Sabiston will lead Watts Elementary School
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Rodney Nelson, Executive Director Human Resources, 560-2353 Sabiston will lead Watts Elementary School DURHAM—Nancy N. Sabiston, Principal of Morehead Montessori Elementary School, has been named principal of George Watts Elementary School. She replaces Carol Marshall, who retired last year. Ed Forsythe, former principal of Durham School of the Arts, has served as interim principal of Watts since then. Ann Haigh, who retired from Morehead as principal in 2001 and has considerable experience and training in the Montessori discipline, will serve as interim principal there beginning December 1. A selection committee will begin a search for a permanent replacement. Watts will become Durham Public Schools’ second Montessori magnet school in fall 2004, with Sabiston overseeing the school’s transition to the new program. Sabiston has been Morehead principal since May 2001. Prior to Sabiston’s Morehead appointment, she was an assistant principal at Southern Middle School in Person County, after having completed a principal internship at Oak Grove Elementary School in Durham. Previous to her internship, Ms. Sabiston was a classroom teacher for 10 years in Granville County Schools, where she taught second through fifth grades and an exceptional children’s class for grades K-5. She also served as school-based committee chairperson, leadership team representative, and a lead teacher. “What a thrilling opportunity it will be to bring the Montessori program to the Watts school and community,” said Ms. Sabiston. “While I will miss my students, staff members and families at Morehead, I nonetheless look very much forward to meeting and working with the Watts students, faculty and supporters.” Sabiston holds a master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was also a Principal’s Fellow; a master’s degree in special education from North Carolina Central University; and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. “Nancy Sabiston has proven herself to be an exemplary elementary school principal, and has quickly become an expert in the Montessori discipline,” said Superintendent Ann T. Denlinger. “The Watts students, parents, teachers, and the entire Watts community, have much to look forward to as Ms. Sabiston begins working with them to implement the new program.”
