Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Ellen Brabo / For the Washington Daily News

The Beaufort County Schools Principal of the Year selection panel has concluded the interviews for the three eligible candidates: Tracey Nixon, Charles Clark, and Emily Pake – all of whom are Beaufort County natives and graduates of BCS. The panel, consisting of local community members, evaluated each candidate’s qualifications, experience, and leadership style.

This year marks a significant occasion for BCS as it is the first time since 2019 that they will select a Principal of the Year. This is because of the eligibility requirements for candidates, which stipulate that a principal must have served at the same school for three consecutive years and remain affiliated with the school in the year they are eligible for the Principal of the Year title.

The selection process takes place during the summer, with the chosen principal assuming the title for the following school year. The chosen principal will also represent BCS at the state level, competing against other educational leaders this fall.

“I believe in creating and supporting a collaborative working environment by including, and uplifting colleagues, parents, and students which is of the utmost importance while pushing all individuals to their best abilities,” wrote Pake in her Principal of the Year candidate profile.

Pake, who currently serves as the principal of Beaufort County Early College High School, has devoted her 20-year career to education and is scheduled to complete her Ph. D. next May. Under Pake’s leadership, Early College has exceeded growth and ranked among the top five percent of the highest-performing schools in North Carolina during the 2021-2022 school year.

Clark, the principal of Bath Elementary School, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Throughout his 28-year career, he has held teaching, coaching and administrative positions.

“Schools are designed to serve students and provide them with the best education possible in order to prepare them for adulthood and help them become successful adults,” reads Clark’s Principal of the Year candidate profile.  “My hope is that I have made some small impact to help the kids that I have served reach their goals.”

Nixon, the principal of Northside High School, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle-Grade Education from North Carolina State University and master’s degrees in School Administration and Adult Leadership and Supervision from East Carolina University. Her unwavering dedication to her students and belief in their potential to succeed have been the driving forces behind her leadership.

The announcement of the 2023-2024 Principal of the Year will take place next month.