Chatham Board of Education names three new school principals

Posted Friday, June 30, 2006

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Pittsboro, NC - On Monday evening, June 19, the Chatham County Board of Education filled administrative vacancies at three schools.

The new principal of Northwood High School will be Carrie Little. She came to Chatham County Schools in July of 2004 to accept the principalship of North Chatham School. In the spring of 2004 Little completed an school administration internship at Davis Drive Middle School in Wake County. As a classroom teacher she taught science at Jordan High School in Durham. Little holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Elon University and teacher licensure from North Carolina Central University. She received a Principal Fellow in 2002 from the state of North Carolina that allowed her to pursue a Master of School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Mattie Smith will replace Little as principal of North Chatham School. A native of Chatham County, Smith began teaching in Chatham County Schools in 1993. She was a classroom teacher at Pittsboro Elementary School and, most recently, at Perry Harrison School. As part of the requirements for completing an advanced degree in school administration, Smith came to Horton Middle School at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year to complete an internship. In February of this year, she moved to North Chatham as the interim assistant principal. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from North Carolina Central University. She recently earned a Master of School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Valgean Mitchell will be the new principal of Perry Harrison School. Mitchell came to Chatham County Schools this spring to fill an interim assistant principal position at Chatham Central High School. After spending the first twenty-eight years of her career as a library media specialist, she became an assistant principal at magnet schools in Wake County. Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Library Science, a Master of Library Science, and Certification in Educational Administration, all from North Carolina Central University.

"We welcome these administrators to their new positions. Each of them has been in our school system so they are familiar with Chatham County Schools. I am excited about the work they will do with the faculties, families, and communities at their respective schools. All are excellent administrators who bring innovation, high standards and passion to their work," said Dr. Ann Hart, Superintendent.