Principal

Mrs. Nichole Hathaway

When Nichole Hathaway walks the halls of Northeast Elementary, she sees more than classrooms. She sees the future of a community she’s always called home.

A graduate of North Lenoir High School, Hathaway knew early on she wanted to come back and serve her hometown. Her path to education started through coaching, but soon led to the classroom, where she taught science and math at both the elementary and middle school levels. Over time, her influence expanded beyond her own students as she began mentoring colleagues and supporting school-wide initiatives.

For the past three years, she has served as assistant principal at Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School, honing a leadership style built on relationships and teamwork. “It kind of seems backwards, but you lead by serving everybody else,” she said. “Creating systems, building connections with parents, kids, and teachers, that’s how you help everyone be better at what they do.”

Now, she's principal of Northeast Elementary, taking over after Rashard Curmon was named the new director of federal programs for LCPS. Hathaway wants to build on the school’s strong record of meeting growth expectations and push for even greater achievement. She’s committed to being a visible, approachable leader and a true partner to families.

“We’re a village,” Hathaway said. “I’m just one piece of that village, but as the lead for our school community, they need to know they have an ally. We’re all here for the same goal — helping our kids thrive and be productive adults.”