Angie Baker-Templeton named next principal of Christiana Elementary School
Angie Baker-Templeton comes from a long line of educators.
In fact, she has a framed copy of a tattered teacher’s contract that belonged to her great-grandmother, who taught in a one-room school house in Franklin County, which is where Baker-Templeton was raised.
“She had to have 60 percent attendance in order to get paid $100 a month,” Baker-Templeton said of her great-grandmother, Cora Gunn. “They had to write in an ’s’ so the contract said ‘she’ instead of ‘he.’”
No doubt, her family is going to be proud of Baker-Templeton’s latest accomplishment.
Currently an assistant principal at Thurman Francis Arts Academy, she has been selected as the next principal of Christiana Elementary School, Director of Schools Don Odom announced today.
Baker-Templeton succeeds former principal Julie Benson, who has been promoted to the instructional technology coordinator for the school district.
“She will bring to the school a wealth of experience and instructional knowledge within the elementary school environment along with familiarity of assisting other educators reach higher levels of effectiveness,” Odom said of the new principal. “Christiana Elementary is a strong school and Mrs. Baker-Templeton will build upon that tradition.”
Baker-Templeton is a veteran educator of 26 years and has served as assistant principal at the Thurman Francis since 2012. Previously, she taught at Thurman Francis, Homer Pittard Campus School, John Colemon Elementary, Roy Waldron and in Franklin County. In addition, she has served as an adjunct instructor at Middle Tennessee State University, where she also holds three degrees in education including her specialist degree in administration and supervision.
“Christiana Elementary is a very successful school with a wonderful, supportive community,” she said. “My goal is to continue the great traditions that are going on there and to work with the talented faculty and staff. I’m blessed to be chosen to work alongside these people, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the students and the parents.”
Baker-Templeton is excited to share the news with her family, she said.
Her husband, Shields Templeton, is a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Rockvale Elementary School. Her mom retired only two years ago after 44 years as an educator in Franklin County, although she continues to teach as an interim. Her dad is a well-known contractor in the community, she said.
“Every generation’s been teachers on my side of the family — lifelong educators,” Baker-Templeton said.
“My mom and dad are just going to be so proud that I achieved my goal,” she said tearfully, “and I did it outside of my home county.”
A search for a new assistant principal for Thurman Francis Arts Academy will begin immediately.
