Harding takes helm at Butler

Clinton City Schools is welcoming a new principal to the helm Butler Avenue, a longtime member of the school system former assistant principal at Sampson Middle School.

Dr. Angela Harding was named to her new position last week, a promotion she said she was excited to have received.

“I am extremely excited to work with the Butler Avenue staff; I have heard nothing but great things about the staff and the students,” Harding said. “I am eager to come in and continue pushing the great things that are already happening here.”

Harding began her tenure at Butler Avenue Monday. Her philosophy on day one, she said, is developing a welcoming, safe, supportive environment for parents, staff and students through making connections is her focus.

Harding brings to the table a hands-on approach that’s been built into a repertoire through her career serving the families of Sampson County for over 15 years. Throughout her career, she’s prioritized supporting teachers and students in rural settings.

That passion has given her a resume with multiple certifications. She’s spent years teaching math and studying research focused on cognitive and social sciences such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Harding lives in Clinton, with her two children, Jeremiah and Jamia. She is the daughter of Priscilla Rich and Gilbert Baez and she is a graduate of Clinton High School’s class of 2004.

Her educational journey with the city schools system started with teaching math. Before that, in 2008, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Mathematics Education. By 2011 she was joined Sampson Community College; three years later in 2014, earned a Master’s in Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a minor in Mathematics from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. Then just three ago, July 2021, she graduated from Gardner-Webb University with her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership.

All those achievements were something Harding said were part of her ongoing drive to reach greater heights in her profession, including seeking the nod as school leader.

“I always seek opportunities for growth in my profession; I never wanted to be comfortable sitting in just one level in education,” she stated. “That’s why I went back to get my doctorate in educational leadership because I do want to continue to grow. So being a principal isn’t my stopping place; I actually want to continue to grow in leadership and, hopefully, within Clinton City Schools.

“Being a principal is just one way that I can continue to spread the love and the joy to staff and students. I want to push and empower both students and staff to be the best that they can be, to continue to excel and to reach their goals.”

As she’s pursued her profession,Harding garnered a fair share of accolades. In 2015, she was named Sampson Middle School’s Teacher of the Year and named Clinton City School’s Outstanding Secondary Mathematics teacher for the North Carolina Council of Teacher of Mathematics. In 2017, she embarked on a new journey with CCS as the mathematics instructional coach while pursuing her certification in school administration.

Two years later, in 2019, she became an assistant principal at Warsaw Elementary School before accepting a role in the Department of Human Resources as Director of Recruitment and Teacher Support Services for Duplin County Schools. July 2021 saw her return to Clinton City Schools as the district’s Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator, and prior to being named Principal at Butler Avenue Elementary, she served in the role of assistant principal at Sampson Middle School.

“As school leaders, we must serve as change agents and catalysts who actively challenge the status quo and ensure a ‘fair and equitable’ education for all students,” Harding said. “Classrooms must be structured so that they are conducive to learning, engaging the whole child, cognitively, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. A deep belief on the part of school leaders, teachers and school staff must be that every student has innate resilience and the capacity for successful learning and healthy development.”

Open communication and collaboration are essential to student success, that’s something she believes strongly. Encouraging parents and guardians to actively engage in their child’s education and participate in the vibrant school community that is BAS is another huge point for her. Above all else, however, is continuing to grow the city system as she has for 15 years.

“I just want to thank Clinton City Schools, the Board of Education, and my superintendent and his cabinet, for believing in me and for giving me this opportunity,” Harding remarked. “I also thank them for supporting me over the last 15 years as I have received a tremendous amount of support.

“I just think that we have a great thing going in Clinton City Schools and I’m just excited to be home. I’m a graduate from Clinton High School and I’m just thankful that I can continue to grow at home and I don’t have to seek opportunities anywhere else. So again, I just thank them for allowing me to be here and to reach my goals through Clinton City Schools because this is home, my community and I love my community.”