Sara-Beth Brown will be the first from among a talented cohort of aspiring school leaders who have participated in the school district’s new Aspiring Principals Program to earn an appointment as a building principal when she becomes the next educational leader at Chukker Creek Elementary School during the 2020-21 school year.
“I am confident that Sara-Beth will do an amazing job as principal of Chukker Creek Elementary School,” commented Aiken County Superintendent King Laurence. “She is an outstanding educator who believes in the importance of establishing relationships with her colleagues, students, and their families. Her Chukker Creek family will learn early on of her dedication and commitment to ensuring the school continues to excel.”
Brown’s appointment as the next principal of Chukker Creek Elementary was approved by the Aiken County Board of Education during Tuesday’s regular meeting, which was held virtually due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Chukker Creek Elementary School’s current leader, Amy Gregory, previously announced her intention to retire after the 2019-20 school year.
“I am very excited about what the future holds,” commented Brown. “Chukker Creek Elementary has a proud history of academic success and community support and I look forward to building upon that success and expanding those relationships in the community for years to come. I can't wait to meet the Chukker Creek family and see their passion for our students firsthand.”
Over the course of the current school year, Brown has served as one of six assistant principals in the Aspiring Principals Program, offered through the New York City Leadership Academy. It offers experiences specifically designed to build their capacity to lead schools in Aiken County. As a member of the Aspiring Principals Program, Brown has learned how to best build relationships, communicate effectively to various stakeholder groups, build the capabilities of staff, and create a culture focused on collaboration.
Brown says her time spent in the program and in service as an assistant principal with Renae Enlow, Principal of Byrd Elementary School, and as an aspiring principal alongside Michelle Padgett, Principal of Graniteville Elementary School, has uniquely prepared her for the opportunity she will have at Chukker Creek Elementary.
“Having the opportunity to participate in the Aspiring Principals Program allowed me to learn from two of the best principals in our District,” stated Brown. “I have been able to see innovative new ways to serve our students, grow as a communicator with all stakeholders, and push myself to take on new challenges and experiences. I am a better leader today because of the experience, and the investment Mrs. Enlow, Mrs. Padgett and the school district have made in me.”
Brown has served as an exemplary school administrator in Aiken County over the past 10 years, serving as an assistant principal at Byrd Elementary in Graniteville, and as assistant principal at Hammond Hill Elementary School in North Augusta. As an assistant principal, she provided leadership through a number of channels including as School Testing Coordinator, ABE/Discipline Coordinator, 504 Coordinator, Safety and Energy Committee Chair, Student Intervention Team Chair, and Compass Club and Double H Reading Club Coordinator.
Prior to those roles, Brown served as an elementary school teacher over five years at Mossy Creek Elementary in North Augusta, and Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary in Monetta.
Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Clemson University, and also holds a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Augusta State University.
Even as challenges remain during the final months of the 2019-20 school year, Brown says she will begin looking to the next school year in preparation for leading a building of her own.
“In the coming weeks and months, I hope to work closely with the school’s leadership to ensure a smooth transition for the faculty and staff, students, and the entire Chukker Creek family,” stated Brown. “While none of us know what the remainder of the 2019-20 school year will look like, I’m already excited about the possibilities which lay ahead for us in the 2020-21 school year.”
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LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2020 PR CHUKKER CREEK PRINCIPAL