During National Principals Month, we’re celebrating what it means to Experience Bryant through the eyes of our principals.
At Collegeville Elementary, Principal Vicki Carter celebrates a school family built on 30 years of strong relationships and a shared commitment to putting students first. From welcoming Wildcats each morning to watching them practice the Wildcat Way, Mrs. Carter finds joy in helping students feel known, valued, and supported as they learn and grow.
What makes your campus special to you?
What makes Collegeville so special to me is the strong sense of family that has been built over 30 years when Collegeville opened. We have deep relationships with our families and community, along with staff members who have dedicated 20 or more years to this school. To me, that speaks volumes about the love and commitment we have for our students and one another. I am incredibly proud to lead a school where people are excited to be here, and where every decision begins with one simple question: “Is this what is best for our kids?” That shared commitment to putting students first is what makes Collegeville such a welcoming and special place to belong.
Share one thing you want families to know about your school this year.
This year at Collegeville, our focus is helping every student learn and grow. We are committed to providing rigorous grade-level instruction every day while also giving students the targeted support they need to strengthen areas where they may have gaps in learning. We are also committed to helping our students feel valued and supported as they grow socially and emotionally, because we believe that nurturing students academically, as well as socially, and emotionally will help them become their best selves.
What is your favorite school tradition?
One of my very favorite CES traditions is our Book Character Parade! Each October, our students and staff members choose a favorite book and bring it to life by dressing as a character. We all parade around the bus loop with our books in hand while the entire school cheers each other on. From creative team themes like The Wizard of Oz and Junie B. Jones to individual characters, it is such a fun celebration of literacy that gets our Wildcats excited about reading!
Where is a place on campus you love?
My favorite place on campus is the entrance of our school, where I have the privilege of greeting our students, families, and staff members each morning. It is the first place our students experience as they begin their day, and I love being there to welcome students with a smile, a word of encouragement, or a quick check-in to remind them that they are known and valued.
What is something your students do that makes you proud?
One of the things that makes me most proud is watching our students live out the Wildcat Way every day. They are building strong character traits by remembering our 3 R’s which are Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Ready to Learn. This is a message they hear consistently from every teacher and staff member across our building. When our students demonstrate the Wildcat Way, they are doing exactly what their job as a student is all about: learning, growing, and becoming the very best version of themselves.
What do you enjoy most about leading your school?
What I enjoy most about leading Collegeville is our students! They are at the heart of everything we do. I love being part of a school family where relationships run deep, where I can trust my staff to care for our students, and where we work together as a team to always do what is best for our kids. There is nothing more rewarding than watching our Wildcats learn, grow, find their confidence, and know that they are surrounded by adults who believe in them, love them, and want to see them thrive.
