
About Benton Heights Elementary
About Our School
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Benton Heights Elementary School of the Arts, located in Monroe, serves kindergarten through fifth-grade students. We are a Leader in Me Lighthouse School that supports our students in developing their academic, leadership and artistic skills. Lighthouse schools must meet nine standards that show the teaching of leadership principles, the development of leadership culture and educational system alignment.
- Address: Benton Heights School of the Arts, 1200 Concord Avenue, Monroe, NC 28110
- Phone: 704-296-3100
- Fax: 704-296-3106
- Front Office Hours: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday – Friday (hours vary during the summer)
- Staff Directory
- Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (X)
- School Improvement Plan
- Vision: Prepare learners, empower leaders, to be a model school
- Mission: Our mission at BHESA is to confidently, courageously and creatively lead by empowering ourselves and others.
- Mantra: I am a valued member of a winning team, doing meaningful work in an environment of trust
Fast Facts
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- Traditional Calendar
- Mascot: Tigers
- Colors: Purple and orange
- Arrival: 7 a.m.
- Tardy bell/instruction begins: 7:30 a.m.
- Dismissal: 2 p.m.
Meet Our School Leaders
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Dr. Candice Boatright (Principal)
About Dr. Boatright
As principal, it is my goal to develop a school culture that is inviting, flexible, collaborative, respectful, innovative and supportive of efforts to improve the achievement of all students so that they have the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become successful, globally competitive adults.
I believe that we must all have respect for diversity and accept that there are multiple paths to knowledge. I also believe that forming and maintaining positive relationships to know our students intellectually, socially and emotionally is most critical in a child's education. Furthermore, to help us succeed, we need to communicate frequently to the parents and the community that they are truly our partners and not intruders in our school.
My career in education includes teaching first, second, and third grade in CMS and UCPS. I also am a National Board Certified Teacher as well. Furthermore, I gained significant experience as assistant principal at Parkwood High School for four years. My background has given me the opportunity to accumulate substantial knowledge that makes me a perceptive and dedicated professional who pays great attention to detail. I utilize a positive and enthusiastic approach each day because I truly love what I do!
Contact Dr. Boatright
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Jennifer Fore (Assistant Principal)
About Ms. Fore
Jennifer Fore grew up in Matthews NC and received her undergraduate degree from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She began her career in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools where she taught kindergarten, first, and second grades for 11 years. While in CMS, she was trained in Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which laid the foundation for supporting The Leader in Me principles at Benton Heights.
While staying home when her two children were young, she attained her Master of School Administration degree from Western Carolina University. She joined Union County Public Schools as a Curriculum Coordinator and Instructional Coach, where she supported content and teaching practice in all Elementary grade levels. She is a firm believer in having a deep understanding of grade-level content and vertical progressions, digging into root cause of difficulty, and matching innovative and researched-based best practices to student needs.
Mrs. Fore describes herself as a passionate educator. She believes that each child can achieve great things through strong instruction. She also has a special desire to support teachers with reaching each child and helping them build on their individual strengths.
Contact Ms. Fore
- Email: jennifer.fore@ucps.k12.nc.us
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Dr. Geraldine Bacchus (Assistant Principal)
About Dr. Bacchus
Dr. Bacchus began her teaching career working for the New York City School System. In 2000 when she relocated to North Carolina with her husband Jerry Sr., daughter Samantha and son Jerry Jr, she began working for the Union County Public Schools.
Her focus while working for Union County was teaching kindergarten and first grade. She also served as literacy intervention K-5, Math intervention 3-5, summer school teacher, and more recently Assistant Principal. Working in these positions provided Dr. Bacchus the opportunities to develop the leadership skills that allowed her to better instruct students, manage behavior, assess progress, encourage student learning and help colleagues implement best practices.
Dr. Bacchus considers herself an instructional leader who thrives on being involved in the learning process for children and adults. To further facilitate her passion for educational leadership, she is involved with educational opportunities away from work to enhance her leadership skills.
She earned a bachelor's in elementary education from City University of New York and a master's degree from Pfeiffer University. She is also National Board Certified.
Contact Dr. Bacchus
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School Performance Director
- Dr. Renee McKinnon
- 704-296-9898
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Professional Advisory Council Representatives
- Principal: Dr. Candice Boatright
- Representative: Zackary Winchester