We’re grateful for the quick response of Mrs Chontos in leading Athens Drive Magnet High School until a permanent Principal could be found.  We are now grateful to be welcoming our new Principal, Stephen Mares….

Dear Athens Drive School Family,

At the Board of Education meeting tonight, I was approved as the new principal of Athens Drive High School. I am excited about joining the Athens Drive family and continuing the outstanding teaching and learning that has been a part of your history.

As we enter this transition period, I want to share what brought me to Athens Drive. The sudden loss of Dr. Hedrick was a tremendous shock to so many, including me. Several principals offered to support Athens Drive after this sudden loss, and these conversations with Wake County leaders generated the desired qualities of a new Athens Drive principal. As I thought about Wake County’s vision of an experienced principal who knows the Magnet program and who could help heal a community from a loss such as this, district administrators and I discussed that I may be a good fit. This opportunity spoke to my heart, and I am excited about using my experience to help implement a new Magnet program and serve a new community of learners at Athens Drive.

I hope you can understand that leaving the Broughton family will be difficult for me. I have served the community in the role of principal at Joyner Elementary School, Daniels Middle School, and finally Broughton High School for the past 16 years. I have forged strong, lasting relationships with students, staff, families, and the larger community. While I will certainly miss serving the Broughton family, I am honored and excited to serve and become a member of the Athens Drive family. I look forward to meeting all of you and beginning the work of fostering growth for all students and excellence in all we do. I will always give you my best and will hit the ground learning and running once I begin serving as your principal. I look forward to meeting each of you, to learning more about what makes Athens Drive great, and to learning how we can make it even greater together.

Dr. Savage, our Area Superintendent, Athens Drive administrators, and I will be communicating with you with regards to opportunities for us to meet and begin my transition to Athens Drive. I look forward to joining your thriving school family, living out the Athens Drive “Believe” motto on my new blue and orange wristband, and serving each of you. Please take care.
Take Care,

Stephen Mares
Principal
Needham B. Broughton High School
An International Baccalaureate World School
Home of the CAPS
723 Saint Mary’s Street
Raleigh, NC 27605
Telephone: 919-856-7810
Fax: 919-856-7822
Email Address: smares@wcpss.net

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