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Andy Gann developed a love of learning as a child at Sedalia Elementary School in the 1980s.

Now he’s back, and this time he’s sitting behind the principal’s desk. As the school’s new leader, he wants to make sure all his students enjoy learning while they’re young, too.

“We have to get it right in elementary school,” Gann said.

Gann is replacing Lance Stokes, who will be principal at Jackson Middle School.

“It’s a great school,” Gann said. “I feel honored to be here.”
He grew up in Sedalia and graduated from Eastern Guilford High School in 1994. After earning an elementary education degree from UNCG, he taught at Oak Ridge Elementary School for seven years.
Gann loved being in the class­room, but decided he’d have greater influence as an administrator.

“As a principal you can follow a child, hopefully, from kindergarten all the way through fifth grade,” he said.

Gann returned to UNCG and earned his master’s degree in school administration. During the program, he interned at Union Hill Elementary in High Point. He served as assistant principal at Alamance Elementary School for one year before being hired for the position at Sedalia.

“A lot of good things are already occurring at Sedalia,” Gann said, and he hopes to build on the school’s success.

The school made AYP, or adequate yearly progress in reading and math, but could increase the number of students who meet the federal standards.

He said he’s not only interested in students’ academic performance, but in developing their character. He wants to develop Sedalia’s strong ties with the community even more, including partnering with local colleges.

Gann said he wants every child to succeed — not just the majority of students — and he’ll work with parents and teachers to try to make that happen.

“I see us as a family,” he said.

Gann said he has an open mind about teaching as long as the instructor is helping all children in the class to succeed.

“I do have high expectations, but I want the staff to feel trusted,” he said.

Gann also said he doesn’t mind if teachers question him about his reasons for doing something a certain way because he puts a lot of effort into his decisions, always basing them on data and research.

He said he plans to teach lessons from time to time in classrooms if teachers want him to.

“And the teachers are welcome to stay in the class and give me pointers,” he said.

The school is planning a “meet the principal” event for mid-August.

Gann just moved to Gibson­ville, and in his free time he enjoys Web site design, reading (including educational research books), cooking and playing piano.

Contact Jamie Kennedy Jones at jamie.kennedy@news-record.com or 449-4610.