Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Logo Title

National Principals Month Spotlight: Kerry Estep of Hickory Flat ES!

National Principals Month Spotlight: Kerry Estep of Hickory Flat ES!

October is National Principals Month!  Our Principals are Elevating the Excellence every day in our schools by providing leadership and inspiration.  We’re recognizing one of these amazing leaders each day.  Please join us in thanking them for all they do each day for our students and families, teachers and staff, and communities! #CCSDElevateTheExcellence  #ThankAPrincipal

Hickory Flat Elementary School Principal Kerry Estep

Why did you choose to become a Principal?
My calling to become a principal stems from my desire to help students learn and grow, and this is done by helping teachers reach their full potential.  Each day, I strive to mentor faculty and staff, allowing them to feel truly supported, resulting in students being able to reach their greatest achievement possible.  I seek to continually embrace the best practices that can enhance learning.  I feel my role as a principal is to be the instructional leader of the school, constantly finding new ways to grow and help others do the same.  Stepping beyond the classroom offers a unique perspective to observe both learners and educators, allowing me to set goals that elevate the learning. 

What inspires you in your work as a Principal?
The relationships!  I cherish the relationships that I get to form with students, staff, and stakeholders.  I enjoy hearing the laughter of children while walking through the hallways of HFES.  I love celebrating the successes with teachers when students reach those milestone moments.  Witnessing the illumination that comes with learning is truly inspiring and that is what brings me to begin and end each day with a smile on my face!

How are you Elevating the Excellence in your school?
I am devoted to cultivating a school environment where both students and staff may flourish.  Genuine academic advancement transcends beyond test scores and grades; it embodies the heart of critical thinking, the art of engaging in meaningful dialogue, and the skill to have knowledge in practical, real-world contexts.  Meaningful learning may not always be accurately measured on an assessment, but it is always observed through interactions with students and staff.  Together, we are Elevating the Excellence for all Thunderbirds.