KANNAPOLIS — Kannapolis Intermediate School Principal Todd Parker will become the new leader of A.L. Brown High School beginning July 1.

The Kannapolis Board of Education selected Parker to become the new A.L. Brown principal during a special meeting on June 22. Erik Johnson, who is currently the principal of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, will move to Kannapolis Intermediate School to replace Parker as principal there. Kannapolis City Schools has begun the search for new principal to lead Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. The position was posted Tuesday.

Parker joined Kannapolis City Schools in 1995, and has been an award-winning principal, teacher and curriculum coordinator.

Parker began his career as a social studies teacher at Kannapolis Middle School and A.L. Brown High School. In 2000, he was named A.L. Brown’s teacher of the year and was the district’s runner-up teacher of the year. He also was honored as a Time Warner Cable Star Teacher Award winner, and he earned the Homer Thompson Memorial “Eight Who Make A Difference” award.

While Parker was still a teacher, he successfully completed North Carolina’s Principal Fellows Program, which prepares top teachers to become principals. He was named curriculum coordinator at Fred L. Wilson Elementary School in July 2004 and was promoted to principal of Fred L. Wilson Elementary in January 2005. In 2008, Parker was named Kannapolis City Schools’ principal of the year.

Parker earned another promotion in October of 2012 when he became principal of Kannapolis Intermediate School. As the leader of Kannapolis Intermediate School, he has helped to improve student achievement and has partnered with the Kannapolis Rotary Club to implement a new character education program called Early Act First Knight.

He will now return to the school where he was named teacher of the year to become A.L. Brown’s principal.

“I am very excited to be taking on this new role,” Parker said. “I have loved my time at Kannapolis Intermediate School, and I will miss the staff, students and parents tremendously. However, I also love A.L. Brown High School. It holds a special place in my heart and a special place in this community. I am looking forward to returning to A.L. Brown and to working with the staff, students, parents and community. I want everyone to feel they are part of A.L. Brown, and I am delighted to have this wonderful opportunity.”

Superintendent Dr. Pam Cain says Parker will do an outstanding job as A.L. Brown’s new leader. “Todd Parker has been successful in Kannapolis City Schools. He is a leader who has a strong commitment to Kannapolis City Schools and to A.L. Brown High School. He will be familiar to students and staff and will be a wonderful principal for A.L. Brown. I am very pleased that he will be moving into this new role.”

Parker earned his bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from Appalachian State University. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina Charlotte with a master’s degree in school administration, and he is currently completing his doctorate in educational leadership from Wingate University.

Johnson will replace Parker as the new principal of Kannapolis Intermediate School.

Prior to becoming principal of Woodrow Wilson Elementary, Johnson was a sixth-grade teacher at Kannapolis Intermediate. In June of 2011, he received the Hilbish Ford Outstanding Teacher of the Month award. In 2012, Johnson moved to Woodrow Wilson Elementary School to become the school’s curriculum coordinator. He was then promoted to the role of principal in July of 2013.

Johnson came to Kannapolis City Schools in 2005 to serve as a social studies teacher at Kannapolis Intermediate School. He earned his master’s degree from National Louis University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and received his bachelor’s degree from Ripon College in Wisconsin. He is currently completing his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Wingate University.

Cain says Johnson will be an excellent fit for Kannapolis Intermediate School. “Erik Johnson has done an outstanding job during his time at Woodrow Wilson. He has earned the respect of everyone at that school, and he is highly regarded throughout the district. His previous experience at the intermediate school will serve him very well, and I believe he is the ideal person to lead KIS. ”

“I will miss being part of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School,” Johnson said. “It is a great school, and it has become my home over the past three years. However, I am excited about this new opportunity. KIS has an outstanding staff and excellent community support, and I am looking forward to being part of the school again.”