Sunday, Feb. 05, 2012

Cook in running for state honor

Drew Cook has received another accolade as the Garner High School principal. He has been named one of eight finalists for N.C. Principal of the Year.

Cook, 37, insists the honor belongs not just to him but to the whole school.

"As this process goes on, the realization sets in a little more every day that it's not just about me," he said.

Cook graduated from Garner High and returned after college in 1997 as a teacher. He became an assistant principal and was promoted to the principal spot in 2009.

He was named Wake County's Principal of the Year in October. A selection committee will announce the statewide winner April 5 in Raleigh.

Cook has been credited with revitalizing the school. He said he is pleased with the progress - and not just in test scores and graduation rates. A sense of school pride has developed over the years, and everyone has more positive attitudes, Cook said.

"We see it every day, in our hallways and our classrooms," he said.

Garner High has had a good run. Last May, Scotty McCreery, a senior, was named the 10th-season winner of "American Idol." He has already found success in the country music business and is touring with Brad Paisley.

Scotty even chose to film the video for "The Trouble With Girls" at his school, where he plans to play baseball this spring and graduate with his class.

The Garner High football team also had success last season, making it to the state championship game.

It's all about working together and building on successes, Cook said.

"For the past three years, we've all kind of viewed this as a journey we're taking together," he said.