New Principals Named for Three Schools: McDougle Elementary, Chapel Hill High and East Chapel Hill High

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education approved the hiring of three new principals earlier this evening.

Aisha Howard has been named principal of McDougle Elementary. Ms. Howard is an experienced principal who joins us from Durham Public Schools, where she has served as principal of Oak Grove Elementary since 2011. Prior to that, she was principal of North Elementary in Person County Schools. Ms. Howard spent three years as an assistant principal in Durham and seven years teaching in Durham and Guilford County Schools. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from UNC-Greensboro, and her Master of School Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Charles Blanchard is the new principal of Chapel Hill High. He is currently the executive director of Career and Technical Education for Guilford County Schools. Mr. Blanchard is a long-time high school principal who has previously led Grimsley High in Guilford, James B. Hunt High in Wilson, Southeast Guilford High and the Early College at Guilford. He also served as principal of Fuquay-Varina Middle in Wake County. Mr. Blanchard was an assistant principal at Garner High, and a teacher/coach at Ralph L. Fike High in Wilson County. He earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Educational Administration at East Carolina University, where he was a Teaching Fellow and later a Principal Fellow.

Kenneth Proulx was hired as principal of East Chapel Hill High. He comes to us from Wake County Public Schools where he has served as principal of Holly Grove Middle School since it opened in 2010. Mr. Proulx has experience as a principal at the elementary, middle and high school levels. He came to North Carolina from New York, where he served as principal of Beaver River Middle/High and West Carthage Elementary. Mr. Proulx also served as Wake County’s Executive Director of Organizational Development and Support. Prior to school administration, he was a middle and high school Social Studies teacher. Mr. Proulx earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science at the State University of New York at Potsdam. He also earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from the State University of New York at Oswego.

From left to right: Charles Blanchard, Chapel Hill High Principal;
Aisha Howard, McDougle Elementary Principal; Kenneth Proulx, East Chapel Hill High Principal

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Tiffany Cheshire - Assistant Principal of the Year

Tiffany Cheshire
Phillips Middle School

Congratulations to Tiffany Cheshire of Phillips Middle School, the 2018-19 Assistant Principal of the Year! 

Cheshire has been the assistant principal at Phillips since August 2017. She has made a quick and powerful impact. 

"I am honored to work alongside Tiffany Cheshire every day," said Phillips Middle School Principal Drew Ware. "She embodies educational leadership with her creativity, professionalism and the way she interacts with students. She helps make Phillips a great school."

      

Before joining the team at Phillips, Cheshire served as assistant principal at McDougle Elementary School for four years. She arrived in the district in April 2013 from Alamance-Burlington Schools, and spent the 2010-11 year as principal intern at Seawell Elementary. She began her career as a Spanish teacher in Orange County Schools. 

      

After receiving her B.S. in Spanish Education at Appalachian State, Cheshire earned her Masters in School Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

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McDougle Dolphins Meet Quinoa (Keen-wah)

The mood was festive and bright on a chilly Thursday in McDougle Elementary School’s atrium, as class after class of Dolphins filed in, one or two at a time; they sat on the floor and learned about whole grains, MyPlate and especially, the star of the day, Quinoa. Advertised by Chartwells Child Nutrition as a sampling and education extravaganza, a full team of CHCCS Chartwells staff partnered with Chef Jay-Z from InHarvest to present a quinoa-palooza that was pleasing to both the palate and the eye.

March is National Nutrition Month, and Chartwells has been busy throughout the district with various special events, but the spotlight is on quinoa. The March lunch schedule notes that “Quinoa contains all 9 amino acids- a complete protein with 5 grams in one cooked cup.” It’s an intact grain, gluten-free - and there are 120 different types of quinoa. The signature dish presented by district chef Jordan Keyser, chef Jay-Z(iobrowski) and the team at Chartwells is Cilantro-Lime Quinoa, served in crunchy tacos with chicken or beef, or as part of the SONO lines in the high schools.

Lynne Privette, CHCCS registered dietitian, led the initial lesson and game of “Guess the Grains” when she showed the students displays of oats, wheat berries and mixed rice. They learned how to say “kamut” and “legumes,” but when it came time to introduce the children to the correct pronunciation of quinoa (with a large poster that spelled out “Keen-wah”), the Chartwells team smiled as most of their audience called out the perfectly inflected word, without the phonetic spelling assistance. “Only in Chapel Hill-Carrboro,” whispered one adult observer. 

Next up was Chef Jay-Z, who talked about the MyPlate app, and he showed them how a healthy plate contains at least a quarter of whole grains for each meal. “You want to eat a breakfast of whole grains instead of Pop-Tarts,” he told them. “You’ll stay awake longer, your brains will work better and you’ll get better grades.”

And how did students respond to the lesson on nutrition, and the follow-up sample of cilantro-lime quinoa and chips? Tamara Baker, communications and project director for No Kid Hungry NC, attended the full event and shared this feedback. "The excitement and joy on the children's faces at the whole grains nutrition learning event at McDougle Elementary sent an important message: They loved the tasty morsels! We need to spread the word that healthy foods that are both tasty and provide mega-fuel for growing bodies and minds are available at lunch and breakfast in our schools!"

Even the youngest children, the Pre-K students, sat rapt, waiting patiently to receive their portions, and most of them tucked right in. “Awesome,” and “so good” and “I love it” were the reactions from many.

As a kindergarten class filed back out of the atrium, one boy said, “For some reason I feel like running real fast now.” Another child said, “My grandma needs some ‘cause she broke her hip.”

Lessons learned, and when those quinoa tacos show up on the lunch line the next two Tuesdays at McDougle Elementary, there’ll be a lot of intact grain experts, ready to recap their knowledge and chow down.

Liz Cartano, the CHCCS director of child nutrition, shared her reminder about the importance of the Chartwells commitment to Eat Lean and Live.  “We are not only about the food we serve each day in the cafe but about how we impact the child through food, nutrition ed and the importance of being dedicated to the community that we live in.”

No Kid Hungry NC
InHarvest

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Mayor Hemminger Visits McDougle Elementary

Third grade students at McDougle Elementary School are diving into the subject of Local Governments this month, so what better way to learn about municipal leadership than to hear from the Mayor herself.

      

Mayor Pam Hemminger spent nearly an hour with the students on Monday, December 4 as they prepared to construct their own versions of municipal governments, including electing a mayor for each classroom.

      

Students and their teachers had prepared lists of questions, ranging from “What is your family like?” to “Why do houses in Chapel Hill cost so much?” and “When you make decisions, who do you think about?” The mayor managed the room full of children with ease, and she noted that when her four children attended district schools, she volunteered frequently. Blending specific facts and policy ideas with humorous anecdotes, the mayor provided an abundance of information to her audience.

      

In response to the question, “Is it hard or easy, being the mayor?” Hemminger shared that some days can be really challenging and long, while others are relatively easy. She described how she can’t go out in sweats like she used to, and how surprising it was to “lose” her name. “Now everyone just calls me Mayor.” When she noted that she’s paid as a half-time employee, even though she often works 70 hours a week, one student shrieked from the back of the room, “WHAT???”

      

Hemminger laughed. “Yes, I said What? too.”

      

A student asked if Hemminger had always wanted to be a mayor, which elicited a big smile. She said no, not at all, though she had served as class president in high school. “I guess I’ve always wanted things to run better…I love helping our community. I wasn’t really planning on running for mayor.” She noted that Chapel Hill has a tradition of welcoming diversity and outside-the-box thinking. “But I felt like we were moving away from that, towards being just a bedroom community for people who could afford it. My own children said, 'Mom, quit waiting for change to happen. You’ve always told us, Be the change you want to see in the world,'” a statement that made several students nod their heads.

       

Students wanted to know if she lives in a “fancy house,” and the mayor admitted it’s become fancier since her husband insisted they add a Ping Pong Room, which was also met with students’ approval. They asked her if she can take gifts, so the mayor explained that government officials take an ethics training that emphasizes how important it is to avoid gifts and special favors.

      

Many children were curious about the “best part” of being Mayor. Hemminger shared that she had been able to give hugs to both President Obama and singer James Taylor, and that day was one high point. A student inquired about other celebrities. “Have you hugged Taylor Swift?”

       

Natalie Sayag, one of their teachers, asked if Hemminger, also a former school board member and chair,

had specific advice to prepare them for the afternoon’s government simulation. The mayor replied, “It’s really important to hear every voice at the table.”

       

“It’s been an amazing, amazing experience,” Hemminger told the students as they stood up to file back to their classrooms. A few children hung back to give the mayor a hug.

       

At the end of the day, Stephens Watson, another third grade teacher, shared this observation, “During the simulations this afternoon, I think the kids were really taking Mayor Hemminger's advice to listen to everyone's opinion. The kids were excited to get their roles and it seemed like they realized the importance of each role in the government.”

       

Who knows? Maybe cafeteria and classroom conversations this week will include new phrases like “affordable housing,” “stormwater fees” and “rural buffers.” And maybe a few aspiring politicians, currently studying at McDougle Elementary, will look back on today’s mayoral visit as the day it all started.

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Board Approves Three Administrative Appointments

The CHCCS Board of Education approved three administrative appointments at its July 24 meeting.

Pamela McCann

Pamela McCann was named principal of Estes Hills Elementary. She is currently the assistant principal of the same school, arriving in 2016 from Durham Public Schools. In Durham, McCann served as an assistant principal at both Creekside Elementary and Githens Middle. Additionally, she worked as an academic coach and classroom teacher, with experience in Social Studies, Language Arts and Behavior Intervention. Her teaching career included time in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Durham Public Schools and Orange County Public Schools (Florida). McCann completed her Bachelor of Arts and her Master of School Administration from North Carolina Central University.

Monica Bintz

Monica Bintz was named principal of Culbreth Middle. She is currently assistant principal of Phillips Middle, where she has worked since 2015. Prior to that, Bintz worked as a principal intern and teacher in Durham Public Schools, and as a Language Arts teacher in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her experience also includes serving as a teacher and dean of students in Brooklyn, New York, and as a teacher and basketball coach in Washington, DC. Bintz completed a Master of School Adminstration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Education from the City University of New York, Hunter College, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Mary Washington.




The Board also approved the appointment of Tiffany Cheshire as assistant principal at Phillips Middle.

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Kara VanHooser - 2017 New Voices Award for Excellence

New Voices is a local non-profit with a mission to help children with severe communication and physical challenges maximize their learning potential. The ultimate goal of New Voices is inclusion in all aspects of life. The Lara Jane Parker Awards Program was established to provide both reward and recognition to those outstanding teachers, therapists, parents, education and health professionals and leaders who work daily to improve the lives of New Voices children. These individuals help improve their schools and their communities in ways that will allow these children to be fully included in all aspects of their daily lives.

The award for excellence recognizes individuals from the Alamance/Burlington, Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Orange, Wake counties school districts and the Chapel Hill—Carrboro City Schools, who have direct instructional or therapeutic contact with a school-aged child (or children) with communication and physical challenges.

Kara VanHooser, a speech language pathologist at McDougle Elementary School, is one of three winners of the 2017 Award for Excellence. Kara has over 20 years of experience and serves as the Exceptional Children’s team lead. Kara is proactive in engaging a child’s whole team, including families, private therapists and physicians to meet the student’s communication and other needs. She invites local and state politicians to meet her students and to understand their challenges. She maintains regular contact with them to discuss the issues that affect her students.

Kara received her Masters of Science in Speech/Language Pathology from James Madison University. She was nominated by Delia Hudson, her peer speech language pathologist, working at McDougle Elementary School. She will be honored at a ceremony on April 19 at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill.

Congratulations Kara!

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Twelve CHCCS Teachers Earn National Board Certification!

North Carolina leads the nation in the number of National Board Certified Teachers. We are pleased to announce the following educators recently earned their national certification.

Susan Azzu - ESL teacher at Rashkis Elementary
Holly Loranger - social studies teacher at Chapel Hill High
Melissa Nicholson-Clark - Intervention Specialist at Morris Grove Elementary
Samantha Howard - classroom teacher at Morris Grove Elementary
Christine Cohn - classroom teacher at Estes Hills Elementary
Jenny Marie Smith - English teacher at East Chapel Hill High
Agnes Bernasconi - classroom teacher at Rashkis Elementary
Ashley Laver - classroom teacher at Rashkis Elementary
Miles Chappell - social studies teacher at Phillips Middle
Jennifer Pedersen - Intervention Specialist at Northside Elementary
Lisa Myles - Gifted Specialist at McDougle Elementary
Beth Kinney - EC Resource teacher at McDougle Middle


Additionally, the following six educators have renewed their national certification. We appreciate their ongoing commitment to excellence.

Susanna Breeden, social studies teacher at Phillips Middle
Annie Cramer, art teacher at Seawell Elementary
Toni DeMarco, classroom teacher at Morris Grove Elementary
Jessica Harris, counselor at East Chapel Hill High
Bradey McDaniel, classroom teacher at Rashkis Elementary
John Montavon, Spanish teacher at McDougle Middle

Congratulations and thank you to all of our nationally certified educators.

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Welcome (Home) Tiffany Cheshire

We want to welcome Tiffany Cheshire back to our school district as the new assistant principal of McDougle Elementary School. Tiffany was most recently in the Alamance-Burlington School System as an assistant principal, but prior to that she served as a principal intern at Seawell Elementary School. She also spent four years in the Orange County Public School System as a Spanish teacher. Tiffany earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Appalachian State University and her Master of School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Welcome back, Tiffany!

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Principals Hired for Elementary Schools

The Board of Education approved the hiring of two new principals at its January 17 meeting.  Patrenia McDowell was named the principal for McDougle Elementary and Lewis "Drew" Ware was named the principal for Estes Hills Elementary.

McDowell has served as the McDougle Elementary's interim principal since September and was the school's assistant principal since 2008.  McDowell holds a both bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education and a master of education degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.  She also holds:  a NC Principals Certificate, Grades K-12; a NC Professional Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education, Grades K-6; a Curriculum Instructional Specialist certification; and Academically Gifted and Talented licensure.  McDowell also earned her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).  Before joining CHCCS, McDowell was an elementary school teacher in Durham Public Schools and in South Carolina.

"Patrenia McDowell's commitment to creating a rigorous, high functioning learning culture at McDougle Elementary School made her selection an easy one for the interview and selection team," said Superintendent Thomas A. Forcella.  "She has proven during her time as assistant principal and interim principal that she is up to the task of providing the leadership that will bring McDougle Elementary to new levels of student learning," he added.

McDowell begins her tenure as principal at McDougle Elementary immediately.

Ware is currently the principal at Aldert Root STEM Elementary in Wake County, a position he has held since 2009.  He has also been the assistant principal at Vance Year Round Elementary and prior to that a classroom teacher at Underwood Gifted and Talented Elementary from 1999-2007.  Ware earned both a bachelor of arts degree in Elementary Education and a master of education degree in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He also holds:  a NC Principals Certificate, Grades K-12; a NC Professional Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education, Grades K-6.

"The experience that Mr. Ware brings to Estes Hills Elementary will prove to be a significant asset for staff and students.  Specifically, his background in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) initiative will be a great benefit, for not only the school, but the entire district," said Forcella.  "His excitement for improving learning for all students is contagious!"

Susan Pegg will continue to serve as the interim principal at Estes Hills Elementary until Ware starts in March.  She will be supported by Deshera Mack, another retired CHCCS principal.

Patrenia McDowell
Principal, McDougle Elementary

Drew Ware
Principal, Estes Hills Elementary

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United Way Campaign - Thanks To All Who Contributed!

The CHCCS United Way Campaign recently came to a close and we are pleased to announce that our 19 schools plus central office raised $28,787.56 this year. A few highlights of this year's campaign:

- Estes Hills Elementary, McDougle Elementary, East Chapel Hill High and the UNC Hospital School showed the largest percentage increase in contributions versus the previous year;

- Ephesus Elementary led all sites with 44 donors;

- The elementary school with the largest total was Morris Grove Elementary with $3,234.

- The middle school with the largest total was McDougle Middle with $1,155.

- The high school with the largest total was East Chapel Hill High with $2,284.

We want to thank everyone who participated in this great event. Your contributions are positively impacting lives in our community and beyond!

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Hartness Selected as Learning and Intervention Services Director

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools has named Dr. Amanda Hartness as its director of Learning and Intervention Services (LIS).  She is currently the principal at McDougle Elementary.

As part of the Instructional Services Division (ISD), this position includes the district’s Responsiveness to Instruction (RtI) initiative whose former coordinator, Dr. Caryn Sabourin Ward, stepped down in June.

Hartness has worked as McDougle Elementary’s principal since 2008.  She joined the district in 2006 as the assistant principal at Carrboro Elementary.  Hartness has been recognized nationally for her leadership at McDougle Elementary in the area of wellness.  McDougle Elementary was a national finalist in the Recipes for Healthy Kids Challenge and won a Bronze Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for the school’s efforts at improving meal service and fitness activities.  In addition, Hartness is the current Principal of the Year for CHCCS.

Prior to working at CHCCS, Hartness served as the technology director in Cherokee County. She also was a technology facilitator, a technology specialist and a third grade teacher in Alamance County.

Hartness holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee.  She also recently earned her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University.

“Amanda has been an outstanding leader in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools since her arrival in 2006.  She is highly organized, innovative and passionate about her work.  Above all else, she is a true advocate for children,” said Superintendent Thomas A. Forcella.

Forcella went on to add, “We feel fortunate that she is willing to take on this important leadership position focused on instruction and learning.”

Patrenia McDowell, the current assistant principal at McDougle Elementary, has been selected as the interim principal at the school.  McDowell has served as the assistant principal since 2007.

Mary Parrish, a former assistant principal at McDougle MS, has been approved as the interim assistant principal at McDougle Elementary.

Amanda Hartness

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