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Mariam Boyd Elementary School Principal Canecca Davis, center, is honored as Warren County Schools' Principal of the Year at Monday night's board of education meeting. She is pictured with, from the left: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ray Spain, her daughter, Faith, and Board of Education Chairman Calvin Jones. Photo: Luci Weldon, The Warren Record
Mariam Boyd Elementary School Principal Canecca Davis has been named Warren County Schools Principal of the Year for 2009-10.
She was honored at the board of education's Monday night meeting, where she received a standing ovation.
"It is truly an honor, but it is something that I did not do on my own," Davis said in a telephone interview. "It means that Mariam Boyd is the school of the year, my parents are the parents of the year, my students are the students of the year, (the) teachers (at Mariam Boyd) are the teachers of the year. It is also a great honor for the community. I would not have received this award without their hard work."
Born in Dothan, Ala. and reared in Newark, N.J., she has lived in North Carolina for 15 years.
The daughter of Jewel Bolden Jackson and James Jackson of Alabama, Davis received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Bennett College in Greensboro and a master's degree in School Administration from North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh. She has completed her first year of study toward a doctoral degree in Education at NCSU.
Davis said that growing up, she played school just like many other children, but credits two influential teachers - along with the message of a family saying - with inspiring her to pursue a career in education.
"My first-grade teacher and high-school teacher inspired me," she said. "Once I decided I would be a teacher, my family stands on the words, 'keep the faith.' (By doing that) I knew I could achieve what I wanted."
Davis' 11 years in the education field have included work as a teacher, instructional specialist, assistant principal and principal.
She worked as a third-grade teacher in Harnett and, later, Guilford counties for three years.
After marriage, Davis began working in Vance County, teaching third grade at Pinkston Street Elementary School for seven years.
She served as an instructional specialist at Clark Street Elementary School, also in Vance County, after earning her master's degree.
In 2005, she became assistant principal at Mariam Boyd. After a year, Davis assumed her current duties as principal.
"My success as a teacher and as a principal is shown in the smallest student at Mariam Boyd and in the graduating seniors that I taught in third grade," she said. "I see my success in their success."
At Monday's meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ray Spain said that the Principal of the Year announcement was first made during a meeting at Mariam Boyd. He said that when he told Davis that there were students waiting outside who needed to see her, her expression showed that she was concerned about whether anything was wrong. However, the students were waiting to congratulate her on her award.
When she realized what was really happening, she thought about everyone related to the school who has been involved in its success.
"It fits in with last year's school motto, 'Teamwork makes the dream work,' " Davis said. "That was the first thing I thought when my name was announced."
There to cheer her on as she received her award Monday night were members of her family, including husband, Walter Davis III; daughter, Briana, who attends Warren County Middle School; and daughters, Faith and Destiny, who both attend Mariam Boyd.
Also attending were youth that Davis has taught through her church work. A licensed minister at I Believe God Outreach Church in Henderson, she leads a college-level Bible study class and oversees the Promise Keepers youth mentoring program, which she founded.
Davis said that the quote from educator Marva Collins, "There's a brilliant child locked inside every student," sums up her attitude toward her role at Mariam Boyd.
"I feel like my charge is to unlock that door," Davis said. "I feel that's my purpose for each day. My goal is to unlock that door for each student."
In expressing appreciation for her award, she praised the work that the board of education, school system and county have done together to help local schools.
"I would like to thank the school system for this honor," Davis said. "I thank the school system and board of education for their support of the schools. I thank the school system, board (of education) and county for this honor. I could not have done it without them."
Article taken from The Warren Record – 10/14/2009
Luci Weldon, Assistant Editor
