News

School system names principal of the year

Schools Superintendent Bo Caldwell (right) congratulates HHS principal Bobby Wilkins, the 2016 principal of the year.

By Janet R. Chapin, Published: October 20, 2016

Bobby Wilkins, a Hendersonville native and principal of Hendersonville High School since 2001, was named principal of the year today.

School administrators gathered for the surprise announcement and students were singing the alma mater, "Hail to the Red and White," when Wilkins walked in.

A 1975 Hendersonville High graduate, Wilkins graduated from UNC-Asheville and began teaching math at HHS in 1979. In 1993, Wilkins moved to Hendersonville Middle, where he served as an assistant principal until 2001. He became principal at Hendersonville High in 2001, and has led his alma mater ever since. During his tenure at Hendersonville High, Wilkins also coached football, basketball, girls track and golf. He coached the men's basketball team to North Carolina High School Athletic Association state titles in 1987 and 1992, and the golf team to a state title in 1990. Wilkins holds a masters in school administration from Western Carolina University and a post-master’s Licensure in School Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

B.J. Laughter, now principal of Bruce Drysdale Elementary School, described "looking down the hill" at the high school, which is his alma mater as well.

"A long time ago he was my jayvee football coach and my jayvee basketball coach," Laughter said. "I was the first student ever to make an A in his algebra I one class. I was a teacher under Mr. Wilkins and I was a high school football coach under Mr. Wilkins and I became an administrator under Mr. Wilkins. We're putting the culture in that he's taught me over there."

"My dad taught for his father," at Bruce Drysdale, where Wilkins's father was principal. "It's amazing how the Bearcat culture works. If you follow this man good things will happen to you."

“This is a great honor,” Wilkins said. “It was so nice walking down the hall and wondering, ‘What are they singing the “Red and White” for?’"