by Mikayla Caldwell

SANFORD – On Aug. 31, Albertine Daniel was officially accepted into the Lee County school system as a new assistant principal. Daniel transferred from South View High School in Cumberland County and, over the past month, her experience at Lee County High School has been drastically different. That is expected though with a new job and new position.

“I love it here,” Daniel said. “I love it. It’s amazing. It’s a lot different from where I came from. Everyone’s inviting and welcoming and willing to assist in my area that I need. It’s a great place to work.”

Daniel knew from the beginning that one of her struggles would be learning where the buildings were located on the campus. The administration team and students have been helpful by pointing Daniel in the right direction. With support like this from the school, Daniel is determined to overcome her struggles and be someone that students and staff can rely on.

“My goal is that I am stretched to capacity, to learn as much as I can learn,” Daniel said. “To grow. Just because I am an assistant principal doesn’t mean that I don’t have room to grow.”

Even though Daniel’s job requires her to keep the students orderly and actively participating in school, that doesn’t mean that she wants to be seen as unapproachable.

Daniel said she wants to be “someone that students can come to. Someone that students can relate to, most definitely. And someone that students can trust. I think that is a big thing. Trust is a big thing to me.”

“I think Mrs. Daniel brings a different type of strength to the admin team,” said fellow assistant principal Rachel Robotham. “She has a wealth of knowledge with 25 years in education.”

Afterall, Daniel earned her first master’s degree in math from Fayetteville State University. Her bachelor’s degree was also from FSU, while her admin degree came from UNC-Pembroke. She was at South View High School for 19 years, and if it wasn’t for her former co-worker suggesting the opening at LCHS, she might still be there.

Despite the influence from her former co-worker, Daniel had another reason why she came to LCHS. 

“Why Lee County High School,” she explained. “Lee County High School because I feel like this is the place that I am meant to be at this particular time in my life.”

When transferring to a new school, there is always a piece of information that a person should have. The students and the staff so far have treated Daniel with kindness and respect. Robotham had some other advice to share with her.

“I would say, just try to take every day one day at a time,” Robotham explained. “Develop a thick skin. A lot of times, we have to deal with angry people that might not be having the best da and try not to take it personally.”

Daniel, Robotham and the rest of the administration team are gelling, but the connection was evident from Daniel’s opening interview.

“Mrs. Daniel is awesome,” she said. “We’re really happy to have her. Mrs. Daniel came on board, she just fits right in where we need her.”

Daniel said her family is important to her, but it is nice to know she has a new family at LCHS.

“I am a woman of faith, so that’s where I draw my strength from,” Daniel explained. “My family, my husband, my children and now my family here.”