Kathryn Chontos is Athens Drive High School’s new interim principal. Prior to joining Athens this past August, Chontos was a principal at Athens Drive for seven and a half years. Chontos left Athens in 2006, and then continued work at Central Office as Westanary of Superintendent.
Chontos retired from that position and after several years. She is now taking interim jobs and comes to schools for special projects. After Dr. James Hedrick, Athens Drive previous principal died, Chontos was offered the interim principal position from Athens Drive about returning to Athens for a short time.
“I am excited to be here, I love the school and I love the students. So for me it was a great opportunity to try and help out because I know it would be a hard start for everybody. I wanted to do what I could to make it a little easier for everyone in the time that I am here,” said Chontos.
Before being a principal at Athens Drive, Chontos was a principal at Longview School and has served as an assistant principal at East Cary Middle School. As Westanary of Superintendent in Central Office, Chontos was able to work with all the principals in Westenary schools where she learned a lot. Chontos is happy to come back and be a principal again because she feels like she has learned.
In the short period Chontos is at Athens Drive, her goals are to not lose speed and keep moving towards Athens goals. Due to Athens Drive new magnet status, Chontos wants to see the Magnet Program have a good start and she wants to make sure that things are settled. She wants people to come to school to learn and do their job, so the school runs smoothly. Chontos is not planning on making any big changes to Athens Drive and is focusing on being attentive to what is needed.
“Students, do not wait. Get going first thing, begin assignments when they are given to you. Get them done, turn them in on time, and do your best. If there is something you do not understand, make an appointment with your teacher to come in at Smart Lunch. I think it is a good idea for students to become involved, there is something here for everybody. Find something that you want join. If you are not someone who likes to get involved, that is okay. Be a participant, be a fan, go to the games, go to the plays, go to the concerts, there is a lot you can do to become apart of your school,” said Chontos.
Chontos has previously worked with Dr. Hedrick when he was principal at Green Hope and while he was at Athens Drive. Chontos knows Hedrick to be a very smart and good principal who she has learned a lot from at Westernary. She loved visiting the school to see how he was doing things, and thought of Hedrick as a friend.
“I do not see myself as a change agent, I just want to make sure we move from Dr. Hedrick to a new principal smoothly. I see myself as a little transitionary person that moves us from here to there successfully,” said Chontos.
Chontos believes that the Athens Magnet theme is great because Athens has always been involved in Medical Science. Even when she was at Athens Drive in 2006, there are a number of students who are interested in that field and have grown up to be doctors. Chontos believes that this theme is not new to Athens although the Magnet title is.
“One of the things I like about the Magnet Program is that it will make sure students who are not in the Magnet theme, understand how it applies to the whole school. I think that is very important. One of the things that I’d like to see is students who are not in the Magnet program become interested in joining the Magnet program. Growing the Magnet program from not only outside applicants but from within,” said Chontos.
