From our news services
The Hyde County Schools Board of Education on Tuesday named Ocracoke School assistant principal Jeanette (Jeanie) Owens as the new principal following the retirement announcement of Leslie Cole, whose last day will be Jan. 31.
A reception will be held for Owens from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan 29, in the commons room in Ocracoke School.
A community farewell/pep rally for Cole is planned for 2 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Ocracoke School gym.
Owens has taught at Ocracoke School since 2015, teaching both fourth and fifth grades while also serving as Dean of Students and assistant principal.
She received her graduate certificate in school leadership from Appalachian State University in 2019, earned her national board certification in 2021, and will complete her Ed.S. (educational specialist) in educational leadership from East Carolina University this summer.
Owens was named the Richard A. Schwartz Honored Educator Scholar for 2020-2021 by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching and was honored to be the 2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Northeast Region Teacher of the Year.
Hailing from Abingdon, Virginia, Owens earned a bachelor’s degree in history and German from Radford University and a master’s in education in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech.
Over her 25-year career, Jeanie has taught in a variety of classroom settings both public and private, including at the university, high school, middle school, and elementary levels.
Owens values and respects the Ocracoke community and is excited to continue the traditions of academic excellence, community engagement, and student-centered learning at the heart of Ocracoke School.
When not at school, Jeanie loves running on the beach, traveling with her children and snuggling with her new grandson.
“I have always said that Ocracoke students are in my soul,” she said upon acceptance of the position. “They are my why. I am so honored and excited that I have the opportunity to continue serving the students, families, teachers, and community as the next principal. I know I have really big shoes to fill.
“Leslie has been our guiding light through so many happy and stormy times. I promise to keep that light shining for her and for our outstanding school.”
Cole has been an integral part of the Ocracoke School community since 1995.
During her tenure, she has been pivotal in fostering a positive learning environment, implementing educational programs that ensure student success, establishing strong relationships with students, staff and parents in which the students have consistently achieved academic excellence.
She also oversaw the rebuilding of Ocracoke School following the devastating flooding from Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 6, 2019.
“The retirement of Leslie Cole marks the end of an era, and the Ocracoke School community expresses its deepest gratitude for her unwavering commitment to the betterment of education,” Hyde County Schools said in a press release.
Ocracoke children could not ask for a more dedicated and hard working leader than Jeanie Owens.
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