By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
SPENCER ó Changes in leadership are taking place at North Rowan High and North Rowan Middle schools.
Darrell McDowell, the principal at North Rowan Middle for almost three years, has been moved to the same job at North Rowan High. He replaces Rodney Bass, who accepted a job with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System.
Alexis Cowan, a longtime educator who spent the past three years as assistant principal at Elizabeth Koontz Elementary, has accepted the role of principal at North Rowan Middle.
McDowell’s transfer was approved several weeks ago by members of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education. Cowan’s move was OK’d by board members Tuesday.
Both men said they’re looking forward to their new positions.
“It has been a tremendous experience, I’ve loved it,” McDowell said of his years at North Rowan Middle. “Our community has really gotten on board here. The climate is wonderful, the kids are happy.”
He said he feels he leaves the school in good shape and said he’s excited about taking a similar role at the high school. McDowell noted that because of his work at the middle school, he’s already familiar with the majority of students at the high school.
“I’m trying to unify the faculty, the coaches, the community and the students,” McDowell said. “I look at it as a big challenge, but even more as an opportunity. I’m very confident about all this.”
McDowell noted that he has experience as a high school principal, working in such a capacity for three years at East Henderson High School. He was also principal for two years at Tuxedo Extended Day School, an alternative school in Henderson County that served students through high school.
“I try to provide a clear vision,” McDowell said of his role as a leader. “I’m very precise about what I expect.”
McDowell and his wife, Lisa, who live in Rockwell, have three children. Candice and Cameron are both students at Appalachian. Christin is a junior at East Rowan High School.
Cowan grew up in Landis and graduated from South Rowan High School before earning a degree from Winston-Salem State University. He has since earned a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Cowan got his start in education at West Rowan High School, where he spent a year working for Henry Kluttz, who at the time was the school’s principal.
“I hired him his first year out of college,” Kluttz said. “I’ve always been very impressed with Alexis.”
In July, Cowan was transferred to Carson High where he was to have worked this year as an assistant principal. Kluttz is now principal at Carson and said that while he’s happy Cowan has been given the opportunity to be a principal, he’s sorry the two won’t get to work together again.
“I just feel he brings a lot to the table,” Kluttz said. “Alexis has a good head on his shoulders, he’s very personable. He has the capabilities of being a very successful school principal.”
After working that first year out of college at West Rowan, Cowan moved to South Boston, Va., where he worked 20 years as a middle school and high school health and P.E. teacher.
He said he was excited to return home to Rowan County three years ago to take a job as assistant principal at Koontz Elementary.
“I enjoyed my time at Koontz,” Cowan said.
He said his longtime goal has been to be named a principal, and said he feels the situation at North Rowan Middle is one where he’ll mesh well.
“It’s a good situation,” Cowan said. “They’ve got good teachers, and it’s a good community.”
He said he’s impressed with what he’s seen of the job McDowell has accomplished at the school.
“They have things in place,” Cowan said. “My job is to go in and manage it. I’m not going in to make wholesale changes, I’m just going to keep it heading in the right direction.”
Cowan and his wife, Judith, who live in Kannapolis, have four children ó Cassandra, Darius, Olivia and Sadarhi ó who range in age from 15 to 26.