Judd Starling pauses for a smile during an interview last week in his office at Alleghany High School.

New AHS principal has high hopes for students

Alleghany High School Principal Judd Starling has dusted off his pompoms and is ready to cheer the students on.

“I enjoy watching children succeed. I will be their biggest cheerleader. I spend lots of time at school. If the kids are playing checkers, I’ll stop and watch. I love to watch the children do the things they enjoy. That’s really why I do this. There are a million things in life that some of us do, but how many of us get to play with kids every day?”

The 33-year-old father of three has taught at Monroe High School and served as an assistant principal at Piedmont High School in Monroe. He received a bachelor’s degree in history, as well as education certification from Wingate College. Starling also received a master’s degree in education leadership from Withrop College and is currently enrolled in the doctorial education leadership program at Gardner-Webb. Starling hopes to use his age to his advantage.

“It gives me the opportunity that I can spend more time as principal at this high school. (I appreciate) the faith the teachers here, the central office and the school board had in me to come up here and try to build a tradition. Most of the principals who have been here, except for the last couple, have been here for a long time. They have typically been here

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