JCPS Principal, Assistant Principal of the Year value teamwork, community Submitted by Johnston County Public Schools
Dr. Kerri Evans, principal of Swift Creek Middle School, was selected as the 20202021 Principal of the Year for Johnston County Public Schools recently and Carson Cataliotti, assistant principal of South Smithfield Elementary School, was selected as the 2020-2021 Assistant Principal of the Year. Evans and Cataliotti were surprised with the recognition in front of their families and JCPS staff at their respective schools. Evans has served as the principal at Swift Creek Middle since the school’s opening in 2017. “This was a proud moment for me. We have worked so hard to build our Swift Creek community and culture since we opened in 2017,” she said. “At the moment that I was named Principal of the Year I thought, ‘This is for all of us. This is
for all of the hard work that has gone into building Swift Creek over the last three years.’” Cataliotti has served as the assistant principal at South Smithfield Elementary since 2017. “It was such a high honor to be named Assistant Principal of the Year,” Cataliotti said. “I’ve served for 13 years in Johnston County Public Schools. This is my fourth year as AP, and to be named Assistant Principal of the Year was very exciting. Assistant principals are sometimes behind the scenes, so to be recognized was a true surprise.” The Amy Renfrow Leadership Principal of the Year Award is named after former Corinth-Holders Elementary principal Amy Renfrow. The awards are given through the Johnston County Principal
and Assistant Principal Association (JCPAPA). The Johnston County Education Foundation awarded Evans with a check in the amount of $1,000 ($500 for personal use and $500 for her school) and Cataliotti with an award check in the amount of $500. Both were nominated by their colleagues to receive the award. Evans is described by her colleagues as someone who has impeccable judgment and character, as well as someone who truly cares about her students and staff. She is known for working hard to ensure that all of her teammates and students succeed. “Working with Dr. Evans is one of the highlights of my career,” said Swift Creek
