Mr. Kenneth Barnes, Principal

Educational Background:

Bachelors of Business Administration (NCCU)

Masters of School Administration (NCCU)

Completing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (NCSU)

What is your philosophy of education?

“I believe the most important thing we can do as educational leaders is to help students and staff understand the importance of building relationships. If the kids understand how much we care, they will work harder and smarter to achieve their educational goals.”

What are your 5 or 10 year goals?

“My short term goal is to finish my [doctorate] degree, and continue to work to make Southern High School a place that we can all be proud of.”

“My long term goal is to work as a school Superintendent and to teach on the university level.”

What influenced you to become an administrator?

“I became an educator because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people, and I wanted to be a positive role model for our community.”

What are some things that challenge you about this job?

“The biggest challenge is finding ways to help students understand the importance of education and how the decisions they make today will affect them for many years to come.”

What is your favorite quote?

“Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” 

-- Dr. Dudley Flood

Interview by LaRhonda Davis, Media Assistant

      February 2009

Mrs. Karen Price, Administrative Assistant for Mr. Barnes

Educational Background:

Assistant Principals (Alphabetical Order)

Mrs. Marla Bullock, Assistant Principal

Freshman Academy

What is your philosophy of education?

 “Every Child can learn. It is the responsibility of every educator to tap into the learning styles of his/her students that will maximize their learning potential and academic success.”
 
What are your 5-10 year goals?

“In 5-10 years, I would like to be a principal of an elementary or middle school. I will have also completed my PhD preferably at UNC-Chapel Hill.”

 
What influenced you to become an administrator?
 
 “After teaching for 5 years I became interested in mentoring newly licensed teachers. During those years of mentoring I envisioned myself as an administrator focused on student achievement through instructional and facilitative leadership. I saw the need for a “new age” administrator that would relate to our “new age” students. In 2006, I was accepted to the graduate program at UNC- Chapel Hill for educational administration.”
 
What are some things that challenge you about this job?
 
“The struggles outside of school that impact the academic success of out students are very challenging. We are formally trained to teach academics, but reality leads us to enhancing the development of the whole child. We have to reach them before we teach them and that requires extreme diligence.”
 
What is your favorite quote?

“What we desire our children to become, we must endeavor to do before them."

Interview by Johnathan Alston, Media Assistant

March 10, 2009

Mr. Michael Fuga, Assistant Principal

Where did you receive your education?
Washington & Jefferson College (Degree in Psychology, and Minor in Education)

What is your philosophy of education?
My philosophy of education is that I believe that all students can learn, but all students learn differently. We have to be able to find a way to relate to all students so we can find ways to meet their needs to be successful.

What are your 5 to 10 year goals?
In five years I hope to be an assistant principal and or possibly get a job as a principal at a school.
In ten years I hope to have helped at least one school be a “school of excellence.”

What influenced you to become an administrator?
As a teacher I was limited to about 100-200 students, but that was not enough, I wanted to reach out and help others also.

What are some things that challenge you about this job?
Time- Trying to help everybody in a way that they understand. Being self-sufficient in these acts of need is also difficult.

What is your favorite quote?

"Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime."

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  -- Marianne Williamson

What was your position before being an administrator?
I was a teacher and a coach at different high schools and middle schools, which was comfortable, but as an administrator it’s a little bit overwhelming. One advantage about being an administrator is that I can help more than the people in a classroom, possibly the whole school.

What do you do during your spare time?
Spend time with God, my wife, my job, and my friends. I lift weights and play basketball.

Quick Questions:

Carolina or Duke?
 Oh easy one. Carolina.

Fried Chicken or Baked Chicken?
Baked Chicken

Chris Rock or Chris Tucker?
Chris Tucker

 Being in the position as an administrator what kinds of changes do you plan to make at Southern High School?

Contribute to reinforce the school’s cultural [aspects] and be able to have a positive impact on the school. It is not me being the change, but me being a part of that change.

Interview by Christopher Crutchfield, Media Assistant

                     February 2009

Mrs. Darneise Massey, 12th Grade Assistant Principal

Where did you receive your degree?

I received my Masters of School Administration degree from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) GO EAGLES!

What is your philosophy of education?

We must maintain high standards for our students (and ourselves) and encourage them to reach their potential, while striving to be life-long learners.

What are you 5 to 10 year goals?

• Obtain my doctoral degree
• Become a principal
• Perform as a jazz vocalist

What are some things that challenge you about this job?

I enjoy my job as an administrator and I face many challenges daily. One of the biggest challenges I face is getting students to understand the importance of an education, graduating from high school, and having post secondary goals.

What are your favorite quotes?

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but noting can be changed until it is faced.” --James Baldwin

“For those to whom much is given, much is required.” Bible (Luke 12:48)

What things do you do in your spare time?

• Listen to jazz music
• Spend time with family and friends
• Play golf
• Watch football
• Love to travel

Quick Questions:

Carolina or Duke

DUKE Baby

McDonalds or Burger King

McDonalds

Beyonce or Monica

Beyonce

Chicken or Fish

Chicken Breast

Interview by Jessikia Hood, Media Assistant Fall 2009

(September 2009)

Ms. Deidrea Stevens

(Interview and photo coming soon.)

Principal Interns:

Mr. Joe Biggs

Where did you receive your education?

My education began at home and continued through the Scotland County school system in Laurinburg, NC.  I then went on to attend North Carolina Central University, where I received my undergraduate and Masters degrees.  I am currently completing my add-on licensure for my principalship.

What is your philosophy of education?

We as educators must make our best attempt to reach every single child. All children can learn, but it’s up to us to figure out how they learn best. Once we have done this, we must feed them with all the knowledge we can (both academic and otherwise) to develop the whole individual.

What are your 5 to 10 year goals?

My 5 to 10 year goals are to earn my doctoral degree in education, move into a principal position, and eventually go into the Central offices of the school district.

Who influenced you to become and administrator?

My father (who was a Principal) and my desire to affect change from a leadership perspective.

What are some things that challenge you about this job?

The challenge of my position right now is just balancing my teaching with my intern position.

What is your favorite quote?

"The successful do daily what the unsuccessful do occasionally. Your success is in your daily routine"

What was your position before your intern position?

I was the AVID Coordinator & elective teacher

What do you do during your spare time?

I love spending time with my children, Jorren 8 yrs. & Jaiden 5 yrs.  I also enjoy lifting weights, listening to music (all genres, especially rap), hanging with family & friends, watching movies and football, and occasionally shopping.

"Jay-Z all day!!!" 

Carolina or Duke???

Carolina over Duke ( Not a true fan of either)

Fried Chicken or Backed chicken??

Fried Chicken (I need the baked though!!)

*Thank you for this opportunity to be interview. I love Southern High School, it’s students, and staff. I feel we are great despite what others may say. GO SPARTANS!!!!  

Interview by Jazmine Bailey, Media Assistant

(September 2009)

Mr. Anthony Bonchick

Educational Background

Bachelor of Psychology from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia 

Currently at: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  for Masters of School Administration.

What influenced you to become an administrator?
  “Knowing that every child can learn and finding a way to best educate each child, since we all have different capabilities.”

What are your 5 and 10 year goals?

• To become an Assistant Principal in Durham Public Schools
• To have my own school at some point
• Starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves

What influenced you to become an administrator?

“The principals at Neal were influential and so were the conversations we had. Also, to be able to work with more students than in my own classroom.”

What are some things that challenge you about this job?

“I am not a morning person, and setting up certain things with students but then turning them down because of an event or problem. One other thing is finding solutions for a variety of problems.”

What is your favorite quote?

“My father used to say: Good, better, best never let it rest, until the good becomes the better, and the better becomes the best.”

Interview by Betsy Morris, Media Assistant, Fall 2009

(September 2009)