Rickard joins seven other regional principals of the year to compete for the 2014 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year title. The award program is sponsored by the bank and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
Rickard was given the award in a surprise announcement Thursday night at the Chapel Hill/Carrboro school board meeting. Among those participating in the presentation were Leigh Jones, the 2013 Region 5 Principal of the Year, and fellow School of Education alumna and N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s Regional Education Facilitator Cindi Rigsbee.
Rickard has been with the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools district since 1999 and has served as principal of Morris Grove Elementary since it opened in 2007. She received her bachelor’s degree in English education and psychology and her master’s degree in school administration from the School of Education.
Rickard serves on the School of Education’s Alumni Council.
The selection committee shared that “Ms. Rickard was poised and articulate when explaining how she supports her staff and students through the process of learning: ‘Our school environment is grounded in the professional learning communities framework where we work collaboratively to make decisions, plan instruction, and share ideas.’”
When she was named Chapel Hill/Carrboro Principal of the Year in the fall, district Superintendent Tom Forcella said: “Amy Rickard is a great example of what is right about public schools. She advocates for children and families on a daily basis and sets high expectations for the learning outcomes at her school. We are privileged to have her in our district.”
Rickard started her career as a language arts teacher in Kannapolis. She signed on with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in 1999 as an administrative intern. After time spent as an assistant principal at both McDougle Elementary and Rashkis Elementary, Rickard served as principal of Glenwood Elementary from 2004 to 2007.