Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Nov/Dec 2017 | Page 13

Continued...UCPS names Principal of the Year finalists
Weddington Middle -- Marcus
Leake
Marcus Leake began his teaching
career in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools,
where he taught science and math and
later served as an assistant principal.
After transitioning to UCPS in 2007 as an
assistant principal at Weddington High,
Marcus also served as assistant principal
at Weddington Middle in 2014 before
being named principal in 2015.
Western Union Elementary – Kristi
Williford
Kristi Williford began her teaching
career at middle and high schools in
Cabarrus County. After serving as an
assistant principal for four years and
a principal for five years, Kristi moved
to UCPS where she served as assistant
principal at Western Union Elementary
in 2012 before being named principal in
2013.
New Town Elementary Principal Catherine Perry is named 2017-18 Principal of the Year
New Town Elementary Principal
of communication during a lockdown at her
Catherine (Cathy) Perry’s passion
school, which was further complicated by a
for education began at a young age.
power outage.
When she was only seven years
As principal of UCPS’ largest elementary
old, Cathy remembers standing in
school, which has more than 900 students
front of a chalkboard set up in her
and nearly 100 staff members, Cathy was
garage, often assigning homework
also recognized for creating and sustaining
and disciplining the pretend
a climate of high expectations for student
“students” who sat in a row of
learning and behavior.
empty chairs.
“When you go to this school, you know
After years of teaching at
immediately that it is a school that is focused
elementary and middle schools,
on kids first. They are focused on data-
and joining the administrative staff
driven improvement and have the highest
at New Town Elementary, it was
expectations” said UCPS Superintendent Dr.
that same passion for education
Andrew Houlihan before presenting Cathy
that led Cathy to be selected as
with her award. “This is a fantastic school
this year’s top principal during the
and I’m so very proud of the work and
2017 Principal of the Year Luncheon.
accomplishments that have occurred during
The awards luncheon was held
the past year since I’ve been here.”
Thursday, Oct. 12 at Union County
Union County Education Foundation
Public Schools’ (UCPS) Professional
presented Cathy with a $2,000 check, half of
Development Center.
which will be donated to New Town Elementary
“I feel extremely honored and
and the other half which will go towards her
humbled to have even been a part
personal use. Cathy will now represent UCPS
of this group as a finalist. Everyone
in the regional Wells Fargo Principal of the Year
in this room – building-level
competition.
Union County Education Foundation presented
administrators and district-level
Also during the luncheon, Piedmont High
Cathy with a $2,000 check, half of which will be
administrators – have shaped me
Assistant Principal Angela Medlin was awarded
donated to New Town Elementary and the other
into the principal that I am today
the Assistant Principal of the Year award.
half which will go towards her personal use.
and that I continue to grow to be,”
Angela, who has served as assistant
Cathy will now represent UCPS in the regional
Cathy said after winning her award. Wells Fargo Principal of the Year competition.
principal of the school since July 2015, began
“I take so much, the good and the
her education career with UCPS in 1999. She
bad, from everything that we go through together. I am humbled
taught at East Union Middle and Piedmont High before joining
and honored, and thank you so much for this recognition.”
Piedmont High’s administrative team as assistant principal.
Cathy, who has been principal at New Town Elementary for
“I was honored to have been nominated and considered
nearly five years, was recognized for her efforts to lead the
because there were so many great finalists,” Angela said after the
school’s staff towards excellence while also preparing students to
ceremony. “I love my job and I love working with kids. I am so, so
take the next step on their journey to being prepared for college,
thankful for this award and will do my best to represent the best
career and life.
of Union County Public Schools and Piedmont High School.”
Under her leadership, New Town Elementary received an
Union County Education Foundation also presented Angela with
A+ School Performance Grade as well as exceeded its growth
a $1,000 check, half of which will be donated to Piedmont High
measure during the past three years. She received a Team
and the other half which will go towards her personal use.
UCPS Leadership Award in 2016 for her leadership and level
Parent Teacher Magazine • Nov/Dec 2017 • 11