Finalists Named For Wake's 2002 Principal And Assistant Principal Of The Year

Principals

Cobb

Hill

Ronco

Smith

Willie

Cobb has been at Lockhart Elementary since 1999. Prior to that she served as a principal for elementary schools in Pitt and Wilson counties, as well as a teacher and guidance counselor in Wilson County. During Cobb's leadership, Lockhart has been named a School of Excellence and one of the state's Top 25 Most Improved Schools in the State. In the last two years, the school's EnergySavers Club has earned national and state honors. Cobb believes that leadership is a process. "I embrace the importance of developing a team approach and inspiring a shared vision while respecting the uniqueness of each individual within the 'school family.'" The school has enjoyed success as a result of a shared vision of high expectations, programs to meet individual student needs, and sound instructional strategies. "We are very data driven and gauge our success and need for change on test data and assessment data," Cobb said. "This information is used to redirect instruction and to determine the need for differentiation, remediation, and relocation of resources. Complacence has been replaced with passion and determination for guaranteeing success for each child."

Hill has been at Wildwood Forest Elementary since 1999. Prior to that he served as principal of East Millbrook Middle and Jeffreys Grove Elementary, assistant principal at North Ridge Elementary, Ligon Middle, and Millbrook High, and teacher at Millbrook High and West Millbrook Middle. As current president of the Wake County Division of Principals and Assistant Principals, one of his accomplishments has been developing a professional code of ethics to guide the behavior of its members. Hill's leadership style is laissez-faire. "I believe in identifying strong professionals, placing them in leadership positions, and turning them loose while providing support. As they work, I can serve as a sounding board and resource. This practice empowers the team and brings out creativity, promoting success." Hill attributes the school's academic success to using looping in first and second grades and third and fourth grades, testing and analysis of student performance to direct and individualize instruction, and teachers holding information sessions to boost parent involvement. "I continually challenge our parents to get involved and invest their sweat equity as they partner with us to propel their children forward," Hill said. "I talk to students about the meaning of being a student at Wildwood Forest and the responsibility that accompanies that position. I also explain to students that their goal should be to get to the next grade level as a group. They will not be successful as a class if they do not take every classmate with them at the end of May."

Ronco opened Ballentine Elementary this school year. Prior to that, she served as principal of Lincoln Heights Elementary and assistant principal of Apex Elementary, and as a teacher for 20 years. She is a founding member of the Citizens Against Drugs task force and has served on the state's Standards Board for Public School Administrators for five years. She believes leadership shows up in the inspired action of others. "I continually strive to build and nurture a team that invests its heart and soul in children and is committed to their academic success," Ronco said. Before successfully opening a new school this year, Ronco had helped to rebuild Lincoln Heights. "The challenge I faced at Lincoln Heights was to raise its status from one of the most neglected, divided, low-achieving schools in Wake County to that of a respected, quality school where all students achieve," Ronco said. "The story contains lessons about creating community, building self-esteem, and teaching character; lessons about high standards, relevant learning, and evaluations. The Lincoln Heights story is all about risking failure and achieving success. It is a story that everyone at the school - from the youngest kindergarten student to the oldest, most traditional teacher -can help to tell."

Smith has been at Wake Forest-Rolesville High since 1997. Prior to that, he served as assistant principal at Millbrook High and as a school system administrator. He worked as a high school principal, assistant principal and teacher in New York. Smith describes his leadership style as hands-on, with compassion. "I have always believed that I must model the behavior that I want to see in others. So I will never ask a staff member to do something that they have not already seen me do. I believe in being a visionary leader whose style is to communicate that vision everyday through actions. I also believe that it is also important to empower others to be more powerful themselves." WF-R High has been named a School of Distinction and is in the top 20 percent in the state. Smith said he takes great pride in the school's new Ninth-Grade Center. "By developing a Ninth-Grade Center and following a team model for the teachers, we were able to provide significant growth for the students and ease their transition into high school. We gained high growth especially with our Level I and II students across all sub groups." The new program provided a 95 percent promotion rate last year.

Willie has been at West Lake Middle since 1999. Prior to that he served as principal of Holly Springs, Apex and Olds elementary schools, as well as two other North Carolina elementary schools, and as a teacher at elementary and middle schools in Wake County. He also serves as pastor of the Raleigh Metropolitan AME Zion Church where he has been honored as the district's Outstanding Minister of the Year. Willie takes a team approach to leadership. "Everyone on the educational team has strengths. Therefore, we rely on the strong points of each team member to enhance the total organization. Identifying positive points of each individual gives them a sense of worth and will motivate them to work harder," Willie said. The school has boosted academic achievement by holding regular parent conferences, offering mid-day, after-school, and Saturday additional instruction, offering one-on-one mentoring for at-risk students, and providing enrichment programs for English as a Second Language students. "Our student body has reached the Wake County Goal 2003 which states that 95 percent of our students will score a Level III or above on the North Carolina End of Grade tests in math and reading," Willie said.

Assistant Principals

Moore

Spivey

Taylor

Tolley

Umstead

Finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year include Robin Moore of Wake Forest-Rolesville High, Susan Spivey of Cary Elementary, Althea Taylor of East Wake Middle, Pat Tolley of Brooks Elementary, and Bob Umstead of Swift Creek Elementary.

Moore has been at Wake Forest-Rolesville High since 2000. Prior to that, Moore worked 18 years for the NC Department of Correction directing education programs at NC Correctional Institution for Women, Central Prison, and Polk Youth Institution. Moore earned a doctorate in educational policy from NC State in 1998. He believes in the concept of transformational leadership where, "I attempt to create a compelling vision and generate enthusiasm that results in increased confidence, aspirations, and commitment among staff and students." In the past year, Moore led the school's Ninth-Grade Academy, which resulted in 95 percent of the school's ninth-graders earning promotion. He is now looking to spur student interest in reading with the Plato Society. "Students will earn induction into a select club by reading a series of articles, essays and books identified by the ninth-grade faculty. The readings will be varied and will address issues such as the environment, world politics, and ethics."

Spivey has been at Cary Elementary since 1998. Prior to that she served as assistant principal at Wendell Elementary and a Durham middle school, as well as a band director at Leesville Road Middle. In describing her leadership style, Spivey said, "You'll see me 'stylin' in fabric woven from threads of collaboration, empowerment, flexibility, strategic planning, and win/win negotiating. Tapping strengths of teachers, staff and community make the seams of this fabric, clothing me in a classic suit of facilitative leadership." Cary Elementary parent and PTA leader Susan Barrier praised Spivey, "I believe that an effective administrator must be able to organize, delegate, exhibit patience and understanding, have a sense of humor and lead by example. Susan Spivey does all of these things. What a marvelous role model for our children!" Spivey led the school's move to the Reedy Creek Middle campus for a year, and helped to launch the Project Achieve program that's boosted Cary students' achievement.

Taylor has been at East Wake Middle since September 1998. Prior to that she served as an assistant principal at a Greenville elementary school and as an elementary teacher in North Carolina and Virginia schools. Taylor is working on her doctorate in educational leadership at N.C. State. She describes her role as an administrator as being a visionary with a clear and shared vision created with staff, "I assist in assuring that all actions are aligned with our goals by analyzing data, listening, and communicating constantly with valued staff, students, and community. I inspire, motivate and build success for the entire school community." East Wake Principal Clint Johnson describes Taylor as "a sincere person who has her heart in the right place - seeking what is best for the children at her school. She is a shining example to those children through her honesty, integrity, determination and caring."

Tolley has been at Brooks Elementary since August 1989. Prior to that she served as assistant principal at Green Elementary for two years and was a teacher for 19 years at Poe, Hunter, and Green elementary schools. In describing her role as an administrator, Tolley said, "My strength lies in my basic understanding of human nature. I have gained this understanding as a result of my varied experiences in life and the cross sections of people I have worked with in more than 30 years in education in a variety of school settings." Tolley and principal Feleica Locklear have transformed Brooks into a museum magnet school. Locklear says, "This has been a tremendous job that has taken an unbelievable amount of time, energy, patience and prayer. Having no other school to copy - we both realized that we were the writers of this program that others would follow. She has jumped into this program and has done whatever is needed to make it be a successful place for students and parents." The schools kindergarten enrollment doubled after the program's first year.

Umstead has been at Swift Creek Elementary since January 2000. Prior to that he served as assistant principal at Knightdale Elementary for six years and was a PE teacher at Poe Elementary for six years. He also worked as a PE teacher and coach at schools in Siler City and Wilmington. As an administrator, Umstead says, "I see my role as a key member of an administrative team who supports and encourages the staff to provide quality instruction to meet the individual needs of students." Art teacher Stephanie Williams says that Umstead is a great guy to work for. "We see Mr. Umstead all around school, helping wherever he is needed. He certainly is flexible and always has a smile on his face. No matter what a student's or faculty member's concern or problem is, we know that Mr. Umstead will do what he can to help." Umstead has worked to support student academics through schedule changes, implementing programs, involving parents, and strengthening discipline policies.

The Wake County Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year will be named Nov. 7.

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