LCPS Names Terry Wooten the 2025–2026 Principal of the Year!
Lenoir County Public Schools is proud to announce that Terry Wooten, principal of Rochelle Middle School, has been named the district’s 2025–2026 Principal of the Year.
With 37 years of service in education, Mrs. Wooten has built her career around supporting teachers, empowering students, and transforming school culture through trust, collaboration, and high expectations. Since becoming principal at Rochelle, she has led the school through remarkable growth, helping it move from years of academic struggle to consistent success and a thriving sense of community pride.
“I see myself as a servant leader,” Wooten said in her Principal of the Year application. “Trust and mutual respect begin with modeling compassion and collaboration in all interactions. My goal has always been to build relationships rooted in trust, where staff know their voices matter and that I am committed to their success.”
That leadership philosophy has reshaped Rochelle Middle, where student performance, teacher retention, and community engagement have all reached new highs. Under Wooten’s direction, Rochelle has met or exceeded growth each year and seen its overall School Performance Score increase by 27 points in four years.
“As principal, I believe every teacher can achieve at high standards when given encouragement, resources, and opportunities for professional growth,” she said. “By supporting staff and celebrating their success, we create a culture where students thrive and believe they can accomplish great things.”
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Terry Wooten, LCPS Principal of the Year! Her dedication, vision, and belief in the potential of every student and staff member continue to make Rochelle Middle and Lenoir County Public Schools stronger every day.
Photo: Facebook.
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