By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education named Ephesus Elementary School principal Susan Wells as principal of Culbreth Middle School last week.
Before joining the Chapel-Hill Carrboro school district in 2004, Wells was assistant principal of Hawfields Middle School in the Burlington-Alamance school system.
Wells also worked as an exceptional children’s teacher for behaviorally-emotionally disabled and learning-disabled students at Alexander Wilson Elementary School in the Burlington-Alamance system.
Wells said that although she has enjoyed working at all levels, she is excited to return to the middle school level.
“I think that what’s drawn me to move on up to the middle school is a desire for children to go to the university,†she said, adding that coursework in middle school helps students begin to determine what they’re interested in and where they might like to attend college.
Students “get to start exploring things at the middle school level,†Wells said. “I’ve really felt drawn to that.â€
However, she added, she will miss the elementary school.
“It’s just so much fun every day,†she said. Wells will miss working with early literacy skills, as well as hugs from kindergarteners and the warmth of young children.
“There’s no way not to miss that,†she said.
Wells has a master’s of school administration degree from UNC-Greensboro as well as a bachelor’s of science in special education from the University of Virginia.
She replaces Jacqueline Boyd-Ellis, who left Culbreth earlier this school year to take an administrative position in another district.
According to Stephanie Knott, assistant superintendent for community relations for Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools, school officials have not yet found a principal to replace Wells at Epehesus.
The district also has two additional elementary school principal openings. Dale Minge, principal of Estes Hills Elementary School, will leave at the end of the school year to serve as principal of Pittsboro Elementary School. School officials are also looking for a principal for the new elementary school, which will open in the fall of 2008.
Knott said the district hopes to fill the positions by July 1.
Ephesus’ loss is Culbreth’s gain. Susan Wells has done an extrordinary job in her short time at Ephesus. She will be missed :(