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Charlotte Local News ~ Charlotte Observer <br />Charlotte.wlln <br />Page 1 of 1 <br />Wednesday. Apr 9. 2008 <br />Posted on Fri: Apr. 04, 2008 <br />A.L. Brown has Principal of the Year <br />GAIL SMITH-ARRANTS <br />Debra Morris' innovations and "boundless energy" helped make her the 2008 Wachovia N.C. Principal <br />of the Year. <br />State education officials honored Morris, principal at A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis, Thursday <br />at a luncheon in Raleigh. <br />It's the second statewide honor for Morris, who also is the N.C. High School Principal of the Year, a <br />recognition given by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. <br />Morris has "boundless energy" and "is always, first, a teacher," said Wachovia Executive Vice <br />President Jack Clayton. <br />She took over as principal at A.L. Brown in summer 2005. Since then, she has started a Freshman <br />Academy, launched a uniform dress code and improved student achievement and discipline. Other <br />changes include adding Latin, peer tutoring and a teacher cadet program. <br />Lee Efird, chairman of the Kannapolis City Schools Board of Education, said Morris puts in "countless <br />hours" and has great rapport with students and parents. <br />"She takes time out of every day to tutor students and work with students," he said. "She's a very <br />hands-on principal." <br />Morris has been innovative, including establishing the Freshman Academy, Efird said. In the academy, <br />freshmen are grouped together mostly on one floor of school buildings. They eat lunch together and <br />move to classes together. <br />Domonic Adams and other freshmen at A.L. Brown seem to like the concept. <br />"It's less intimidating," Domonic said recently. "It's like a little school inside a big school." <br />Freshman Academy is the Kannapolis system's latest effort to improve achievement and reduce <br />dropouts. Attendance has improved, and teachers have referred fewer students for discipline, school <br />officials say. <br />Morris has worked in other area school systems, including Union County, Iredell-Statesville and Lincoln <br />County. For winning the award, Morris and A.L. Brown each will receive $3,000. <br />C-' <br />http://www.charlotte.com/IocaUv-prinUstory/566044.htm1 <br />4/9/2008 <br />