Administration

Hi! I’m Amy Daigle. My husband, Jason, and I live in the Bethlehem community with our two sons, Aiden (14) and Ryley (9), my mom, Cindy, and our labradoodle, Izzy. We are avid Appalachian State Football fans and enjoy anything related to sports! Fun fact: both of my sons' middle names are from Appalachian. 

This is my 16th year in education.  I have worked in K-12, first as a high school science teacher in Catawba County and then as an administrator at the middle school (6th-8th) and elementary school (K-5) grades in Alexander County.  This year is my third year as Principal.  

As a mother of two active sons, I am dedicated to the success of public education.  Watching their educational journey and charting their growth add to my passion for teaching and leadership and have allowed me to develop my beliefs about education:

• Learning should be purposeful
• Sustainability should be at the forefront of systems designs
• Education is a collaboration between communities, staff, students, and families
• The curriculum should focus on depth, not breadth
• Educators should help build student agency
• Students and Staff should be empowered to develop lifelong learning practices.  

My devotion to lifelong learning led me to continue as a student in the doctoral program for Curriculum and Instruction at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where I am set to graduate in 2025. This program will help me grow the next generation of academic researchers while serving the families, students, and staff of Alexander County Schools.

Hello everyone! My name is Ashley Jenkins. I live in Hickory and am married to Jeff, who is a Lieutenant at the Hickory Police Department. We have three daughters, Bailey (26), Rylie (22), and Avery (18). I love traveling to the beach and the mountains, being on the lake, spending time with friends & family, and listening to country music. I spend most Saturdays during the fall in Boone at ASU football games. Go Apps! I graduated from Appalachian State University in 1998 and completed my Master's program through Gardner-Webb University in 2013. I completed a licensure program for School Administration through Gardner-Webb University in 2021. This is my 22nd year in education. I was an elementary teacher for 18 years, and this will be my 4th year as an assistant principal in ACS. I spent the last 3 years in a split assistant principal position at Bethlehem Elementary & Hiddenite Elementary. I am so excited to be a part of the West Alexander family!