Last week, the board of education approved the hiring of a new principal for Frank Porter Graham Elementary. Dr. Rita Bongarten will join the Lion Family on July 1.
Bongarten comes to FPG from Parkwood Elementary School in Durham, where she served as principal since 2007. Prior to coming to North Carolina, Bongarten served assistant superintendent of the Stratford Public Schools in Connecticut. She has previous experience as a language-arts curriculum leader and literacy staff developer. She spent nine years as a classroom teacher both in the U.S. and in Hong Kong.
Bongarten holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology/education from Barat College in Lake Forest, Ill. She holds a master’s degree in science curriculum and instruction from Western Connecticut State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Connecticut.