Last Updated on August 28, 2024 8:23 am
WATAUGA COUNTY—Watauga County Schools is pleased to welcome three new administrators for the 2024-25 school year. Dr. Grady “Coleman” Bailey and Dr. Kimberly Coleman join Watauga High School as assistant principals, and Sarah Boles joins Parkway School as the assistant principal.
“I am thrilled with the hires we have made for our assistant principal positions,” said Superintendent Dr. Leslie Alexander. “These candidates bring valuable experiences and will be great additions to their schools. Each of them has expressed so much excitement about working in Watauga County, and we are glad to welcome them to the Watauga County Schools family!”
Dr. Coleman Bailey
Bailey filled the position vacated by former assistant principal and CTE director David Koontz.
Bailey earned a Bachelor’s degree in Science Education from East Carolina University in 1991. He completed the requirements for a Master’s degree in Science Education from ECU in 1993 and later obtained a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University in 2020.
His career in education began in Martin County as a Middle Grades Science teacher. Bailey was in this role in Martin County from 1991 until 2002 when he made the move to Pitt County Schools. He was a high school Science teacher in Pitt County Schools from 2002 until 2011. After his teaching career in Pitt County, he joined Avery County Schools where he served as a Science teacher from 2011 until 2021. During this time, he also served as the Director of the Avery Virtual Academy and Alternative School.
More recently, Bailey was an assistant principal with Buncombe County Schools. He has also served as a Summer Ventures Facilitator and Instructor with East Carolina University and Western Regional Science Fair Director.
“Dr. Grady “Coleman” Bailey has over three decades of educational experience and is a welcome addition to the Watauga High School and Innovation Academy staff as assistant principal, “WHS/WIA Principal Scott Strickler said.
Strickler added: “His experience and accomplishments throughout his career include both high and middle school experience in science and theater classrooms. He was named a North Carolina Teacher of the Year finalist twice, has been named the North Carolina STEM teacher of the year, is serving as the regional director of the Western North Carolina Regional Science Fair, has advised North Carolina Teaching Fellows, was an advisor to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a curriculum specialist, and has received recognition and awards as a coach in track, cross country, and volleyball, in addition to a smile that brightens a room and a heart for students. Dr. Bailey’s commitment to being a lifelong learner and his work to help students be successful in high school and beyond, this is one of the many reasons that makes him a great addition to the staff of WHS&IA.”
As he prepares to begin his 34th year as an NC public school educator, Bailey looks forward to joining the students and staff at Watauga High School and Innovation Academy.
“I have admired WCS my entire career,” Bailey said. “The parents, students and staff of this system are really great ambassadors for it.”
Bailey added:
“Seldom in workshops and around the state have I heard so many people say so many positive things about a school system. I truly love being an educator and what I am most excited about being on the administrative team at WHS is they picked me and what I can bring to the table to complete their team. I really feel like they value me as an educator with the experiences I have had and I am so much looking forward to being part of a community that I have admired for so long.”
Bailey grew up spending a lot of time at school. Both of his parents were career educators, his father for 53 years and his mother for 37 years.
“It was not until my high school years that I decided that I wanted to serve the students of this state as a public school teacher,” Bailey said. “As luck would have it, the NC Teaching Fellows Program started my senior year in high school, and I was in the very first class of NC Teaching Fellows.”
He anticipates the greatest challenge will be getting to know WHS students and families. He shared that the largest school he has served was at D.H. Conley High School in Pitt County with 1,800 students. He taught Science and coached at D.H. Conley for ten years before they opened a new school and downsized.
“It took a while, but I truly wanted to get to know all the students and their families by having real conversations with them,” Bailey said. “I look forward to doing the same at Watauga.”
His hobbies and interests, which are mostly school-related, include helping young scientists connect to their future. Bailey serves as the Mountain Regional Science and Engineering Research Director. He has also been a Theatre director for years and enjoys watching students grow skills in those areas. He and his wife both enjoy supporting the local school community, no matter the activity.
Something he would like for the Watauga community to know is that even though he has completed 33 years in education, he does not plan to retire any time soon because he loves what he does. A former student asked him when he was going to retire and his answer for him was simple, “When I do not love it.”
“I hope I can share the joy I get from the responsibility we have to connect students with their futures with this community,” Bailey said.
Sarah Boles
Boles recently joined the leadership team at Parkway School after Martha Trimble’s move to the principal position vacated her previous role of assistant principal.
Boles earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotions from Appalachian State University 2005. In 2011 she completed the requirements for teacher licensure in Physical Education/Health Specialist. She completed the requirements for a Master’s degree in Executive Leadership Studies from Gardner-Webb University in 2023 and is pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Gardner-Webb University.
Prior to her career in education, Boles was a Foster Care Social Worker with Yadkin County Department of Social Services from 2005 until 2007. She then served as a Life Enrich Coordinator at Gaston Manor Assisted Living from 2007 until 2008.
“My transition into education followed two years as a foster care social worker,” Boles said. “My passion for helping children inspired me to pursue a role where I could make a direct impact. I then returned to school to obtain my educator’s license and pursue teaching and coaching.”
She was employed as a Health and Physical Education teacher and Coach with Iredell-Statesville Schools from 2010 until 2013. Boles was a Physical Education teacher and athletic director with Yadkin County Schools from 2013 until 2023. Most recently, she has been employed as an assistant principal with Iredell-Statesville Schools since 2023.
“We are excited to have Mrs. Boles join our Parkway family and leadership team,” Trimble said. “She is continuing to impress us with her charisma and background knowledge. We believe she will be the perfect asset to our community, families, staff and Watauga County Schools.”
When asked what she looks forward to most about helping to lead Parkway School, Boles said the following.
“I am so excited for the opportunity to work for Watauga County Schools and Parkway School in particular,” Boles said. “From my initial interactions, Parkway School has welcomed me with open arms and felt like family. The district’s strong academic standards and administrative leadership were key factors that drew me to this opportunity.”
During the transition to her new role, she said her initial focus will be familiarizing herself with the community, bus routes, school protocols and daily operations.
“Adjusting to a new district always presents a learning curve,” Boles said. “I am eager to engage with everyone and begin contributing to our shared goals and vision.”
She loves sports and outdoor activities. Her family enjoys hiking, fishing, camping and spending quality time together with their two dogs.
Boles and her husband Ryan have been married for 12 years and are proud parents to their 9-year-old son Teegan. One of their favorite activities is supporting Teegan in his sports activities. The Boles family is thrilled to be a part of the Parkway family.
Dr. Kimberly Coleman
Coleman filled the position vacated by former WHS assistant principal Dr. Erin White.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Auburn University in 1995 and completed the requirements for a Master’s degree in Middle Grades Education from Appalachian State University in 2002. In 2018, Coleman earned a Doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Gardner-Webb University.
Throughout her career in education, she was a Middle Grades Language Arts teacher with Caldwell County Schools from 1999 until 2002. During the 2002-2003 school year, she taught English Language Arts in Georgia. In 1999, she returned to Caldwell County Schools as a Middle Grades Math and Science teacher and remained in this position until 2008. Coleman was a Middle Grades Science teacher with Moore County Schools from 2008 until 2017. She also served as an Instructional Coach with Moore County Schools from 2017 until 2019.
Her experience in school leadership includes serving as an assistant principal at Avery High School from 2019 until 2021. She served as principal at Avery Middle School since 2021.
She shared that her original plan was to become an attorney after she graduated from Auburn University with her Political Science degree. Following graduation, she began working at the State Employee’s Credit Union in Asheville. As part of their community outreach program, she volunteered in local classrooms and taught students about financial literacy and responsibility.
“This opportunity ignited my passion for teaching. I soon after enrolled in education classes to become a teacher,” Coleman said.
She anticipates the greatest challenge of her new role to be learning all the new names and faces of her new school. She plans to be involved as much as possible to give her opportunities to get to know everyone.
“I really want to get to know everyone quickly, so I will truly be a part of this community,” Coleman said.
When she is not at work, she enjoys cooking, spending time with family, reading and watching sports (especially volleyball, basketball, football and wrestling).
She was born and raised in Caldwell County and has lived in other states and areas of North Carolina. She is happy to finally be back in the mountains of western NC. She has been married for 30 years and has two children, two dogs, one cat and six chickens.
“Dr. Kimberly Coleman is a veteran educator who comes from neighboring Avery County,” WIA/WHS Principal Scott Strickler said.
Strickler added:
“She has experience in both high school and middle school, while bringing a deep understanding of curriculum to Watauga High School and Innovation Academy that will help students and staff grow for years to come. She openly shares that being a high school assistant principal is her favorite role in education that she has held. Her kind smile, listening ear, and attention to detail is sure to bring additional strengths to the front office team at the high school. Her love of helping students find their passion in and after high school, the joy she has in cheering athletic teams to victory and celebrating concerts from all of the arts will endear her to students and families as the year progresses. Please take time to stop by and welcome Dr. Coleman to Watauga High School.”
Coleman looks forward to serving the students and staff of WHS/WIA as part of WCS.
“I am so thankful for the warm welcome I have received from everyone in this district,” Coleman said. “Watauga County has an amazing sense of community. I love how the community embraces and supports the students and schools. The future of this community is truly a team effort.”
