The 2018 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year will be announced Friday, May 11, during a luncheon at The Umstead Hotel, 100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary.
The actual announcement is expected to take place around 1:30 p.m.
The state’s top principal is being selected from a field of eight regional finalists chosen earlier this year following interviews and a rigorous portfolio review.
The regional principals of the year are:
- Northeast: Michelle White, D.F. Walker Elementary (Edenton-Chowan Public Schools);
- Southeast: Tabari Wallace, West Craven High (Craven County Schools);
- North Central: Jonathan Enns, Fuquay-Varina High (Wake County Public Schools);
- Sandhills: Jim Butler, Richmond Senior High (Richmond County Schools);
- Piedmont-Triad: Tracy Kimmer, Yadkin Early College High (Yadkin County Schools);
- Southwest: Titus L. Hopper, Cleveland Early College High (Cleveland County Schools);
- Northwest: Desarae Kirkpatrick, Nebo Elementary (McDowell County Schools) and
- Western: Melissa Godfrey, Andrews Elementary (Cherokee County Schools).
This year’s Wells Fargo Principal of the Year receives $3,000 for personal use and $3,000 for his or her school. The winner also receives professional development and resources supporting global awareness in the curriculum for their staff, thanks to Education First Tours, a custommade NC Principal of the Year signet ring and pendant from Jostens Inc, a complimentary two-night stay at the new Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Chapel Hill-Carrboro, and resources to help combat child hunger from the Principal of the Year program’s newest sponsor, No Kids Hungry NC.
This is the 35th year the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has partnered with The Wells Fargo Foundation to recognize the state’s outstanding principals. Since 1984, when the program began, 38 Principals of the Year and 248 regional recipients have been recognized. In addition, The Wells Fargo Foundation has provided more than $1 million in cash awards during that time to these school leaders.
For more information on North Carolina’s Principal of the Year recognition program, visit the program’s website or contact the NCDPI Communications division at 919-807-3450
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