KENANSVILLE — There are more than 35 years of service between the two individuals selected to the top spots in education for Duplin County this year. Warsaw Elementary principal Daren Tyndall and East Duplin High School business teacher Selina Riley-Gurganus were selected as Duplin County Schools Principal of the Year (POY) and Teacher of the Year (TOY), respectively.

Several central office representatives spoke highly of these two educators expressing that they both exhibit a well developed professional qualities. Both Tyndall and Riley-Gurganus have received extensive training and experiences to be highly qualified educators. Riley-Gurganus is National Board Certified and Tyndall has worked in the administrative arena in a wide spectrum of settings. They exemplify the qualities and expertise needed in tough educational playing field, colleagues said.

Tyndall has held the principalship at Warsaw Elementary since 2006. Prior to his arrival at Warsaw, he served as principal at James-Kenan High School and Kenansville Elementary with one year under his belt in the high school and six years at the elementary school. Before he became a principal, Tyndall served as assistant principal at both Warsaw Middle and B. F. Grady.

The POY pulled his time in the classroom as an art teacher, serving for a short time at East Duplin High, Warsaw Middle and E. E. Smith. Tyndall also served as boys basketball coach while at E. E. Smith.

“I chose to work in education after serving a full-time mission in the Fiji Islands for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 1984 to 1986,” shared Tyndall. “I found that I enjoyed teaching others. Upon returning, I started college at Lenoir Community College with an interest in teaching art and graduated from there with a two-year associate’s in arts degree. I was accepted into the two-year teaching fellows program and finished with Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from East Carolina University. I returned to ECU to earn a Master of School Administration degree.”

Duplin’s top principal commented on the biggest challenges for education by saying, “It helps to work with a well-qualified staff, which I do, and supportive parents, which we have, and students with a desire to learn, which we also have. The challenge is to meet the individual needs of each an every child. No matter what level a child is at when they come to us, our challenge is to help them learn all that they need to be successful not only at school, but also in life. I want every child at Warsaw Elementary School to have choices and opportunities for success as they graduate from high school. It is easy to say it, but it takes dedication, commitment, hard work, smart work and collaboration from everyone involved for it to happen. Our school motto is ‘Do it. Do it right. Do it right now.”

Tyndall is married to Jennifer Tyndall and they have three children, Paul, 15, Chari, 7, and Hayden, 2. His hobbies involve his family and church responsibilities, which he states “normally take up my extra time and I don’t mind it at all.”

Duplin’s choice for POY expressed his feelings in regards to his selection to that honor.

“I appreciate being selected by my peers as Duplin County Schools Principal of the Year,” Tyndall said. “I represent 15 dedicated principals, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work in Duplin County and serve the students and community of Warsaw.”

Riley-Gurganus, a business education teacher at East Duplin High School, serves on the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) regional board. She has been teaching business education for the last 18 years and currently teaches Applications I and II, Computerized Accounting, Digital Communication Systems and Business Advanced Studies. The TOY has also worked on numerous curriculum development teams at the N.C. State Department of Public Instruction.

The seasoned business teacher has utilized her personal beliefs into her profession and explains them, stating, “In a society where there is economic strife, our students are still eager to learn, believe that they can make a difference and are hopeful that their future will be prosperous. We as educators must train, encourage and motivate them to be leaders and change makers in our society. Our students didn’t create this problem, but we must prepare them to live in it, and they deserve no less. We must provide them with the greatest education this world has to offer. There is no other profession that serves such an important role in the shaping of our future.”

Riley-Gurganus is a resident of Beulaville and is married to Jody Gurganus. The have one son, Devan Riley, who is a junior at East Duplin High School.