THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 23, 1995 TAG: 9505230259
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
An official from the largest school system in the state will take the helm of the largest high school in the Albemarle area this summer.
The Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Board of Education on Monday approved David W. Christenbury of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools as principal of Northeastern High School.
Christenbury, 45, will officially start July 1 after finishing his work as assistant principal of North Mecklenburg High School. He will make about $59,000 a year on a four-year contract.
His appointment concludes more than a year of searching nationwide for a permanent chief at Northeastern. Former Principal Eugene Yarbrough announced he was leaving the school a year ago. The system could not find a satisfactory candidate for the 1994-95 year.
``I've talked with everybody and been looking everywhere,'' Superintendent Joseph Peel said after the special morning meeting to confirm the appointment. ``Last year I sent a letter to every principal in the state of North Carolina.
Becky Phelps, who has served as interim principal for the year, led the 1,550-student school through the planning phases for a new scheduling system that increases the number of classes students can take each year.
``She's done an excellent job,'' said Peel, who came to Elizabeth City from Charlotte-Mecklenburg in 1992. ``David's job will be easier as a result of the job Becky has done.''
Christenbury, holds a bachelor in history and a master's degree in education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has been in education since 1971 and has worked in Charlotte-Mecklenburg for nearly 22 years.
He has taught social studies at the elementary, junior and senior high levels; has coached basketball and softball; and has served as assistant principal for two high schools in the last seven years.
Christenbury said he was attracted to the Albemarle area by its small size and its beauty. He inherits a school that must iron out bugs in its new schedule and cope with growing discipline problems. But Christenbury said the school is in good shape.
``From what I saw when I was here a few weeks ago,'' he said, ``the kids are going to class, the halls are quiet, the place is clean.''
Christenbury was one of several new administrators to start at North Mecklenburg High School last fall. He said discipline at the school was loose when he came on board, but improved over the year as the staff tightened enforcement of rules and began holding students accountable for their actions.
``I have always taken on the idea that whatever I do, my kids are going to be the best,'' Christenbury said. ``We have very high expectations. The thing I'd like to accomplish is to get the kids to have high expectations and the parents to have high expectations.''
North Mecklenburg High School Principal Jimmy K. Poole said Christenbury took a leadership role at the school and drew from strong high school experience.
``He really was able to talk with kids, to work with them, to be firm when he needed to be,'' Poole said.
Christenbury and his wife, Elizabeth, will be in town through Wednesday, they said. The couple have three children, aged 12, 10 and 9.
The Christenburys were greeted Monday morning by a handful of community officials who assured them they would enjoy their new home.
``You all will really acclimate well to the community,'' said Rhonda Martin, executive director of the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce. ``They'll welcome you with open arms.'' by CNB