Carrboro High Student Taking Care of Pediatric Patients Nationwide

Leanne Joyce, a junior at Carrboro High School, is the founder and president of the 501(c)(3) Positive Impact for Kids. She was born with a heart condition narrowing her aortic valve. Formerly a nationally ranked jump roper, competitive swimmer and gymnast, she was unexpectedly told by her cardiologist, at age 12, to immediately stop sports because it was life-threatening. Extremely devastated, she remembered her hospital experience one month prior. While waiting for test results, teenage volunteers handed her a gift which relieved her stress and motivated her to give back. 

Positive Impact for Kids strives to improve the hospital experience for pediatric patients by purchasing items from hospital wish lists. To date, she has helped 83 hospitals, including one in every state. She has raised more than $70,000 and impacted more than 500,000 pediatric patients. 

The Chapel Hill Police Department is partnering with her to facilitate a 5K fundraiser on Sunday, December 4 in Southern Community Park, Chapel Hill. Afterwards, there will be a one-mile race for children 12 and under called Chase the Chief. We anticipate over 250 runners/walkers with the 5K starting at 1 p.m. and the children’s fun run beginning at 2:15 p.m.

Race Registration: https://www.sportoften.com/event/34309/%E2%80%8Bpositive-impact-for-kids-5k-and-chase-the-chief-1-mile-fun-run

Website: http://positiveimpactforkids.org

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CHCCS Hires New Principal for the UNC Hospital School

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Nancy Yoder as principal of the UNC Hospital School. Yoder began her career as an exceptional children’s teacher in Rockford, IL and then served as an elementary classroom teacher and behavior specialist with the Department of Defense Schools in Germany.  She was principal of elementary schools in Beloit, Sun Prairie and Madison, WI.

Currently, Yoder is Executive Director of Student Services and Alternative Education with the Madison Metropolitan School District in Madison.  In that role, she oversees the educational program at American Family Children's Hospital.

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Yoder joining our school district,” said Superintendent Tom Forcella. “Her extensive professional experience, coupled with her compassionate approach to student success, makes her uniquely suited for this important role.”

Yoder will join CHCCS in July 2014.

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Leplin Named Executive Director of Exceptional Children

At its July 18 meeting, the Board of Education approved the hiring of Dr. Sherron Leplin, currently principal of the UNC Hospital School, as the district’s new executive director of exceptional children.  Leplin brings a well-rounded background, along with a depth of experience, to her new role. She previously served as a principal with Durham Public Schools and Orange County Schools, as an exceptional children coordinator and assistant principal with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and a counselor, coordinator and teacher with Guilford County Schools.

Leplin earned her doctorate and two master’s degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She also earned a master’s degree from North Carolina A&T University and a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University. 

The Board also approved Tony Widder as the interim assistant principal at Scroggs Elementary.  Widder spent the past school year at Scroggs Elementary as an administrative intern. He also served as a math teacher for seven years at Reedy Creek Middle School in Wake County.  Widder received his master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his bachelor’s degree from Kent State University in Ohio.

Dr. Sherron Leplin

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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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CHCCS hires new principals

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools hired three new principals at the July 19 Board of Education Meeting.

Jonathan Enns was named principal of Phillips MS.  Enns has served as an assistant principal at Fuquay-Varina HS for the last four years.  He has also been a physics teacher at Green Hope HS in Cary and an Algebra teacher at East Lee MS in Sanford.  Enns holds a bachelor’s degree in Science and Education from the University of Windsor in Windsor, Canada and a master’s degree in School Administration from North Carolina State University.


"Mr. Enns has been a highly regarded leader in his current role and brings with him a clear focus on school culture and instruction," said Superintendent Thomas A. Forcella.
Sherron Leplin has been named the principal for the UNC Hospital School.  Leplin was the principal at E.K. Powe Elementary in Durham for 2011-12 and was also a principal at Grady A. Brown Elementary School in Hillsborough for six years.  She previously worked in CHCCS for seven years.  She served as the exceptional education coordinator for the district from 1997-2000 and then as the assistant principal for Carrboro Elementary from 1997-2000.  She has also been a school counselor, an EC teacher and a language arts/science teacher.  She also worked as a therapist.  Leplin holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Exceptional Children Education from Appalachian State University.  She also holds three master’s degrees: one in Elementary Education from North Carolina A&T State University, two from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with one in Educational Administration and one in Counseling.  Leplin also holds a doctorate in Cultural Foundations:  Curriculum Development, Instruction and Educational Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

John Williams was named the principal at Phoenix Academy HS.  Williams was the principal of Chewning MS in Durham for the 2011-12 school year.  He has also been an assistant principal at both Riverside HS and Chewning MS.  Before working in education, Williams was a Senior Master Sergeant in the US Air Force.  He was also a professional counselor in Florida.  Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Maryland.  He also has a master’s degree in Science from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama and a master’s degree in School Administration from East Carolina University.


Gregory Mitchell has been hired as a new assistant principal at East Chapel Hill HS. Mitchell was the assistant principal at Cedar Ridge HS in Hillsborough from 2010-12. He has also been a science teacher in North Carolina and Massachusetts. Mitchell holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Duke University. He also holds two master's degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: one is in Science and a second in School Administration.

Robert Bales has been named the assistant principal at McDougle MS.  He was an assistant principal at Chapel Hill HS.

The district is still working to fill the principal position at Chapel Hill HS.

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