During its monthly meeting this week, the Wayne County Board of Education approved the following principal change:
Carver Elementary principal, Antoinette Ward, will replace retiring principal, Wendy Hooks, as the new principal for Meadow Lane Elementary. Ward has more than 29 years of education experience and has served in her present role since 2018. Prior to this role, she served as principal of Grantham Elementary and spent seven years as an elementary curriculum specialist at Carver elementary. Ward began her education career as a second-grade teacher in Winterville in 1991. Since then she served as a teacher at Brogden Primary and North Drive Elementary. She also served as an early intervention reading specialist and a Title I coordinator/home school coordinator at North Drive Elementary. Ward holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in school administration.
“Mrs. Ward is a strong veteran administrator who will be able to effectively support students, staff and families at Meadow Lane Elementary,” states Dr. James Merrill, WCPS interim superintendent. “Mrs. Ward has had a positive impact on all of the schools she has led. The Leadership Team will work with her and with Carver Elementary to ensure a smooth transition for both schools.
At the close of the Board meeting, Chair Don Christopher West thanked retiring principal Hooks for her dedicated service to Wayne County Public Schools. Hooks is a veteran school administrator who is retiring at the end of December after 32 years of public education service. Prior to joining Meadow Lane Elementary in 2016, she served as a principal of Tommy’s Road Elementary, Brogden Primary, and Grantham School. She also served as the assistant principal at Tommy’s Road Elementary and a curriculum facilitator at Eastern Wayne Elementary. Before entering school administration, she taught at Brogden Primary and Union Elementary in Sampson County.
“Mrs. Hooks is well respected by her colleagues, a strong leader for her staff, is adored by her students and families, and has had a positive impact on every school she has been the principal of during her tenure,” stated Mr. West.
The administrative change will take place January 1, 2021. The principal vacancy at Carver Elementary has not yet been filled.
