New principals will be coming to Woodleaf and Mount Ulla elementary schools July 1.
Kristine Wolfe, who goes by Kris, will take over Woodleaf Elementary School. Wolfe is currently an assistant principal at Granite Quarry Elementary School. Jennifer Warden will become principal at Mount Ulla.
Both Wolfe and Warden will start July 1 and were approved at the Board of Education’s May 19 meeting.
Wolfe has been assistant principal at Granite Quarry since January 2009. She worked at Knox Middle School for 16 and a half years as a math teacher, lead teacher, lead teacher for curriculum and an assistant principal.
Previously, she taught math for four years at a junior high school in Charlotte.
Wolfe said her experience working in both elementary and middle schools prepared her for her new position, giving her a better understanding of “ the transition that needs to happen from elementary to middle.”
“I was ready to take the leap and become a principal and lead under the new superintendent,” she added.
Wolfe said she’s excited to implement the district’s new strategic plan at Woodleaf, especially the balanced literacy approach, improving reading and implementing the one-to-one technology plan.
Wolfe is married to husband Kris. They have a son, Kyle, who attends North Carolina State University and a daughter, Katie, who attends Salisbury High School.
Wolfe received her bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics education from North Carolina State University in 1988, and her masters in school administration from Western Carolina University in 2010.
Susan Herrington, who is currently Woodleaf’s principal, is retiring.
Warden will be moving from assistant principal to principal at Mount Ulla Elementary School, where she has worked since March 2013. Previously, she taught second and third grades at Millbridge Elementary and second and fourth grades at Rockwell Elementary.
Warden received her bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and her master of arts in school administration from Gardner-Webb in 2010.
Warden said she’s excited about the position.
“It’s going to allow me to continue the work I’ve started in the school,” she said.
Warden added that she’s passionate about student engagement, creating a positive school culture and investing in teachers.
“I’ve always loved working with kids” and I love watching them and teachers “grow and change,” she said.
Warden, a Rowan County native and East Rowan alumnus, is married to her high school sweetheart, Jason. They have two children, Gracie, who attends Erwin Middle and Griffin, who attends Rockwell Elementary.
Lindsey Chatham, who has been principal of Mount Ulla since early 2013, is relocating to live closer to family.