GASTON — Northampton West STEM High School Principal Felisha Wyche believes everyone has a calling in their life.

Jacqueline Hough | The Daily Herald Pictured on the left, Felisha Wyche, principal of Northampton West STEM High School, talks with some students in Stacie Payne’s geometry class. Wyche was recently named Northampton County Schools Principal of the Year. Advertisement

“God equips us with everything we need to do in order to be successful within that calling,” she said. “And when I reflect on my years in education, I was born to be a teacher and a principal. It is my passion.”

At the recent Northampton Board of Education meeting, Wyche was named the Northampton County Schools Principal of the Year.

She said she was completely surprised when she received the phone call about the honor.

“I was excited and honored my peers thought so highly of me to chose me to represent principal of the year,” she said.

Wyche added she has never aspired to receive the distinction. “I’ve always had a pretty solid work ethic and believe in putting forth my all and doing my best,” she said.

Wyche loves working with students. “I am so dedicated to trying to make sure they receive an education that will allow them to be successful in all walks of life,” she said.

At her school, there are 433 students and she feels like each one is her child. “I know they know that I care about them,” she said. “They know my expectations are high. And I will not allow them to act inappropriate or do anything to hinder the teachers providing education.”

In the past few weeks, Wyche has attended various classes and workshops. “It feels good when the kids come up to me to let me know they’ve missed me,” she said.

But Wyche didn’t set out to be an educator. “When I left for college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be but I was dead certain I didn’t want to be a teacher,” she said.

She started as an English major with a concentration in speech pathology, but then her college decided to drop speech pathology. “I decided to go into education and give teaching a try,” she said.

A graduate of Southeast Halifax High School, she received her bachelor’s in English Education from Elizabeth City State University. She taught for three years in Edgecombe County, then moved to Roanoke Rapids.

After that from 1998-2003, she taught at Northampton County High School-East. Wyche earned her Master’s in School Administration from East Carolina University and became an administrative intern at Garysburg Elementary School.

She later became assistant principal of Rich Square W.S. Creecy, then principal of Squire Elementary School. Wyche became principal of Northampton West STEM High School in June.

She said she was a little nervous about going to high school and with the middle school being added to the high school.  “But I was excited because I knew it was going to be a challenge,” Wyche said with a smile. “I am always up for a challenge.”

She admits being a principal is a 24-hour, seven days a week job. While being interviewed, her cell phone constantly buzzed along with her office phone. “Everyday is a busy day,” Wyche said. “It is extremely rewarding.”

For her, a good day is being able to visit classrooms to observe teaching and learning. A day which begins at 7:30 a.m. and could go on well after 3:30 p.m. “So far, the school year has been challenging but it has been good,” she said.

One of the biggest things she is working toward is trying to build a more productive and collaborative culture with students, teachers, staff and parents. Wyche said she has a great staff with 16 of the 35 certified teachers being new teachers. “The new staff has brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the building, classrooms and teaching,” she said. “The veteran teachers have been supportive in helping them understand the traditions and culture. Together, it has worked fabulous.” The staff is very hardworking and dedicated to the success of the students, she added.

In addition to being a principal, she is the mother of son Jayven, 7, who is a second-grader at Gaston Elementary School. He loves science,  math, and wants to be either a doctor or assistant superintendent of schools when he is older. “He thinks mommy’s job is so cool,” she said.

He gets to watch the band rehearse and has been the water boy for the football team. “I am glad he’s able to participate in things he likes,” she said.

And when Wyche has a challenging day, she looks at a hot pink poster on her wall. It was given to her during her first year as principal at Squire Elementary by a fourth grade math class. It was a letter from them thanking her for being their principal. “I’ve kept it,” she said. “And on those challenging days when I stop and ask what am I doing here, I look at it because it always puts things back in focus and makes it real.”