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Wake County Public School System named Diann Kearney as principal of Apex High School to begin Friday, May 1. Kearney has been principal of Martin Middle School in Raleigh since 2012.
Kearney
sat down and discussed the principalship at Apex High School with Dr. Clint
Robinson, area superintendent for southwestern Wake County, prior to her acceptance.
“When offered the job, I was extremely excited to accept because I have lived
in the area for over 25 years and understand what a great community and school
this is,” said Kearney.
Kearney
wrote in her introduction letter addressed to ‘Apex parents and families,’ “I
consider it an honor and a privilege to serve in this role and I look forward
to working with you to continue the many great traditions that have
distinguished Apex High School over the years.”
After
graduating from North Carolina State University, Kearney intended to teach high
school social studies, but instead was hired as a Spanish and social studies
teacher at Myrtle Grove Middle School. Kearney taught middle school in Wilmington
with Apex High School’s former principal Matthew Wight. “Mr. Wight and I have
spoken often over the past few weeks. He has been very gracious in supporting
my transition into this role,” said Kearney.
During
Kearney’s tenure at Myrtle Grove Middle School, she earned her master’s degree
in educational administration from the University of North Carolina at
Wilmington. When Kearney returned to Raleigh after six years of teaching in
Wilmington, she became assistant principal at Sanderson High School.
Kearney
later served as principal of Conn Active Learning and Technology Magnet
Elementary and Martin Gifted and Talented Magnet Middle. In 2011, Kearney
earned her Doctor of Education degree from North Carolina State University.
Kearney
believes her personal philosophy is closely aligned with Robert Greenleaf’s
approach, servant leadership. “Good leaders lead by example and by building a
sense of community. I believe the Martin students, parents, and staff would
describe me as an enthusiastic, involved, accessible principal,” commented
Kearney on her principalship style at Martin Middle School.
Kearney
plans to spend her first weeks at Apex getting to know the school. “The best
way to get to know a school and school community is to visit classrooms,
after-school, extra-curricular, and sporting events,” said Kearney. “While this
means I will be very busy the last six weeks of school, it will be a worthwhile
investment of my time and energy in the future of Apex High School.”
Kearney’s
son, Patrick, attended Broughton High School and is a current student at North
Carolina State University. “My experience has afforded me the opportunity to
understand the preK-12 educational experience from both the perspective of
parents and principal,” said Kearney.
Kearney
wants the students of Apex to know she loves high school athletics and has been
an avid sports fan all her life. “I am looking forward to learning the ins and
outs of the Apex community, and cannot wait to pull for the Cougars on the
gridiron, the court, and the classroom,” explained Kearney. “I hope that I am
able to work with students, parents, and staff to support the Apex High School
community to be the very best school we can be.”
