LAURINBURG – Brian Edkins spent the first 22 years of his career as a Tiger, in just over a month he begins his next chapter as a Fighting Scot.
The long-time South View educator was approved as the new principal at Scotland High School in April. The decision to leave Cumberland County, where Edkins started his career as a teacher and soccer coach, was spurred by something he read.
“When I started to research and digging into it, I got excited,” he said. “There was an article that (Superintendent Ron) Hargrave wrote about the awakening of the district and it gave me goosebumps and I thought it sounded like an absolutely awesome opportunity.”
Edkins as he began meeting people in the community, the area remind him a lot South View.
“Everyone is very involved and great, friendly, super-nice people and that’s what got the ball rolling.”
While the communities are similar, Edkins said Scotland County is unique.
“Scotland is the one big show in town which is nice,” he said. “When you have 10 comprehensive high schools in Cumberland County, it opens up the if we do for you, we have to do for the other nine schools. Here everyone is on the same sheet of music and they want Scotland to be successful.”
Edkins was named principal at South View High School in 2007 after wearing many hats including teacher, soccer coach, safe school coordinator, assistant principal, athletic director and associate principal before assuming the role of principal.
“When you’re somewhere for 22 years you have that family atmosphere, but if I didn’t feel like they had that here, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “I think that helped the transition a little bit.”
In his first year at Scotland, Edkins said he wants to see the high school improve its overall test scores that he thinks is possible with the one-to-world initiative the district is trying to implement.
“I’m not here to knock down the foundation and start over,” he said. “The one-to-world is exciting because so often people get stuck teaching the way they were taught — get in line, put your phone away, don’t pass notes — students now are connected and as long as the teachers are willing I think it’s great.”
Edkins will take over for interim principal Cory Satterfield, who has served in the position for the 2016-17 school year after the district was unable to find a candidate last year. Satterfield will resume his duties as an assistant superintendent on July 1 when Edkins officially steps into the role of principal.
Superintendent Ron Hargrave said Satterfield did well as interim Scotland High principal, following the announcement the district had selected Edkins.
“We are extremely grateful to Mr. Satterfield for the excellent job that he’s done this past year and we are especially appreciative and thankful for our students’ and staffs’ hard work and dedication during these transitions,” said Hargrave.
Edkins will be joined at Scotland High by his middle son Hunter, who will be a sophomore next school year. That was a factor when it came to switching school districts. Edkins said his wife Susan and their six-year-old son were immediately on board. The couple’s oldest son is graduating from South View next month.
“My family is important, my son that’s in high school played a big role. I’ve passed up applying for central services jobs in Cumberland County because of him. I asked him how important is it for me to be your principal and he said very, so I didn’t apply for jobs,” Edkins said. “We were riding in the car and I asked him if I went somewhere else would he be okay. He asked where and I said Scotland and his response was ‘yeah, I’d go to Scotland.’ That was the biggest hurdle. My wife is my rock, she was the best coach’s wife and she is the best principal’s wife because she knows long hours to the Edkins are the norm. She was the easy one to buy in, but when Hunter gave me the green light that sealed the deal.”
Scotland’s newest principal intents to get involved in the community and attend as many school events as possible. He also wants parents to know that he plans to do everything he can to provided their children with the best education and opportunities available.
“I always say this, my child is going to be here. I want my child to have a great opportunity and I want their children to have that same opportunity,” he said.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.