Fulcher resigns as Bethel principal

After less than two years on the job, Michael Fulcher is no longer the principal at Bethel Christian Academy.

Fulcher, 38, who took over the position as BCA's principal on June 11, 2007, resigned the position March 18.

He said he resigned for personal reasons.

"My family is just trying to regroup," Fulcher said. "We're going to see what God has for us here on out."

The academy is part of Bethel Free Will Baptist Church, located at 1936 Banks School Road. Richard O. Barnard, the academy's administrator, accepted Fulcher's resignation. Barnard is currently the interim principal.

"It was a very personal matter for him," Barnard said. "He told us he needed to resign and we understood and agreed with him. We accepted his resignation immediately and appropriately."

Fulcher came to BCA after serving as the principal of Hookerton's Mt. Calvary Christian Academy. He was also the boys' basketball coach at Bethel the past two seasons after a successful run as Mt. Calvary's boys' coach, where he won a state championship in 2006 and was named The Free Press boys' basketball coach of the year.

His wife, Sarai, was the girls' basketball coach at Mt. Calvary and filled the same role at Bethel last year. She tendered her resignation shortly after her husband's, Barnard said.

"She resigned because of the awkwardness of the situation," Barnard said. "We also accepted her resignation."

Fulcher said his wife resigned of her own accord and that his family still had a great relationship with the administration at Bethel.

"Our kids are still out there at school, so there's no problem with the school or anything like that," Fulcher said. "It's our desire to see our kids continuing to go to school there."

Barnard said there was no crime or illegal action by Fulcher that led to his resignation. Fulcher also acknowleged there were no nefarious reasons for his resignation.

"People always come up with wild things, especially when someone resigns in the middle of the year like this," Fulcher said. "I hate that I had to do it now, but for me and my family, now is just the right time.

"I decided to take a step back and move on to something else."

Fulcher said he would one day like get back into education.

"My training, my love and my desire is in education," Fulcher said. "I'd love to stay in education somewhere. Right now, Sarai and I are just deciding what area and what route we'd like to take, whether it's private education or public education. We're just not sure right now what we'd like to do."

Fulcher said he and his wife would also like to return to a basketball sideline sometime soon.

"Coaching young people is something we both love to do," Fulcher said. "We would love to see it happen again somewhere, whether it be at the high school or college level."

Barnard said the administration at Bethel were very happy with Fulcher's body of work.

"We were pleased with Mr. Fulcher and regret his resignation," Barnard said. "We're encouraging people to encourage him, because he's dealing with this.

"We're standing with him during this time, but accept his resignation."

Bryan C. Hanks can be reached at (252) 559-1074 or at bhanks@freedomenc.com. Check out Bryan's blog at http://bhanks.encblogs.com.