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Vann Pennell is this year's Wachovia North Carolina Principal of the Year.
Pennell, principal at South Brunswick High School in coastal Brunswick County, won the Regional Principal of the Year award 15 years ago when he was working in Camden County, in the state's Northeast region. This year, he represented the Southeast Region.
Steve Hall, of Bruns Avenue Elementary in Charlotte, represented the Southwest Region; and DeAnna Finger, of Tuttle Elementary in Catawba County, represented the Northwest Region.
Pennell, Hall and Finger were among eight regional winners honored in Raleigh at a luncheon, where the overall state winner was named.
Pennell succeeds Debra Morris, principal at Kannapolis A.L. Brown High School.
Hall moved from Sharon Elementary to Bruns Avenue Elementary last year as part of CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman's program to move top administrators to the system's lower-performing schools, in an effort to boost student achievement. Hall then won the regional honor earlier this year.
As South Brunswick High's principal, Pennell led the effort to develop the Brunswick County Schools' Attendance Policy. He also helped establish the International Studies/Travel class and endorsed the Aquaculture Program to promote flounder research at the school. For the 2007-08 school year, South Brunswick High School was ranked the 863rd Top Public High School in the Nation by Newsweek magazine.
Pennell credits his success at South Brunswick High to his "family" of hardworking and talented teachers and staff. "One of the strongest qualities a leader can possess is to admit what one does not know and hire those that know more than the leader and let them go to work," he said.
Pennell received his Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education, Master of Arts in Education, and Education Specialist degrees all from East Carolina University. He is a member of the North Carolina Association of Secondary Administrators, the National Association of Secondary Principals and the Brunswick County Association of School Administrators. He also is a former president and current member of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
Pennell has received a number of honors including being named the Camden County Principal of the Year for 1991-1992 and 1993-1994 and the North Eastern Regional Principal of the Year in 1994. He also has been named a Conference Football Coach of the Year, Area Football Coach of the Year and Williamston High School Kiwanis Teacher of the Year.
Regional finalists received $1,000 for their school and $1,000 for personal use.
Pennell will receive an additional $3,000 for his school and $3,000 for personal use. He also will serve a one-year term as advisor to the State Board of Education.
