Rebecca “Becky” Kepley-Lee, principal of Cleveland Elementary School, has been selected as the 2010 Wachovia Principal of the Year for the Rowan-Salisbury School System in a program sponsored by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and Wachovia Corp., a part of Wells Fargo Co.
Rowan-Salisbury School System Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom made the announcement during the Administrative Team meeting Thursday morning to all school principals and central office administrative staff at Horizons Unlimited.
“Becky serves Cleveland Elementary as an outstanding principal,” Grissom said. “She truly cares about each student and each person who works at Cleveland. I could not be more thrilled in seeing Becky receive this well deserved recognition. I am very proud of her.
“Our system is fortunate to have a leader with such high standards, commitment, and love of education to hold as a model for us all.”
Kepley-Lee now moves forward to compete with other local award recipients from the Northwest Region of the state. After the state selection process is completed, one principal will be named as the North Carolina 2010 Wachovia Principal of the Year.
Kepley-Lee began working in the Rowan-Salisbury School System in 1986 as a teacher assistant at Hurley Elementary School, a position she held for just a few months. She served as a teacher at both Morgan and Cleveland elementary schools and became principal at Cleveland Elementary in 1998.
A graduate of West Rowan High School, Kepley-Lee continued her education at Catawba College, earning a bachelor’s degree in early childhood, intermediate and middle grades.
She did her student teaching at Landis Elementary School.
Kepley-Lee received her master’s in early childhood education and an administrative certificate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as well as an advanced degree in educational administration from Appalachian State University.
Joy Jenkins, a third-grade teacher at Cleveland and the Rowan-Salisbury School System’s Teacher of the Year, said, “Becky Kepley-Lee’s dedication and love for those she leads is evident with every breath she takes. Her outstanding leadership allows those around her to grow, to make mistakes and to learn in a loving environment. This supportive family atmosphere fosters the best in everyone from students, to parents, to faculty and staff.
“Thanks to Becky, we have become an outstanding school making a difference in our community. She has always been our Principal of the Year. We’re just glad everyone else knows it!”
This is the 27th year Wachovia Corp. has sponsored the financial awards. LEA Principals of the Year receive a cash award and the regional Wachovia Principals of the Year receive a cash award for their school and a cash award for personal use. The 2010 State Wachovia Principal of the Year will receive $3,000 for his or her school and $3,000 for his or her personal use.
Regional award recipients will be selected by February 2010, and the 2010 state Wachovia Principal of the Year will be announced in April 2010 at a state luncheon in Raleigh.
The 2009 Wachovia Principal of the Year is Vann Pennell, principal of South Brunswick High School.