Union County
Celebrating our college signees page 19
Indian Trail Turkey Shoot
page 3
F
Serving Indian Trail, Marvin, Stallings, Waxhaw, Weddington and Wesley Chapel
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un, ood &
Volume 9, Number 48 • Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, 2014
estivity
Christmas festival returns to Hemby Bridge. See more pictures on page 10.
Josh Whitener/UCW photos
Continuing a tradition of quality education Assistant Principal of the Year following in former teachers’ footsteps by Josh Whitener josh@unioncountyweekly.com
INDIAN TRAIL – If there’s one thing Dr. Brian Patience learned as a student that he’s carried through his entire life, it’s that educators have a profound impact on their students. The Porter Ridge Middle School assistant
principal credits some of his own former teachers with inspiring him to pursue a career in education. Now, he’s taking what he learned from his teachers and paying it forward to the students he serves through his role as a school administrator. “I had some exceptional teachers as I was younger (who) gave me the love of learning,” Patience said. “I wanted to continue that and support students, to instill that same desire to learn and provide students the opportunity to become successful.” Patience was recently recognized for
his contribution to Porter Ridge Middle and Union County Public Schools as the 2014-15 UCPS Assistant Principal of the Year. He was honored, along with 2014-15 UCPS Principal of the Year Dr. Kevin Plue and the rest of the nominees for the awards, at a UCPS luncheon last month. “It’s definitely an honor when your peers nominate you,” Patience said about receiving the award. “It’s certainly a team award – it’s not an individual award. I wouldn’t be the same without the students here (at Porter Ridge Middle) making me laugh
on a daily basis, or without the staff here challenging me and helping me learn and grow.” Patience earned his undergraduate degree and first master’s degree in New York and began his career teaching at a Title I middle school in the CharlotteMecklenburg Schools district that eventually closed. He described the school as having “significant needs” and a high poverty rate. Despite the challenges working at the school presented, Patience gained a wealth (see Assistant Principal on page 12)
INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Scores, 8; Education, 11; Honor Roll, 12; Faith, 15; Calendar, 16; A&E, 17; Sports, 19; Classifieds, 23
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