School leaders are chosen for top recognition
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 5, 2015 1:46 PM
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Two school administrators are again sharing the top spots as principal and assistant principal of the year for Wayne County Public Schools.
Gary Hales, principal of Wayne School of Engineering, was named 2015-16 principal of the year, a title he previously earned at the school for 2013-14.
Makita Jenkins, assistant principal at Norwayne Middle School, was named the 2015-16 assistant principal of the year for the district. She also held the title for 2013-14, then at Greenwood Middle School.
The latest announcement was made during the recent school board meeting.
Hales was recognized by board member Patricia Burden, a retired educator and former principal at Goldsboro High School.
He began his teaching career in WCPS in 1997 at Charles B. Aycock High School. In 2005, he became an administrator, first as assistant principal at Goldsboro High. In 2007, he was named principal at the district's newest high school, Wayne School of Engineering.
"It was my privilege to work with Mr. Hales at Goldsboro High School," Ms. Burden said. "He was an outstanding administrator then and he's done an outstanding job as administrator at Wayne School of Engineering."
A graduate of East Carolina University, Hales earned both a bachelor's degree in secondary English education and a master's degree in school administration. He is currently completing a doctorate degree in educational leadership from ECU.
His latest honor is part of the Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year program.
Local principals of the year receive $150 and represent their districts at the regional competition, with a state contest held in the spring.
Mrs. Jenkins' honor was announced by board member Arnold Flowers, who said it is part of the National Association of School Secondary Principals' Assistant Principal of the Year awards program.
As the Wayne County representative, she will go on to compete for the state-level title.
Her career in education began in 1988, where she taught at South Morrison Elementary School in Newport News, Va. After working in several different capacities across six states, she was hired by WCPS in 2006 as a teacher at North Drive Elementary School.
In 2008, she was named Title I coordinator at the school. The following year, she became assistant principal at Greenwood.
A graduate of North Carolina Central University, she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She also holds a master's in school administration degree from the University of Phoenix.