Even though Edward McFarland didn't walk away with the highest award, it's still an enormous honor to be nominated as one of the top five finalists.

Fuquay-Varina High School principal Edward McFarland was among the five vying for the title of 2009 Principal of the Year.

According to the Wake County Board of Education Web site, there are at least 157 principals in the public school system. Principals throughout the county are nominated by their peers for the annual award. As part of the process, they are required to submit a portfolio, receive a site visit, and are interviewed by a panel of educators and community members.

McFarland was in the running with four other top leaders that included Mary Page of Bugg Elementary, Annice Williams of Barwell Road Elementary, Teresa Winstead of Durant Road Elementary and John Wall of North Garner Middle School.

McFarland has been in education for 15 years and has served as principal at Fuquay-Varina High for the past three years. Prior to that, he worked as a WCPSS Human Resources senior director.

He also served as an adjunct teacher at Vance-Granville Community College, principal of Aversboro Elementary, assistant principal of Middle Creek Elementary and a band director at three North Carolina high schools.

McFarland has focused on differentiated instruction as the vehicle for increasing student engagement, learning and overall achievement at his school.

“I have offered and supported staff development on our campus using national presenters, central services support and our own professional staff to focus our teaching planning and delivery,” said McFarland. “Some of the best examples of good teaching exist right here in our school. As the principal, I ensure there is sustained thinking and learning about differentiation on our campus.”

Student Shane Lympany praised McFarland’s innovations.

“Mr. McFarland hosted a summit at our school to develop strategies to improve community involvement in the town’s school,” said Lympany. “Wake County Public School System leaders, Fuquay-Varina town officials, community business people and parents attended this summit to lay out a vision for a community partnership with Fuquay-Varina area schools.”

SAT scores up at school

At Fuquay-Varina High under McFarland's leadership, SAT scores increased during the 2007-08 school year by an overall 16 points.

McFarland said the school has worked on strengthening instruction and meeting students’ needs.

“We’ve worked on differentiated instruction so that teachers work to meet each student where they are and help them improve academically,” he stated.

Records show that SAT scores for 2007-08 Wake County Public School System seniors increased while results at the state and national levels held steady. WCPSS seniors averaged 541 on math, 518 on critical reading and 506 on writing. The combined average score is 1565, which compares with an average score of 1511 in the U.S. and an average score of 1489 in North Carolina.

McFarland praised the school and community by saying, "We have an excellent tradition of student scholarship and community support. Our students are one of the best things about the school and our parent organizations are very active and involved."

McFarland earned a Goodmon Fellow Award from Leadership Triangle and was named Outstanding District Educator by the NC PTA in 2007.

He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He received his Bachelor Degree in Music Education in 1990 and his Master of School Administration Degree in 2000.

He is currently working on his doctorate in education at NC State University.