Congratulations to Mrs. Tonya Williams, principal of Concord Middle School, who has been selected as the 2022-23 Cabarrus County Schools Principal of the Year. The Principal of the Year program is sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Wells Fargo.

Superintendent Dr. John Kopicki and Dr. Marion Bish, CCS Chief Human Resources Officer, surprised Mrs. Williams with the announcement in front of her peers on October 25^th.

Mrs. Williams has been the principal of Concord Middle School since January, 2022. She served prior principalships at Harrisburg Elementary School from 2014-17 and most recently at W.M. Irvin Elementary from 2017-January 2021.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Appalachian State University and a master’s degree in elementary education from Gardner-Webb University. She received her certification as a curriculum specialist and her master’s in school administration from UNC Charlotte.

“Mrs. Tonya Williams has been an integral part of Cabarrus County Schools since 2001,” said Weddington Hills Elementary Principal Chasity Dolan, the 2020-2021 Cabarrus County Schools Principal of the Year. “As a teacher, lead teacher, assistant principal and principal within our school system, she works daily to cultivate and grow a love of learning in the students she supports in order to produce life-long learners.

 “Tonya is a dedicated educator who has true care and concern for her students, her   school, and her community. In addition, Tonya has a natural ability to connect with   students and teachers. Her daily work centers around extending her educational   reach in order to close the opportunity gap for her students and their families. She   leads by example and is an outstanding role model for administrators in our district.   Her peers confirm her exceptional qualities and utilize her work as an example for   others to follow.”

 Mrs. Williams was nominated by her peers, and a selection panel comprised of   former CCS Principals of the Year selected the winner based upon an interview and   artifact presentation. 

She will now move on to compete with other principals across the area for NCDPI Regional Principal of the Year.  After the regional selection process is completed, one principal will be selected as the 2023 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year at a ceremony to be held in May, 2023.