East Lincoln Middle School

We are excited to offer our Grab and Go Meals again this summer! Any child 18 years old or younger can visit any site and receive 5 days’ worth of breakfast and 5 days’ worth of lunch meals each week. The program begins on June 3rd and ends on July 22nd.
Meal Pickup Locations & Times:
📍 Battleground Elementary — 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
📍 Childers Elementary — 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
📍 Pumpkin Center — 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Congratulations to Ms. Branson, Ms. Robinette and Mr. Dugan!!! Enjoy retirement

East Lincoln Middle School was named as a School to Watch. This is an honor we have carried since 2002. Proud to be a Falcon.

To the 8th grade class: As you leave middle school behind and begin your high school journey, remember how much you have grown, learned, and overcome. Keep believing in yourselves, take on new challenges with confidence, and make the most of every opportunity ahead. Congratulations and good luck in high school! You will always be a Falcon!

Thank you to the parents and PTO for helping celebrate our 8th graders.

Wrapped up another great year with our Falcons!!! So proud of how hard all of our students worked. If you’d like to check out your student scores, please follow the steps below. Have a great summer.

Parents/Guardians: EOG and EOC test scores are now available through Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Follow the steps in the graphic to view your child’s North Carolina Individual Score Report and access results in English or Spanish.

Quick steps:
• Open the menu and select More
• Choose Assessments
• Select North Carolina Individual Score Report
• Choose English or Spanish to view the report

If you need help accessing your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account, please contact your child’s school for assistance.

The rock says it all!!! Have a great SUMMER :)

Last Day --- May 21 @ 12:00

Congratulations and welcome to Windy Smart!

Lincoln County Schools Announces Three Principal Appointments for the 2026-27 School Year

Lincoln County Schools is proud to announce the appointment of Regina Hovis as the new principal of Norris S. Childers Elementary School.

Hovis brings more than 25 years of educational experience to the role, with a career rooted in service, instructional leadership, and building strong relationships with students, staff, and families. Her journey in education began as a teacher assistant and bus driver in Iredell County while attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She later completed her student teaching at Catawba Springs Elementary in Lincoln County Schools.

After teaching in Iredell County for nearly five years, Hovis stepped away from the classroom to raise her children before returning to education at Rock Springs Elementary School, where she served for 15 years as a first-grade teacher.

In 2019, Hovis was selected as a recipient of the High Point Leadership Academy, a partnership between Lincoln County Schools and High Point University that supports aspiring school leaders in earning graduate degrees in educational leadership. During the program, she served as an assistant principal intern at Lincolnton High School before becoming an assistant principal there. Since 2021, she has served as assistant principal at Battleground Elementary School.

Throughout her career, Hovis has earned numerous honors, including Lincoln County Schools Teacher of the Year, Rock Springs Elementary Teacher of the Year, and, most recently, Lincoln County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year for the 2024-25 school year.

“It is with incredible excitement and a deep sense of responsibility that I introduce myself as the new principal of Childers Elementary,” said Hovis. “Having spent the last twenty-five years in education, I have seen firsthand the magic that happens when a community of educators rallies around its youngest learners. I look forward to meeting and serving alongside students, teachers, parents, and members of the Childers community. I know we will empower every Cub to reach the heights of their potential, one paw print at a time.”

Lincoln County Schools is proud to announce the appointment of Windy Smart as the new principal of East Lincoln Middle School.

Smart brings more than 25 years of educational experience to the role, with a background that spans classroom instruction, media services, instructional leadership, and school administration. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University, a Master of Library Science from East Carolina University, and a Master of School Administration from Gardner-Webb University.

Her career began in Cleveland County Schools, where she served as an elementary teacher before transitioning into media specialist roles at both elementary and middle school levels. In 2021, Smart joined West Lincoln Middle School as assistant principal and most recently served as interim principal during the 2025 school year.

Throughout her career, Smart has focused on fostering data-driven instruction, promoting student growth, and creating safe, supportive school environments in which students and staff are empowered to succeed. Her leadership experiences include serving as a school test coordinator, summer school administrator, special-needs administrator, new-teacher mentor, and district professional-development leader in reading instruction.

Smart has also earned numerous professional recognitions and certifications, including National Board Certification, Model and Master Reading Certification from Renaissance Learning, and selection as a participant in the George Washington Teacher Institute.

“I’m truly honored to join the East Lincoln community and to get to know the students, families, and staff who make it so special,” said Smart. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place at East Lincoln Middle, while opening new doors for students to grow, succeed, and make the most of their middle school experience.”

Lincoln County Schools is also proud to announce the appointment of Kassandra Arndt as principal of North Lincoln Middle School, following her interim principalship during the 2025-26 school year.

During her year as interim principal, Arndt worked closely with students, staff, and families to continue fostering a strong school culture focused on student achievement, relationships, and middle school success. Her leadership experience and commitment to the North Lincoln community have helped provide stability and continued growth for the school.

Shout out to Miss Robinette who created our EOG testing signs! Also a big thank you to first Baptist Church for the basket of goodies that you left for our teacher teachers. Tomorrow is Math EOG day! Let's finish strong falcon!!!

End of Year Schedule