Latest news with #WestLee
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
West Lee Middle School principal receives innovation award
SANFORD — Aimee Petrarca has made a career out of building thriving school cultures rooted in data, collaboration and care. On Monday, May 5, she was named the recipient of the Kloud-12 Innovation Award for Empowerment Through Professional Learning, honoring her impact on students and educators across the district. Kloud-12 is a classroom safety and teacher-centered video platform, according to its website. 'This year, nominations poured in from across the state, each highlighting the outstanding work taking place in our public schools. Among them, Ms. Petrarca stood out for her visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to educators and students alike,' said Gabriela Bravo-Chigwere, Kloud-12's enablement & operations coordinator. 'She was selected as the winner in the category for which she was nominated.' Petrarca served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal of elementary schools before coming to West Lee Middle School. 'She didn't have to take on a new challenge at this stage in her career, but that's just who she is,' Superintendent Chris Dossenbach said. 'She's a competitor, she's all-in for Lee County, and she leads with purpose.' Now in her first full year at West Lee, Petrarca is seeing gains in every measurable area, a release states. But those who work with her say her secret isn't just high expectations—it's how she brings people along with her. At the core of Petrarca's leadership is a data-driven approach grounded in student outcomes. She cuts through the noise to help teachers make sense of complex data, guiding them with clarity, urgency and support. 'Data doesn't lie,' Dossenbach noted. 'And Aimee uses it to move the conversation forward. She helps educators see where they are—and where they can go.' But behind the numbers is a leader with heart. 'Her outer shell can seem tough, but she has a heart of gold,' he added. 'She looks every student in the eye, asks how they're doing, and brings back the fun—pep rallies, school spirit, the joy of being a middle schooler. She understands that school culture matters just as much as academic outcomes.' Those sentiments were echoed by Vicki Haislip, a former principal who worked closely with Petrarca at Greenwood Elementary School. Haislip said that Petrarca stands out for her courage to act—especially when it involves difficult conversations and uncomfortable changes needed to benefit students. Haislip also noted Petrarca's collaborative leadership style. Rather than imposing expectations from a distance, Petrarca works alongside her staff, creating an environment where high standards feel shared and contagious. This approach, Haislip observed, helps transform complacency into a collective drive for excellence, with Petrarca modeling the work she expects from others. Patricia Coldren, a long-time colleague and friend, recalled that even as a student, Petrarca was known for her competitive spirit and commitment to excellence—traits that now fuel her leadership. She praised Petrarca for seeing beyond academic achievement, emphasizing her focus on developing students' soft skills, character and citizenship. Both Haislip and Coldren highlighted Petrarca's authenticity as a key reason she connects so deeply with students, staff and families. She lives out her values openly and consistently, earning respect and trust through her actions. In a profession where authenticity can sometimes be rare, Petrarca's example shines as a model of integrity and purpose, according to the release.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Head of Class' program expanding to middle schools
For the first time, the Lee County Education Foundation will soon announce a Head of Class winner for a middle school. Back in 2010, when the Foundation launched its 'Head of Class' program, the focus was squarely on elementary schools. That Head of Class award, a unique teacher incentive which included a $50,000 cash prize for the winning school, has been awarded 11 times, most recently on Jan. 29 to J. Glenn Edwards Elementary. All the while, though, the Foundation had its eye on growing the program to include middle schools. 'We know that Head of Class has made a difference; principals at our middle schools have repeatedly told us that. And we've also always had a desire to find a way to expand it in our middle schools, to have two Head of Class prizes,' said Dennis Wicker, who led the formation of the Foundation in 2003. That opportunity has come. LCEF, in partnership with the McSwain Worthy Lands Trust, has earmarked up to $50,000 to begin annually bestowing 'Head of Class' honors to one of Lee County's three middle schools — West Lee, East Lee or SanLee. The inaugural Ernest and Ruby McSwain Middle School Head of Class prize will be announced in the coming weeks, said Susan Keller, foundation chair. LCEF and Lee County Schools utilize EVAAS — the state's Education Value-Added Assessment System software tool — which provides school systems with an array of student performance measurements. Those include growth and proficiency data, which have been used to determine the elementary school Head of Class winner each year. At the middle school level, Keller said, the exact amount of the Head of Class gift will be determined by the number of staff at the winning school. Enrollment at West Lee (525) and East Lee (530) is well under that at SanLee, which has 836 students. In addition to EVAAS data, other factors including teacher attendance will help rank the middle schools. Wendy Wicker Phillips, the Foundation's executive director, described the expansion of the Head of Class program. 'We recognize middle school offers its own unique set of challenges and we are excited to honor the dedication and achievements of students, teachers and staff,' said Phillips, who was recently named to the position. There's no Head of Class program for Lee County's two high schools, but at that level, LCEF has two programs: first, Sloan Scholars, which provides up to $9,000 per year in college tuition grants to a Lee County student pursuing a teaching degree at a North Carolina college or university. And second, the soon-to-launch LocalLee Teacher Academy, which will expose interested high school students to curriculum and experiences geared toward a career in education. LCS Superintendent Chris Dossenbach said the expansion of Head of Class serves as another way to honor excellence.
