Cary Elementary School

Rod Stanton, Principal

Rod Stanton grew up in a small town south of Buffalo, New York where he earned a degree in business management before getting his bachelor's degree in elementary education at a State University of New York. After beginning his educational career in western New York, he decided to move away from the snow and chose Raleigh where he had several friends and relatives. Mr. Stanton earned his master's degree in school administration at UNC, Chapel Hill. After teaching 3rd grade for several years at Davis Drive Elementary, Mr. Stanton made his first stop at Cary Elementary as an administrative intern. After serving as the assistant principal at Lincoln Heights Elementary in Fuquay-Varina, he returned to Cary Elementary as the principal in January of 2004.

Mr. Stanton enjoys playing sports and you may even pass him early in the mornings jogging near his home in Holly Springs, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

When not playing basketball or softball, Mr. Stanton enjoys other outdoor activities like wake boarding, golfing, and working in the yard. Mr. Stanton also spends time being involved at his church and thinks Cary Elementary is a very special place.

Kristine Harris, Assistant Principal

Kristine Harris spent much of her childhood in the small town of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin- Stout in vocational rehabilitation and special education. In the winter of 1995, with wind chills of -30° F, Mrs. Harris decided to make a move to a warmer location: Raleigh, NC.

Since her move, she has held various positions in the WCPSS. Mrs. Harris was as a special education teacher at Washington Elementary, Broughton High, and Millbrook Elementary before becoming a transition coordinator with Special Education Services. She then became a member of the Principal Fellows Program, completed her school administration graduate work at NC State, and has been the assistant principal at Lead Mine Elementary since February 2006.

Ms. Harris is very excited about joining the Cary Elementary family as she has been a member of the Cary community since 1996. She lives here with her husband and their three young children. In her free time, Ms. Harris enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.