Welcome to Poplin Elementary School, home of the Patriots! Built in 2009, Poplin is the newest elementary school in Union County Public Schools. Our school colors are yellow and green.

Poplin is one of five elementary schools in the Porter Ridge Cluster. After our fifth-grade students leave us, most attend Porter Ridge Middle School and Porter Ridge High School.

Poplin is one of two schools in the Porter Ridge Cluster to host the Dual Language Immersion Program in Spanish. Currently, we have one class in kindergarten through grade 5. Students are taught curriculum for each subject area in Spanish. The goal of the program is for our students to be fluent in Spanish once they leave the fifth grade. To learn more about Dual Language Immersion in UCPS, click here.

In order to broaden the scope of global learning at Poplin, we have a Global STEAM Lab. In this lab, students study current global issues through the lens of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). We also have a 3-D printer that allows teachers and students hands-on experience from conception to creation.

Poplin is fortunate to have a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that supports our school in a variety of ways. Our PTA has provided shade structures and additional swings for our playground, provided SMART boards and iPads for our classrooms, a projector in our gymnasium, and refurbished our entire Media Center. This past year PTA hired an outside artist to paint over 25 activities and games on the black-top areas for students to play! There are multiple ways to volunteer and become involved in our PTA. Click here for more information.

At Poplin Elementary we work together to create a learning environment that is safe, inviting, and secures the success of all students.

#AlwaysForward #EVERYOpportunity #PoplinNation

Growing leaders, thinkers, and problem solvers that positively impact others.

School Information

Poplin Elementary School
5627 Poplin Road
Indian Trail, NC 28079

Phone: 704-296-0320

Fax: 704-882-5164

Meet Our School Administrators

Shanda Lauri (Principal)
About Ms. Lauri

Ms. Lauri has been in education for 21 years in many different capacities. She started her career in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools as a classroom teacher, then moved to Union County schools in 2008. Ms. Lauri completed her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, then completed her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a Reading emphasis through Grand Canyon University. In 2013, Ms. Lauri decided to continue her education and graduated with an Administrative license from Wingate University.

Ms. Lauri was a part of the Wingate Elementary family for 14 years. She worked as an assistant principal, classroom teacher, curriculum coach, and instructional content facilitator. Ms. Lauri looks forward to bringing her knowledge of curriculum and instruction to continue to grow learners and leaders at Poplin Elementary. She is eager to begin building strong relationships with students, staff, and parents and is grateful to be a part of the Poplin community.

Ms. Lauri resides in Indian Trail with her twin boys, who are students of Union County Public Schools. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, popcorn-movie nights, and playing sports outside with her boys and their Great Dane, Harley.

Degrees and Certifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education
- Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction
- Master's Degree in Administration
Contact Ms. Lauri
- Email: shanda.lauri@ucps.k12.nc.us
Randal Watts (Assistant Principal)
About Mr. Watts

Mr. Randal Watts came to Poplin from New Town Elementary where he worked in several roles. He started his career in education at Sun Valley High School as a science teacher for ten years. He later worked as an administrator for a Small learning Community grant for years. The grant position was created to help transition and support ninth-graders from middle to high school by developing academic support for students and teachers as well as creating extra-curricular opportunities for the students. Upon conclusion of the grant, Mr. Watts became an assistant principal of instruction for Sun Valley for seven years.

His educational background includes an Associates Arts degree from Brevard College, an undergraduate degree in Biology Secondary Education from Appalachian State and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Winthrop University.

Mr. Watts is a life-long resident of Union County and product of Union County Public Schools. He is the father of two young children, a set of twin girls Miranda and Marissa.

Contact Mr. Watts
- Email: randal.watts@ucps.k12.nc.us