Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools names 2016 Principal of the Year
Beth Thompson, principal of Whitewater Middle School, receives top honor
Beth Thompson, principal of Whitewater Middle School, is the 2016 CMS Principal of the
Year.
Thompson was surprised at her school on Wednesday, Oct. 12 by Superintendent Ann
Clark. She represents the Beacon Learning Community and this was her second year as a
finalist for principal of the year. Thompson’s staff members and family were also on-hand for the
presentation.
“Beth Thompson is an exceedingly effective principal who leads her school with a passion
for students combined with extremely high expectations,” said Dawn Robinson, chief school
performance officer. “She has demonstrated her leadership both within and beyond her school
walls in district and national opportunities.”
Thompson is in her third year as Whitewater Middle principal and her 21st year at CMS.
A Richmond, Va., native who moved to Charlotte after earning her bachelor’s degree from
Davidson College, she began as a Latin teacher at Alexander Graham Middle before shifting into
administration. She was principal at Whitewater Academy for four years.
As a child, Thompson knew she loved education and would pretend to be a teacher. In
college, she considered following her father’s steps as a Presbyterian minister. “After some soulsearching, I realized that you don’t have to be a minister to serve others,” said Thompson.
After 10 years in the classroom, Thompson realized she wanted to have a larger impact. “In my heart I love teaching and probably my happiest place to
be is a classroom,” she said. “But I want to lead a school and a community on a quest for excellence. I want to set a goal and say, ‘Here’s where we want to
be’ and start working together to get there. It’s bigger than test scores. I’m driven by a mission to alleviate poverty and that starts with education. I want to
see the schools in West Charlotte be a point of pride in the community. That’s what draws me here.”
Thompson will move on to the 12-district regional principal of the year contest. The winner will be announced in January and will compete for the state
principal of the year honor. She received a new television from the National Teacher’s Association.
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Parent Teacher News • September/October 2016 • 4