news-record.com

Cheri Keels, Triangle Lake Montessori principal and Guilford County Schools’ Principal of the Year, lets teachers lead.

That why Kathy White, curriculum facilitator at Triangle Lake, said she nominated Keels for the honor.

Keels finds ways for teachers “to use their gifts and talents to serve the community of the school,” White said.

That includes allowing teachers to lead professional development sessions and creating a committee that focuses on community building.

“I tell my teachers I want them to be leaders of leaders,” Keels said. Giving her staff leadership responsibilities helps increase their investment into the success of the school. “I want them to be comfortable stepping up and making leadership decisions. I want them to feel empowered.”

When she arrived three years ago, Keels said, the school didn’t have a very positive image.

“When the school was started, not a lot of people knew about Montessori programs,” she said. “The community was used to a traditional school setting. It took time for people to understand what the program was.”

Through showing that the program works, recruiting parent volunteers and promoting the program, Keels has seen the community’s trust and support grow.

“We’ve shown the community needs to work together to educate the children” Keels said.

The principal is always on the lookout for new students. Whenever she meets parents out in public, she asks how old their children are and encourages them to learn more about Triangle Lake.

The school has 450 students in prekindergarten to fifth grade.

A Triad native, Keels attended Jamestown Elementary, Jamestown Middle and Ragsdale High School.

She received her degree from Winston-Salem State and then taught for 10 years in Newport News, Va., first as a third-grade teacher and then as a sixth-grade math and science teacher.

Returning to Guilford County, Keels taught two years at Welborn Middle School and served for two years as an assistant principal at Allen Jay Middle School. Keels is serving her fourth year as principal at Triangle Lake.

“I was surprised,” Keels said of the award. “I was thankful that (Kathy White) thought so highly of me to nominate me for this high honor. It’s quite an accomplishment since I’ve only been a principal for three years. I really appreciate that.”

“It’s hard for educators to take the time to congratulate themselves or to toot their own horn,” White said. “This was a good opportunity to do that together.”

“It’s an honor to come back to my home community and to give back to the community,” Keels said.

She’s also thankful Guilford County has given her the opportunity to serve. “GCS trusted me to represent what leadership is all about. I have the opportunity to represent Guilford County to the community and other educators.”

Contact E.A. Seagraves at 883-4422, Ext. 241, or elizabeth.seagraves@news-record.com