This New Hanover County principal is one of the best in the region. Here's why.

Madison Lipe, Wilmington StarNews
·2 min read
Students congratulate Christianne May for being named Southeast Region Principal of the Year. May is the principal at Castle Hayne Elementary School.
Students congratulate Christianne May for being named Southeast Region Principal of the Year. May is the principal at Castle Hayne Elementary School.

With congratulatory hugs from her students Monday morning, Castle Hayne Elementary School’s Christianne May accepted the honor of being named the 2024 Wells Fargo Southeast Region North Carolina Principal of the Year.

During an event in the school’s library, staff and students surprised May with her recognition and shared how the environment she created within the school has impacted their lives.

Second-grade teacher Trevor Todd said her impact has been a positive one. “I know that I can go to Mrs. May with anything – positive or negative – that is happening in the building, and she will meet me with a non-judgmental ear and will truly listen to what I am saying," he said in a news release from the school district.

ESL Teacher Rosalie Cervini also addressed May with words of appreciation. “Because of your leadership,” she said in the news release, “we start each year being welcomed, and end each year wanting to return.”

After not reaching academic growth standards before May’s direction, Castle Hayne exceeded them three years in a row and increased a letter grade with her instruction. Her staff attributed this success to the high expectations and work-hard, play-hard culture of respect and collaboration that she put in place for students and staff.

Todd said May knows every child in the school by their name and she maintains an open-door policy that builds relationships with staff, families, and district leaders.

Christianne May, center, displays her award for being named Southeast Region Principal of the Year. May is the principal at Castle Hayne Elementary School.
Christianne May, center, displays her award for being named Southeast Region Principal of the Year. May is the principal at Castle Hayne Elementary School.

Last spring, May was named New Hanover County Schools Principal of the Year and now, after her regional title, she will represent the district at the state level against seven other regions for the title of State Principal of the Year.

She will be honored at the state ceremony in May for her regional title and serve on the state’s Educator Quality Workgroup and other boards and committees.

May is the third New Hanover County Schools principal to receive the regional principal of the year title since 2010. Other principals who received this title are Julie Duclos-Greenwood in 2010 and Robin Hamilton in 2015.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Castle Hayne Elementary principal named regional principal of the year