West Charlotte Principal Named CMS Principal Of The Year

Timisha Barnes-Jones, principal of West Charlotte High School, was named 2018 principal of the year for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district in a surprise ceremony Tuesday.

The veteran CMS educator has been leading West Charlotte since she became a co-principal in 2013 when the school had two campuses. She took over as principal the following year.

In a surprise event Tuesday morning, Barnes-Jones entered the school's auditorium and was greeted by the student body applauding and cheering as the school's marching band and cheerleaders performed onstage.

CMS Superintendent Clayton Wilcox presented Barnes-Jones with the award, noting the school's improved graduation rate and college-readiness programs. Since Barnes-Jones began her tenure at West Charlotte, the school's graduation rates have improved, and for the past three years, the school has held a "Decision Day," an event that recognizes students who are going on to college or branches of the military.

"Today [West Charlotte] is one of the fastest growing high schools in terms of academic achievement in the state of North Carolina," Wilcox said.

A native of Kannapolis, Barnes-Jones has been an educator for CMS for 19 years, according to the school district. She has a bachelor's degree in music from Davidson College, a master's degree in education from UNC Charlotte, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Gardner-Webb University.