More Wingate University offerings are on tap for teachers working toward an advanced degree in education and an administrative position.

Wingate University is expanding the graduate education classes at Richmond Senior High School next year.

An informational session is being planned for 5 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the RSHS Media Center.

Wingate University President Dr. Jerry McGee explained there is a growing demand for qualified schools administrators.

“I understand there’s a lot of people in public education who are retiring in the next 10 years, and we feel it’s important to have qualified people to replace them,” McGee said. “With this program, we’re accommodating a bunch of hard-working people. Almost all of them work full-time and put other time into their jobs, as well. We just feel like it’s easier for us to send a professor up there to Richmond County than have 30 people make the trip to Matthews.”

Graduate programs being offered at RSHS include master’s degree in educational leadership, sports administration, health and physical education, a doctorate in educational leadership and principal licensure (K-12).

Some classes will begin as early as January 2011.

Former Richmond and Scotland County Schools Administrator Dr. Rick Watkins will serve as the program’s on-site facilitator, and said offering the courses in Richmond County makes the program more accessible to working professionals.

“I am pleased that Wingate University and more specifically the Graduate School of Education are moving forward to expand leaning opportunities for education professionals located in the south-central region of North Carolina,” Watkins said. “I am excited about the future of this satellite program as well as the positive impact our graduates will have on local school districts and their ability to meet the demands of preparing K-12 students for the 21st Century.”

Watkins comes with a track record as an educator, and is familiar to many with the county schools.

He has previously been named the Richmond County and District 8 North Carolina Association of Educators Assistant Principal of the Year, twice named Wachovia Principal of the Year, won the W.L. Haltiwanger Award for commitment to children and the Richmond County Daily Journal’s readers’ pick for Best Principal.

RCS Superintendent Dr. George Norris said the school system sees its relationship with Wingate University as a positive, and believes offering classes in the county will be of greater convenience for system teachers.

“Cohort programs provide our administrators and teachers with the convenience of pursuing the majority of their courses right here in Richmond County," he said. "We appreciate our partnership with Wingate University, and the many opportunities they provide for our educators to pursue graduate-level education.”

The Wingate University Graduate Education program has locations in Rockingham, Mooresville and Matthews. It serves 325 students from Lincoln to Cumberland counties.

Questions regarding the program can be addressed to lwimberley@wingate.edu, or by calling the Office of Graduate Education Programs at (704) 321-1470. The program Web site is located at educationgraduate.wingate.edu/doctorate.asp.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.