Becoming a building principal at some point during her career as an educator has always been more than just a professional goal for Terra van der Linden – it has been a lifelong dream.
It is a dream the former Teacher of the Year will finally realize as the next principal at Redcliffe Elementary School after the school’s current principal, Julie Revelle, recently accepted a promotion as an Executive Director for Elementary Schools.
Aiken County Board of Education members approved Mrs. van der Linden’s appointment as the new principal at Redcliffe Elementary for the 2018-19 school year during the April 17 regularly scheduled meeting held at Wagener-Salley High School. She currently serves as an assistant principal at Redcliffe Elementary.
“It has always been a dream of mine to be a school leader, so I am very excited about this opportunity at Redcliffe Elementary,” she stated Tuesday. “I am extremely humbled and honored, and just excited to be able to continue to work with the exceptional teachers we have here, and the students and parents who have been wonderful to work with.”
Before taking the position as an assistant principal at Redcliffe Elementary, Mrs. van der Linden served at the middle school level as an assistant principal at Paul Knox Middle School and as a teacher at North Augusta Middle School for nearly a decade.
“I had been working at the middle school level for some time, but really felt like my heart was at the elementary level so I looked at opportunities there,” she commented.
That is why van der Linden says she spent this school year learning as much as she could from Revelle, one of the District’s strongest instructional leaders, especially at the elementary level.
“I had heard there was this tremendous principal at Redcliffe Elementary who could really teach me those key instructional pieces, so all year I have really just acted as a sponge, trying to learn everything I could from Mrs. Revelle, knowing this day would come eventually,” she stated. “Instructional leadership is absolutely critical for a building principal, and she has taught me so much in that particular area. I came here with a lot of experience, and spending this time with her coaching teachers and being in classrooms has been invaluable for me.”
Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from The University of South Carolina Aiken, a Master of Arts in education from Columbia College, and a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Augusta State University. She has also successfully completed the school district’s rigorous Leadership Academy for aspiring administrators.
Her numerous accomplishments and contributions as an Aiken County administrator include service as a member of the school district’s Code of Conduct committee, a grade-level Team Leader, Professional Development Coordinator, Student Intervention Team Coordinator, a Curriculum Team member, and Beta Club and Yearbook sponsor.
Heading into the 2018-19 school year, van der Linden says she is ready to help push the school to even greater success.
“I definitely look forward to continuing to serve the exceptional faculty and staff at Redcliffe Elementary, our awesome students and parents and our community,” van der Linden stated. “I look forward to both the challenges and opportunities that are ahead and also improving student achievement at our school and even taking it to the next level academically.”
Van der Linden will begin her duties as Redcliffe Elementary principal in July.
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2018 PR REDCLIFFE ELEM PRINCIPAL