Lincoln Elementary School Principal Retha Rusk has been named Brunswick County Scools’ Principal of the Year for 2012-2013.
Jessica Swencki, Brunswick County Schools Spokeswoman, said Rusk has worked in the Brunswick County school system for 37 years.
Rusk was twice named Brunswick County Teacher of the Year when she taught at Bolivia Elementary School.
She also was an assistant principal at Southport Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School, before taking the reins at Lincoln four years ago.
Rusk said she considered the recognition as principal of the year “incredibly meaningful,” because it is granted by her peers.
When asked about the biggest challenge facing public school administrators Rusk said, “Establishing strong home-school relations. These relationships are critical to the success of students and the school. We must take care of our students. Their emotional and physical needs cannot be ignored. If we do not address these issues the child’s readiness to learn can be compromised.”
Rusk entered administration to serve as a mentor and support vehicle for classroom teachers, she said.
Swencki said Rusk is a champion for children and building positive environments for learning. She was a member of the original PBIS (positive behavior interventions and support) team at Supply Elementary School—the first official PBIS site in North Carolina, Swencki said.
She is an advocate for “Habits of the Mind,” which promote the development of higher-order thinking and problem solving.
During her leadership at Lincoln Elementary the school has continued to make extraordinary growth and student achievement in the areas of reading and math continue to climb, Swencki said.
She is the mother of three boys, two of whom are teachers in Brunswick County, and one who works in sales. Paul, her husband of 37 years, is a registered nurse who also serves on the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
