfield is an avid sportsman who was involved in baseball, basketball, track and golf at Enterprise High School, a town and school similar in size to Pelahatchie. He had 41 in his graduating class.
He said he is a “big family guy” and believes working together is the key to success.
“I am a people person,” said Burchfield. “who thinks this is more than a job here. It starts with relationships and understanding. We will work together and be proactive.”
Burchfield’s administrative team includes Assistant Principal Lewis Bradford, Counselor Brandi Johns, Athletic Director Sam Williams, and Transportation Director Russ Granberry. They have the month of July to prepare for the school year which starts with orientation on August 2.
Burchfield and his wife, Robyn, and two children, Phillip, 12, and Ellen, 10, live in Clinton.