This week, the Pender County Board of Education announced the appointment of two new principals for Surf City Elementary School and Surf City Middle School.
Kelly Flynn Appointed as Surf City Elementary School Principal
Kelly Flynn, an experienced local educator with over two decades of experience in Pender County Schools, is the newly appointed principal of Surf City Elementary School.
Flynn began her career as a teacher at Rocky Point Elementary School and recently completed her sixth year as an Assistant Principal experience at South Topsail Elementary School.
Flynn’s dedication to education is evident in her academic achievements, which include a BA in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Elementary Education, and a Master’s in School Administration, all from UNC Wilmington.
In 2021, the school was home to 585 students, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. The student population has remained stable over the past five years, fostering a consistent and close-knit relationship between students and faculty.
In 2021, Surf City Elementary ranked in the top 20% of statewide testing scores for Math & Reading Proficiency.
Crystal Hall Appointed as Surf City Middle School Principal
For the 2023-2024 school year, Crystal Hall will step into her new role as principal of Surf City Middle School.
On the Pender County Education website, Hall says:
“I am so excited to join the Surf City Middle School team. It is an excellent school with a terrific staff and I feel privileged to serve as their new principal…”
“…I am excited to get back into middle school where I spent my years teaching. I look forward to an amazing year with the staff, students, and the community.”
Hall holds two Master of Education degrees: a Master’s in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix Glendale and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Arizona State University Tempe.
In addition to her academic accomplishments, Hall brings 14 years of experience in public education to her new role as Surf City Middle School Principal.
Surf City Middle School has seen its student population grow by 26% over the past five years, reaching 640 students in 2021. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 21 to 1, Hall is set to lead a diverse staff and growing community of learners represented in the student body.
Hall’s leadership will be crucial in building upon the school’s already impressive academic performance. Jeremy Perkins, who took on the role of Assistant Principal for Surf City Middle School in 2022, will remain in that role and serve in Principal Hall’s Administrative team.
About the Surf City Schools Campus
Both Surf City Elementary and Surf City Middle Schools are located on the same campus at 12345 Literacy Lane in Hampstead, North Carolina.
Constructed by Barnhill Contracting Company, the 184,000-square-foot campus was completed in 2018 after a 20-month construction period that began in 2016. The campus was designed to accommodate a total of 1,568 students, featuring elementary and middle school wings connected by a 730-foot-long corridor.
Both schools opened their doors to students for the 2018-2019 academic year.