Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! It remains a true honor and privilege to serve as your principal for another year. For those of you who are new to our school, I want you to know that you are coming to an absolutely wonderful place. I am confident that you will come to truly love our exceptional school community as much as I do.

Our teachers and staff are caring, innovative, and committed to providing your child with the best education possible.  We are a collaborative and team driven group of educators who strive to have our students reach their highest potential.

We strongly believe that the support of the family is integral to your child’s educational experience and well-being.  We take this partnership with families very seriously, and I encourage you to communicate with your child’s teacher frequently.  As a team, we can provide much more for your child.

I am looking forward to getting to know each of our students and all of our families that comprise our Polenta Elementary School community. I know I can speak on behalf of our amazingly dedicated and talented staff and say we are looking forward to working with you and your student, making this year the best it can be!  Go PUMAS!!

I am a product of Johnston County Schools, where I attended and graduated from Princeton High, the last K-12 school in the district. After graduating from high school, I began working in a daycare and then with Johnston-Lee Head Start while I earned an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Johnston Community College. I began working at Cooper Elementary as a teacher assistant in 1st grade, eventually moving to East Clayton Elementary as a teacher assistant in their Autistic class. Later I began working at North Johnston Middle working with At-Risk students while I completed my degree in Special Education - General Curriculum from East Carolina University. After graduating from ECU, I taught briefly at Corinth Holder School (middle school students) and moved to Archer Lodge Middle when it opened. I was accepted to the Principal's Fellow program and attended East Carolina University where I obtained a Master's in School Administration degree. I completed my internship at Polenta and have worked as an Assistant Principal here since graduating from ECU in 2014.

As an educator, I believe that we should leave “no stone unturned” in our efforts to help a child reach his/her potential in life.  With 12 years of teaching experience, I have had the pleasure of providing instruction for elementary students in both Johnston and Wake county public schools.  In 2013, I was recognized by Johnston County Public Schools as a semi-finalist for Teacher of the Year (out of a pool of 400+ applicants). I have received advanced training in the fields of reading and academic giftedness; and I have extensive experience in teaching English Language Learners (ELL) and special education students.  

My educational experience includes an undergraduate degree in psychology from East Carolina University; a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Campbell University; and a Master’s degree in School Administration from North Carolina State University. 

It is my honor to serve Polenta Elementary under the leadership of our principal, Mrs. Kristina Benson, as she builds an exceptional team fully committed to making our school the most extraordinary school in the district as we embrace the motto of “Team Work Makes the Dream Work!”