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As of Friday, Sept. 6, Cumberland High has a new assistant principal. School district officials announced that Dr. Elif Kalemdaroglu-Wheeler is taking over the role previously held by Lisa Garcia. Garcia worked with the district last year before leaving to take a position with Richmond City Public Schools.

Dr. Wheeler is well known to Cumberland High staff and students, as she’s been a special education teacher at the school. Cumberland Superintendent Dr. Chip Jones said that’s a point of pride at the district, the fact all of their principals have spent time in the classroom.

“We take great pride in the fact that all of our school principals have served as teachers here at Cumberland County Public Schools,” Jones said. “This continuity reflects our commitment to nurturing leadership from within and ensuring that our administrators have a deep understanding of our community and values.”

More about Dr. Wheeler

So who is Dr. Wheeler? She’s worn several hats during her career, working as a teacher, principal coach, director of virtual curriculum and instructional innovation, athletic director, behavior intervention coordinator, and science department chair in different districts. She holds a doctorate in education with a specialization in curriculum and instruction, demonstrating her deep commitment to enhancing teaching and learning outcomes.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Wheeler to her new role. Her expertise in curriculum development and instructional innovation will be instrumental in supporting Ms. Shores’ vision for the school,” Jones said. “Dr. Wheeler’s leadership will help reinforce the mission of fostering academic excellence and a positive school culture. By working closely with the principal and staff, she will provide the support needed to ensure that both our educators and students thrive.”

Growth for Cumberland High

Wheeler joins the Cumberland High administration at a good time for the school. Two years ago, only only 36% of students passed math. Now that’s up to 54%. Science pass rates have jumped over the last two years from 60% to 75%. And even in history, where the jump is a bit smaller, the school saw continued improvement, going from 49% to 55%.

One of the biggest victories district officials point to isn’t in the data itself, but comes in the school district’s chronic absenteeism rate. Go back to the 2021-22 school year and 34% of students were chronically absent. Now that rate’s down to 16%. Basically, students are coming back to the classroom and bit by bit, schools in the district are starting to see that translate into better test scores. And with Wheeler’s promotion, school officials feel it’s a good fit.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Kalemdaroglu-Wheeler step into the role of Assistant Principal,” said Cumberland High Principal Missy Shores. “Her extensive background in education and her leadership experience make her a perfect fit for our school. Dr. Kalemdaroglu-Wheeler is not only a dedicated educator but also a visionary leader who is deeply committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and innovative learning environment. We look forward to seeing the impact of her leadership on our students and staff.”