Last Updated on July 24, 2015 1:22 pm
Stephanie Weeks, currently assistant principal at Parkway School, has been chosen as the new principal for Parkway effective July 24th. Her selection was announced at a special called meeting of the Watauga County Board of Education Thursday afternoon.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Stephanie Weeks as principal at Parkway and as a member of the leadership team for the Watauga County Schools,” remarked Superintendent Dr. Scott Elliott. “She brings to her new role a broad range of experience in public education, a deep knowledge of Parkway students, families, and personnel, and a strong understanding of the school’s strengths and opportunities for growth. She is ideally suited to help Parkway build on its tradition of excellence to become an even better and more successful school in the years ahead.”
Weeks responded to her appointment by commenting that “Parkway School is a very special place and I am honored to be selected as the next principal. There is a great sense of community at Parkway and we are very fortunate to have an incredible staff, supportive families, and wonderful students.”
Dr. Elliott noted that Mrs. Weeks emerged as “the clear top candidate” from more than 30 applicants for the position. The rigorous selectionprocess involved over 40 school system personnel and Parkway parents and included presentations by the candidates and multiple rounds of interviews.
Comments from the interview committee reflected a high degree of confidence in Weeks’ as an effective leader for Parkway. One member of the group commented that “There is no one that would fit this school better. If we could special order a principal for Parkway School, it would be Ms. Weeks.” Another stated that Weeks “understands every aspect of our school community. She is already part of the family. I have personally experienced her love for the students, teachers, and parents and I appreciate her leadership style. She is a woman of integrity and goes above and beyond at Parkway School.”
Weeks has been assistant principal at Parkway for five years and has a total of 14 years of service with the Watauga County Schools, including experience at Blowing Rock School, Hardin Park School, and Watauga High School. She was recognized as the Blowing Rock School Teacher of the Year in 2004-05. She served for several months as the school system’s human resources director before electing to return to Parkway as assistant principal. Outside of WCS, her previous experience includes two years as a school principal in Nairobi, Kenya and several years as a teacher in public schools in South Carolina and Georgia. Over the course of her career, she has taught first grade, second grade, third grade, sixth grade math and science, and been an AIG (Academically and Intellectually Gifted) Specialist, in addition to her administrative experience.
Weeks’ educational credentials include a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Auburn University and a master’s degree in school administration from Appalachian State University.
Parkway School has an enrollment of 506 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It is rated a “high growth” school by the State Board of Education, meaning that its students made significantly more academic progress during the school year than students at most schools in NC. Student proficiency at Parkway is also well above state averagesin reading, mathematics, and science as measured by the state’s End-of-Grade tests.
