By Kelsey Hamilton
Carrboro Commons Staff Writer

With the start of the second year at Carrboro High School, Carrboro students were not only the new excited faces. Carrboro High is the new high school in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

Principal Kelly Batten says he is excited to begin his first year at Carrboro High School. He is ready to
establish a lasting tradition at the new school.

Staff photo by Kelsey Hamilton

Students, faculty and parents at Carrboro High welcomed new principal, Kelly Batten, to the Jaguar community. Batten, former assistant principal at Leesville Road High School in Wake County, was selected in July as the new principal at Carrboro High to replace Jeffrey Thomas.

“It has been a really fun start. I would have to say that the students and faculty at Carrboro High School are great,” Batten said.

Batten says he has felt encouraged by the amount of enthusiasm displayed by the students, parents and faculty. According to Batten, the community has been very welcoming, considering the school has been under the direction of two different administrators in its short history.

“The students at Carrboro have to be some of the most energetic, friendly and conscientious students that I have ever come across,” Batten said. “I’m just very impressed with the student body.”

Batten has transitioned from working at a large school for seven years to a small school in Carrboro. But his favorite thing about Carrboro High is the small size of the school.

“I really think that the district and the community have made a wise choice. They have made an investment in the future of the students here because they are committed to a smaller school setting,” said Batten.

At the conclusion of the inaugural school year, there was a lot of attention about the changes in the school curriculum at Carrboro. Some AP and honors classes were removed, but Batten believes that Carrboro will be an enriched, academic institution.

“Over the summer and this year, there has been open communication between concerned parents and district officials. I am very encouraged by the parents and students,” Batten said. “They expect more from the school. This is the type of context that I certainly want.”

Batten is motivated to establish a new tradition and build upon the solid foundation for success at Carrboro High. Batten aims to develop a comprehensive academic program, establish a creative fine arts department and become a competitive athletic program.

“These are the themes that I want to work on at Carrboro High School,” Batten said. “As a general vision for the school, I want Carrboro to be the best high school in the best school district.”
Members of the Jaguar community have felt the enthusiasm from the new principal. Chris Brown, officer of the PTSA at Carrboro High, is encouraged by Batten’s positive role at the school. Brown has a daughter, Becka, who just started her first year at Carrboro High.

“I think he has been very enthusiastic and involved with the teachers and the students,” Brown said. “And from what I’ve heard, the teachers and the PTSA are glad to have him on board.”

Batten said that he hopes to be a part of the promising future of Carrboro High.

“I can absolutely see myself staying here because we are just at the start of something new. It is something that I can only see great things from this school,” Batten said.

Batten believes that there is a great cycle of students who expect a lot from the school, teachers who are professional and caring and parents who expect the absolute most from the school and its employees. He believes that this nurturing environment will lead to a foundation for a rich, academic tradition at Carrboro.

“This combination is the ultimate recipe for success,” Batten said. “I am excited for the future of this school.”