Principal's Message
Greetings, Eagle family!
First, on behalf of the entire Eagle faculty and staff, I’d like to welcome new and returning students and families to The Nest for the 2022-23 school year! We are looking forward to serving you in the year ahead. It is such an honor to have the opportunity to, again, serve the Wilkes Central family and community! I look forward to partnering with our students, families, staff, and community to provide opportunities that allow students to realize their maximum potentials as they grow throughout high school to pursue their postsecondary dreams and goals.
As a proud alumna of Wilkes Central High School, I’m grateful for the tremendous impact many amazing educators had on me during high school that inspired my future. After starting my teaching career at Needham B. Broughton High School in Wake County Schools in 2000, I returned to Wilkes Central High School in 2002 as a mathematics teacher until 2014. I then served as an assistant principal at Watauga High School for the 2014-15 school year before returning to Wilkes County Schools to serve in the
principalship at North Wilkes Middle School for the past 7 years. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with secondary licensure from Meredith College, a Master of Arts degree in Mathematics Education from Appalachian State University, and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership with school administration licensure from Appalachian State University. I have been tremendously blessed to synergize with and learn from amazingly dedicated educators over the past 22 years!
I’m excited to have the opportunity to return to The Nest to serve as your principal and partner with each of you to cultivate a safe and equitable learning community for ALL students.
As a family and community, we will prioritize relationships, leadership, and growth mindset to unlock students’ maximum potentials in supporting them to pursue postsecondary goals. In order to accomplish this together, I strongly believe that we must collectively commit to the following student supports:
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- We must all look to empower our students with high expectations and standards for academics, attendance, attitude, and personal and civic responsibility at all times.
- As a staff, we will engage in ongoing professional growth aimed at cultivating our collective efficacy in order to collaboratively meet the personalized learning needs of each student.
- Families, we invite you to lead in our school by sharing your gifts of encouragement, time, service, and/or financial donations as an Eagle Community Partner to make WCHS the best possible learning community for our students. We will have family nights, athletic events, and other special events throughout the year for our students to showcase their leadership, and we hope you’ll come out and support our Eagles! Please also consider joining our WCHS Academic and/or Athletic Booster Clubs, which are wonderful organizations comprised of devoted parents working together to help us meet school goals. Parents are incredibly important to the success of individual students and the school community as a whole, and we appreciate your support in the years to come! Stay connected with all that’s happening throughout the year on our school website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Also, make sure you have obtained your ParentPortal login and password from our office in order to view your student’s grades throughout the year. High school students still need parental support and accountability with grades and attendance, and having this access and developing a plan with your student to check and discuss grades and attendance regularly will allow you to proactively support your child to do his/her best.
WCHS has bright and energetic students, a committed and talented staff, supportive parents, and a dedicated community.
Partnering together, the height to which our Eagles will soar is limitless! #EaglePride #Limitless
Best regards,
Dr. Freeman

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! I feel very honored and blessed to join the Eagle family and have the opportunity to serve the students, staff, and families of Wilkes Central.
This school year begins my 19th year with Wilkes County Schools. I began my career as a Teaching Assistant and then worked as an Exceptional Children's Teacher before transitioning to my most recent role as an Instructional Specialist. I have a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University, a master's degree in special education from East Carolina University, and a School Administration Certificate and Licensure from Appalachian State University. I am a Wilkes County native, and I am married with two children. My husband, Matt, and I have a 22 year-old son, Avery, and a 16 year-old daughter, Kristen. In our free time, we love finding fun adventures as a family: traveling, camping, hiking, and exploring the great outdoors!
I am excited about the possibilities that this school year will bring, and I am ready to spread my wings as a Wilkes Central Eagle! I strongly believe in a partnership between the school and community and welcome input from all stakeholders. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance to you. I look forward to partnering with you all to create the best possible opportunities for our students

Hello, all! I am excited to be joining the WCHS family! I am entering my 17th year serving Wilkes County Schools. I spent my first 12 years as the music teacher at Mountain View, Traphill (11yrs) and Moravian Falls (1 yr). I just finished my 4th year as AP at Central Wilkes Middle. I went to Berea College for my undergraduate degree in music, I received my Juris Doctorate from Appalachian School of Law and my Masters in School Administration from WCU. I have been married to Jennifer Weddington (former band director of East Wilkes Middle and High and current Associate Director for Alexander Central High) for the past 16 years. We have a 13-year-old daughter named Cadence and a 7-year-old son named Mylin. I enjoy woodworking and playing jazz/big band music on the trumpet with the Elkin Big Band.
In coming from the middle school, it is a blessing to serve the same students that I have worked with over the past few years. I am excited to see the students transition from their middle school years to becoming young adults. My life has always been geared towards the idea that all of us have a role to play in community service. From the first moment in my own classroom, 16 years ago, I realized that teaching and educating is a calling and one of the most important forms of community service. I am humbled and grateful to be serving Wilkes Central High School. I know that this year will provide many challenges and even more opportunities. Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you. Go Eagles!