Jordan High School Leader is Regional Principal of the Year
February 18, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Calvin Dobbins, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, 560-3736
DURHAM--Rodney C. Nelson, Principal of Jordan High School, has been selected 2003 Wachovia Principal of the Year for the North Central Region of North Carolina.
The North Central Region comprises 13 counties, including Wake, Franklin, Wilson and Nash-Rocky Mount. This is the second year in a row that a principal from Durham Public Schools has won a regional title. Hillside High School Principal Eunice Sanders took the honor last year.
Nelson, who has been principal at Jordan since July 1999, was named 2003 Principal of the Year for Durham Public Schools last fall. Before coming to Durham he was Assistant Principal of Instruction at Leesville Road High School in the Wake County Public School System for two years. He has eight additional years of experience as an assistant principal in high schools in North Carolina. He has also served as a Human Resources Administrator in Wake County Schools.
During Nelson's tenure at Jordan, the school has experienced significant growth in student achievement levels. For example, the number of students performing at or above proficiency in Algebra I has more than doubled since the 1998-99 school year. These kinds of results have led to Jordan's designation as a School of Progress under the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s ABCs assessment in 2002.
Newsweek magazine has named Jordan as one of the top 100 schools in the nation for rigorous academic course offerings several times since 1998. Regional selection committee members also cited Nelson's successful implementation of a program that encourages positive character traits.
"As a principal, I am committed to high expectations, fairness and consistency. There is no substitute for integrity," said Nelson. "I share this honor with my students, teachers, parents, and my colleagues in Durham Public Schools."
Nelson earned a B.A. in English with teacher certification from Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, and a master's degree in educational administration from East Carolina University in Greenville.
Nelson will compete with seven other regional winners for statewide Principal of the Year, to be announced in May 1 in Raleigh. From among the eight regions, one principal will be selected as North Carolina's 2003 Wachovia Principal of the Year. This is the 20th year Wachovia Bank has sponsored the award.
"Rodney Nelson's distinction of being among the best North Carolina has to offer in school leadership is well deserved. He adds this to a long list of credentials signifying his unwavering commitment to the highest standards for his staff and students. Mr. Nelson models exemplary leadership and outstanding academic and professional ethics on a daily basis," said Superintendent Ann T. Denlinger. "To produce two consecutive regional Principals of the Year is, indeed, affirmation of Durham Public Schools' resounding dedication to increased student achievement!" ###
