Published: August 15, 2008 11:05 am            

Blanchard takes helm

TABERNACLE — Jack Blanchard’s selection as principal of Tabernacle Elementary School is the latest step in his career with Randolph County Schools that began as a student teacher.

The county Board of Education announced the promotion last week after a closed session at its monthly meeting. Blanchard replaces Drew Maerz, who took a position in another county.

“I grew up in Raleigh and then went to Appalachian State,” he said. During his senior year, he did his student teaching at Trinity High School. When a position opened at Trinity, Blanchard decided to stay on. That was in 1990.

“I liked the area,” he said. “I really enjoyed the small town feel of Randolph County.”

Blanchard taught science at Trinity, served as athletic director and coached jayvee baseball, football and wrestling.

After earning a master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Blanchard was named assistant principal at Southwestern Randolph Middle School. He took the same position at Uwharrie Middle when that school opened in 2002 and has been there ever since.

Blanchard said his educational philosophy revolves around the belief that children learn in different ways, requiring a diversity of teaching styles.

“I have two children,” he said. “My daughter believes everything her teacher tells her. My son has to figure everything out for himself. I believe you have to figure out ways to reach each student. I feel that Uwharrie has teachers like that and I’m sure Tabernacle does as well.

Relationships with students are important to Blanchard. “I like to think of it as a fatherly relationship,” he said. “As a teacher, I was more of a mentor. I hope I’m the same as a principal.

“A principal should be willing to come into the classroom and read to them,” Blanchard said. “A principal is one to come to when you’re in trouble, but should also be one who cares for you and that you’re getting a good education.”

Blanchard has been married to his wife Leigh for 12 years. She is an art teacher at John Lawrence Elementary in Archdale. Their daughter, Alexandria, is a fifth-grader and their son, Clay, is in third grade, both at John Lawrence. The Blanchards live in Trinity.

        

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