Drew Cook Named 2011 Principal of the Year
October 6, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System named Drew Cook of Garner Magnet High School the 2011 Principal of the Year and Syreeta Smith of North Forest Pines Elementary the 2011 Assistant Principal of the Year in ceremonies this evening at the Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh.
The awards ceremony is sponsored by Pierce Group Benefits and the Wake County Division of Principals and Assistant Principals.
 Drew Cook |
Drew Cook, 2011 Principal of the Year
Cook has been in education for 14 years and has been principal of Garner Magnet High for 2.5 years. Prior to that, he was an assistant principal and teacher at Garner High.
Cook is a devoted husband and father, spending much of his free time with his wife and their daughters who are 8 and 10. He enjoys playing church softball, golfing, hiking, and weekend trips to the beach.
Cook said continuous collection and analysis of data relevant to instructional programming is important.
“When possible, we work as a collective team to study and identify what we think to be effective practices, then implement these practices in pockets as pilots and watch as the practice spreads when the realization sets in that it is working. Once our best instructional practices have been identified, and school-level data can be used to support the continued use of these strategies, then we can clearly define our expectations for teaching and learning as a school.”
Garner High coach Eddie Gray has known Cook for some time.
“I have known him as a student athlete, fellow social studies teacher, my assistant basketball coach, my assistant principal and now my principal,” said Gray. “Over the years, I have watched him grow from a tall, gangly junior in high school that helped a young varsity basketball coach win a conference championship to an outstanding high school principal that has led our beloved school through some very difficult times.”
Student Rachel Gogal witnessed firsthand the transformation of her school under Cook’s leadership.
“When he was appointed principal, the excitement was evident in the halls and in the classrooms,” said Gogal. “His mission was to make sure we succeeded in all aspects of education, from the International Baccalaureate’s expectations in our classes to our artistic endeavors in theater and chorus to our continued success in athletics. The school is on its way to making his mission come true.”
2011 Principal of the Year finalists include Gary Baird of Lead Mine Elementary, Pamela Kinsey-Barker of Brassfield Elementary, Kevin Biles of Pleasant Union Elementary and Wade Martin of Martin Magnet Middle.
 Syreeta Smith |
Syreeta Smith, 2011 Assistant Principal of the Year
Smith has been in education for 13 years and has been assistant principal at North Forest Pines Elementary for five years. Prior to that, she served as an assistant principal and assistant principal intern at Wilburn Elementary and a teacher in a Goldsboro elementary school.
Smith was a finalist for Assistant Principal of the Year in 2010.
2011 Assistant Principal of the Year finalists include Cheryl Fenner of Hilburn Drive Elementary, Ruth Ann Freeman of Bugg Magnet Elementary, Richard Williams of Davis Drive Middle and Greg Welsh of Panther Creek High.
Awards presented
The 10 finalists received an acrylic award and a rolling cart filled with office supplies compliments of Michael Mann of Office Depot.
The principal finalists received a monetary award that was made possible by Hunt Ward, Lifetouch Studios. Each assistant principal finalist received a monetary award that was made possible by Jubal Stagner and Kim Trezona of Jostens.
The Principal of the Year received a $1,000 check compliments of Hunt Ward of Lifetouch Studios as well as a rolling cart filled with miscellaneous office supplies and a HP Officejet combination printer/scanner/fax/copier - compliments of Michael Mann of Office Depot. The Principal of the Year’s school received a $500 monetary award compliments of Michael Strawbridge, Strawbridge Studios.
The Assistant Principal of the Year received a $500 check, compliments of Jubal Stagner and Kim Trezona of Jostens as well as a rolling cart filled with miscellaneous office supplies and a HP Officejet combination printer/scanner/fax/copier - compliments of Michael Mann of Office Depot.
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