About Kensington Elementary
About Our School
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Kensington Elementary serves more than 1,000 students in kindergarten through fifth grade and is located in Waxhaw. We offer Mandarin and Spanish dual language immersion programs. Mandarin immersion is offered to grades two to five and all core content is taught in Mandarin with English introduced in kindergarten. Spanish immersion begins in kindergarten (lottery process) and English is introduced in the second grade. The Knights pour every ounce of their passion into growing the whole child to be resilient, inquisitive, valued and responsible. Kensington is a big school with an even bigger heart.
- Address: Kensington Elementary School, 8701 Kensington Drive, Waxhaw, NC 28173
- Phone: 704-290-1500
- Fax: 704-243-3821
- Mission and Vision: We empower well-rounded, confident leaders who aspire to serve others and achieve their full potential. Our mission is to create an environment that fosters safety, self-worth, and curiosity in students through interactive, enriching experiences, positive communication, and inclusiveness.
- Virtual Tour
- Staff Directory
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Fast Facts
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- Traditional Calendar
- Mascot: Knights
- Colors: Navy and gold
- Start Bell: 7:30 a.m.
- End Bell: 2 p.m.
School Documents
Meet Our School Leaders
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Terry Vaughn (Principal)
About Mr. Vaughn
Terry Vaughn Jr. is a native of Illinois and moved to North Carolina as he took over the principalship at Kensington Elementary in July 2019. He has been seeking leadership opportunities since his earliest days and served as student body president of both his middle school and high school. Terry received the Ronald Reagan Leadership Fellowship at Eureka College for his tenure as an undergraduate. The competitive fellowship was awarded based on academic and leadership success and provided a full academic scholarship as well as two internships anywhere in the world while he sought his degree.
Mr. Vaughn has always been passionate about education and serving the underserved/underprivileged, which stems from his grandmother who was a relentless servant leader. While teaching sixth-grade math, he went back to school and received his Masters in Educational Leadership from Western Illinois University. His first administrative position was as an assistant principal at Manual Academy in Peoria, IL where he worked at both the middle and high school levels. He then became assistant principal at Metamora Township High School in Metamora, IL before accepting his first position as principal with Union County Public Schools at Kensington Elementary.
Terry is the proud husband of Hillary Vaughn, a rockstar Nationally Certified Counselor who at New Town Elementary, and the adoring father of three loving girls: Dakota, Damara and Dalayna, and one studly boy: Damarius.
His family resides in Waxhaw, near the school, and he appreciates all of the community support.
Principal's Message:
I believe that a school and ALL of its stakeholders must first take care of the physical and mental well-being of students before they begin to address academic growth. I believe every student, staff, parent, and community member has something to bring to the table and can provide a unique perspective to the way we are delivering instruction to our young people. Therefore, I strive to create opportunities that allow me to hear the voices of those the school serves.
Students have amazing minds with unique ideas and it is important that we embrace these thoughts and hear what they have to say versus conforming them to what we know. I believe the content and standards should be the vehicles we use to help students pick up the more critical traits of self-awareness, reflection, personal advocacy, independent thinking, problem solving, ambition, collaboration, communication, and responsibility
Contact Mr. Vaughn
- Phone: 704-290-1500
- Email: terry.vaughn@ucps.k12.nc.us
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Kelsey Horne (Assistant Principal)
Contact Ms. Horne
- Email: kelsey.horne@ucps.k12.nc.us
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Samantha Gabriel (Assistant Principal)
Contact Ms. Gabriel
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School Performance Director
- Dr. Jennifer Topper
- 704-296-9898
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Professional Advisory Council Representatives
- Principal: Terry Vaughn
- Representative: Meredith Gainer
Recognitions
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School Recognitions
- North Carolina High Growth School, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014
- North Carolina Honor School of Excellence, 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016
- North Carolina School of Distinction, 2005-2006, 2007-2008
- North Carolina Association of Administrators Award of Merit, 2008
- UCPS "International School", 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Global Education Recognition P21 Exemplar School 2019
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National Board Certified Teachers
- Amy Brantley
- Kerri Connolly
- Georgianna Farwell
- Kristen Flores
- Marissa Latzos
- Jessica Lequire
- Ellen LeRoy
- Stephanie McLeod
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Teachers of the Year
- Kayla Neufer, grade 1, 2021-2022
- Sarah Hoefer, pre-k, 2020-2021
- Kristen Hilkert, grade 1, 2019-2020
- Kristen Flores, kindergarten, 2018-2019
- Anita Martin, kindergarten, 2017-2018
- Jennifer Caldwell, grade 3, 2016-2017
- Leah Kuhn, AIG, 2015-2016
- Glenn Baron, grade 5, 2014-2015 (top twelve finalist)
- Laura Bauer, grade 5, 2013-2014
- Kerri Connolly, grade 1, 2012-2013 (**Also recognized as the Union County Teacher of the Year!)
- Jennifer Sinople, grade 4, 2011-2012
- Jessica Lequire, music, 2010-2011
- Leigh Ann Worley, grade 5, 2009-2010
- Laura Aquilone, k/1 multiage, 2008-2009
- Dana Moritz, kindergarten, 2007-2008
- Ingela Whitley, grade 4, 2006-2007
- Deanna Herlong, media, 2005-2006
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Teacher Assistants of the Year
- Erin Stephenson, 2021-2022
- Meg Brantley, 2019-2020
- Amy Young, 2018-2019
- Jeremy Heinze, 2017-2018
- Annette Marin, 2016-2017
- Dawn Ferguson, 2015-2016
- Cindy Pierson, 2014-2015
- Jill Mitchell, 2013-2014
- Sharyn Surro, 2012-2013
- Cheryl Wall, 2011-2012
- Kathy Privette, 2010-2011
- Dawn Davis, 2009-2010
- Pam Rorie , 2008-2009
- Alcyon Raia, 2007-2008
- Kendra Kent, 2006-2007
- Jan Young, 2005-2006
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VIF Teacher of the Year
Trevor Althof (2012)
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VIF Administrator of the Year
Dr. Rachel Clarke (2013)
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VIF International Education Team of the Year
- First Grade: Trevor Althof, Laura Aquilone, Kristen Flores, Sandra Gullion, Kerri Connolly, Melanie Wilson (2013)
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UCPS Global Teacher Leaders
- Laura Bauer
- Kelley Contrera
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CATO Science Teacher of the Year
Dr. Glenn Baron (2013)