Board approves five administrative appointments including CTE director
Summary
The Caldwell County Board approved five administrative personnel moves: Brooke Cooper as CTE director, Adam Windmiller as Granite Falls principal (continuation), Mark Dula as Happy Valley principal, and two assistant principals—Savannah Wilson and Laura Brinkley—effective Aug. 1 under two-year contracts where specified.
The Caldwell County Board approved five administrative appointments during a special-call meeting, including the naming of Brooke Cooper as career and technical education (CTE) director and multiple principal and assistant-principal placements.
Dr. Phipps presented the recommendations and asked the board to approve the group of personnel moves. The board moved and seconded the motion to approve the administrative recommendations and voted to approve them. Chair of the meeting called for the ayes and the motion passed.
Why it matters: The appointments rearrange school leadership ahead of the next school year. Cooper’s move from Granite Falls Elementary to the CTE director post created a cascade of vacancies the board filled in one action.
Details: Dr. Phipps recommended Brooke Cooper for the CTE director position and said that Cooper is currently principal at Granite Falls Elementary. The recommendation would create a vacancy at Granite Falls that Dr. Phipps said he would fill by naming Adam Windmiller as Granite Falls principal. Windmiller’s placement was described as a continuation of contract. That appointment, in turn, created a vacancy at Happy Valley; Dr. Phipps recommended Mark Dula, identified in the meeting as an assistant principal at South Caldwell, to fill the Happy Valley principal post.
Two assistant principal positions at South Caldwell that were open were filled as well. Dr. Phipps recommended Savannah Wilson, identified in the meeting as an assistant principal in Watauga County, and Laura Brinkley, identified as the CDC career development coordinator with CTE in the CTE office, for those two assistant-principal positions.
Contract terms: The board discussed contract lengths for the appointments. The meeting record states that Cooper, Dula, Wilson and Brinkley will each receive two-year contracts effective Aug. 1. The record describes Windmiller’s placement as a continuation of contract; no new term length or effective date was specified for Windmiller.
Reaction from appointees: Brooke Cooper said, "I am still a little in shock, but I'm excited about the opportunity. I have been very blessed here in Caldwell County and have felt supported from day 1. And I just appreciate your trust in me, and I hope that I can do the very best job that I can in this new role. I will need help, but I'm not afraid to ask for help." Mark Dula said he was "very thankful for the opportunity" and noted his 19 years at South Caldwell.
Process notes and next steps: The board took the appointments as a grouped set and voted them into effect during the meeting. The record does not specify any further administrative steps such as board ratification dates beyond the motion, nor does it specify whether personnel contracts will require any additional approvals. The board entered a closed session later in the meeting to discuss confidential personnel matters; the meeting record states that no action was expected to come out of that closed session.
Ending: The board congratulated the appointees and moved on to the next agenda items.
