Veteran educator brings decades of experience to the Lake Waccamaw charter school, partnering with Assistant Principal Donna Moody for the new school year.
Lake Waccamaw, NC — Thomas Academy welcomes Melissa Clark as its new principal, partnering with Assistant Principal Donna Moody to lead students through a special school year. Clark takes the helm following a career as a veteran educator and administrator within the Charlotte Mecklenburg and Cabarrus County school systems. After retiring, she relocated to Whiteville a year and a half ago to be closer to family and assist with her sister-in-law’s tax business, but ultimately felt a strong pull to return to education.
Reflecting on her return, Clark noted how much she missed interacting with students and collaborating with teachers. Her background includes 15 years as a high school English teacher, alongside roles as a testing coordinator, assistant principal, and dean of students prior to her 2021 retirement. Through these experiences, she developed a deep appreciation for evidence based literacy, mathematics initiatives, and skills based learning strategies.
Moving from massive educational institutions with populations exceeding 2,500 students, Clark expressed excitement over Thomas Academy’s smaller class sizes and commitment to individualized instruction.
Rather than focusing solely on curriculum, Clark emphasizes meeting students at their individual levels and understanding their personal needs. She values compassionate student engagement, clear boundaries paired with productive dialogue, and maintaining high morale across the entire school community. Her approach involves an open-door policy, active administrative support for teachers and families, and deep involvement with local civic organizations.
Community members can meet Principal Clark in person during the Take-a-Peek at Your Schedule Ice Cream Social, scheduled for August 20 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Pavilion next to Thomas Academy Middle School.
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