Joan Frye named Montgomery Schools Principal of the Year ♥

As published in the Courier-Tribune on December 27, 2011

By Hugh Martin

TROY — Joan Frye, principal of East Montgomery Middle School, was recognized as Principal of the Year during the regular December meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Education.

She was presented a plaque from Superintendent Dr. Dale Ellis and will compete with other award recipients from the Sandhills/South Central Region of the state. Regional award recipients will be selected by February 2012. The 2012 State Wells Fargo Principal of the Year will be announced later in the spring at an event in Raleigh.

“It is a great honor to be selected as Principal of the Year for Montgomery County Schools,” Frye said. “I not only represent the Montgomery County administrators, but I also represent every child and educator in Montgomery County. I will do my very best to serve our county well.”

Frye has worked in education for 37 years. She has been a teacher, assistant principal, principal and principal mentor. She holds an advanced graduate degree in educational administration/supervision from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s of education degree and administration/curriculum specialist certification from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Frye has been the winner of the prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award and has also been a Principal of the Year for Moore County Schools prior to coming to Montgomery County.

“Joan Frye is a highly skilled, student-focused educational leader who possesses a strong commitment to the development of students, teachers and staff,” said Ellis. “Joan is a visionary with a proven track record in raising student achievement. She will represent Montgomery County Schools well as she moves forward.”

Each regional Wells Fargo Principal of the Year receives a cash award of $3,000 for his or her school and $3,000 for personal use.

Prior to Frye’s presentation, a Resolution of Esteem in memory of the late Louise Dorsett, a retired teacher who passed away in October, was presented to her children, Lewis and Marion, who were present at the meeting.

Dorsett, of Mt. Gilead, was a teacher at West Montgomery High School when she retired.

Board Chairman Steve DeBerry said, “I was fortunate to have had her as my ninth grade Civics teacher. She was a teacher who made a difference. She was truly an asset to the school system and the community.”

“Your mother was a legend,” said Bryan Dozier, a board member.

Following retirement, Dorsett’s interest in education continued as she sat on the Board of Trustees of Montgomery Community College for many years. She was appointed as a trustee in 1989 and upon leaving the board in 2009, was the oldest trustee in the N.C. Community College System.

In other action, the board:

* Presented a Community Partnership Award to Gene Lampley, Bernice Lampley and Buddy Starnes of the Uwharrie Mountain Lodge Restaurant.

* Recognized Green Ridge Elementary School’s Angela Dawkins-Greene as the 2011 Exceptional Children Teacher of Excellence. She was also honored at the N.C. Council for Exceptional Children Conference in November.