As a proud product of the Wake County Public School System, it is an incredible honor to now serve as principal at Yates Mill Elementary since May 2019. My 29-year journey in education was inspired by my second-grade teacher at Bugg Elementary whose care and high expectations after the sudden loss of my father left a lasting impact. Her example shaped my mission: to ensure all students learn in a safe, nurturing environment where they are challenged to succeed despite circumstances. I believe every child deserves the same rich, high-quality education WCPSS gave me—one that prepares them to reach their dreams too. What happens at the elementary school level can indeed impact students' future. My mission is to ensure that ALL students possess the tools they need to build a bright future for themselves. 

I began teaching in Wake County Schools in 1996 at Rand Road and then at Middle Creek Elementary Schools before serving three years with the NC Department of Public Instruction as a State Assistance Team Member supporting staff and students in Weldon City and Edgecombe County Schools. Since then, my leadership roles at River Bend, Poe Montessori Magnet, Walnut Creek, and Yates Mill Elementary have focused on strengthening instruction, promoting equity, and fostering an inclusive learning environment where every student can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. At Walnut Creek, I launched a school garden and The Care Cottage, a family resource program to provide year-round support for families in need. Here at Yates Mill, I established a Family Engagement Center offering food, clothing, furnishings, and other resources to strengthen the connection between school and home. 

Earning a Doctorate degree amid the Covid 19 pandemic, leading Yates Mill in Exceeding Academic Growth in 2022-23 for the first time in ten years coupled with recognitions such as Yates Mill being named a Model School in 2024, our team presenting nationally on collaborative PLC practices, and being selected as a semi-finalist for WCPSS Principal of the Year are career highlights. Still, nothing compares to the daily privilege of serving the students and families in the same district that educated me. This truly is a full-circle moment.

Although deeply dedicated to my school community, I am equally devoted to my family. I am the proud wife of a retired Army veteran and the mother of a scholar-athlete at Winston-Salem State University, where my son is pursuing a Master's Degree in Information Technology. My parents, sister, niece, and nephew also live here in Wake County, and we are a very close-knit family who cherish spending time together.

One of the guiding quotes that informs my work is by Rod Edmonds: “We can, whenever and wherever we choose, successfully teach all children whose schooling is of interest to us. We already know more than we need to do this. Whether we do it or not must finally depend on how we feel about the fact that we have not done it so far.” Penned nearly 40 years ago, this statement remains powerfully relevant today.

At Yates Mill Elementary, living out our mission is my top priority: to increase the achievement of all students by providing high-quality, differentiated classroom instruction that fosters excellence to promote academic and personal growth. Each day, I strive to lead our staff, students, and families in that mission, ensuring that all Yates Mill students are afforded the rich, rigorous educational experiences they deserve. 

I hope you're "Committed to Climb" this year! Our students are depending on us to take them to the top!

vmartin@wcpss.net
Follow @mill_yates