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A veteran educator and a familiar face in Polk County Schools is the new principal at Tryon Elementary School.

 

Dr. Cari Maneen, current principal at Saluda Elementary School, is moving to Tryon to replace TES Principal Kevin Weis, who is retiring effective June 30.

 

Dr. Maneen spent the past six years as Saluda’s principal and has been part of the school’s faculty since 2005. She has spent almost 30 years in education as an administrator, teacher, preschool director and instructional coach.

 

“It has been such an honor to serve as the principal of Saluda Elementary School for the past six years and as a teacher for 11 years,” Dr. Maneen said. “I am eternally grateful for the wonderful relationships I have made with the families and staff at Saluda.

 

“I am delighted to be a part of the Tryon Elementary School family and to work with the incredible students, staff and community.”

 

Dr. Maneen holds degrees in curriculum and instruction at the master’s and doctoral levels as well as professional educator licenses in elementary education (K-6), middle grades English (6-8), principal (K-12) and curriculum instructional specialist.

 

“Dr. Maneen is a veteran educator and principal who has done an outstanding job leading Saluda Elementary for the past six years,” said Polk County Schools Superintendent Aaron Greene. “We are excited Dr. Maneen will be bringing her strong commitment to teaching and learning to students, families and staff at Tryon Elementary School.”

 

Weis served as Tryon’s principal for the past two years after spending 11 years as the principal at Sunny View Elementary. A graduate of Michigan State University, Weis began his career in education in 1989 as an elementary school teacher in Michigan. He first joined Polk County Schools in 1991 as a Title I teacher at Green Creek Elementary and later taught eighth-grade social studies and English at Polk Central.

 

He served more than two decades as a school administrator, working in Lincoln and Henderson counties before returning to Polk County to lead Sunny View and then Tryon.

 

“Polk County has been my home for more than 30 years, and I have been so fortunate to spend most of my career in a district and county that values education,” Weis said. “Both Sunny View and Tryon are filled with people that love kids and are committed to doing their best for them every day. I appreciate (former superintendent William Miller) and Mr. Greene, along with the Polk County Board of Education, for giving me the opportunity to be a small part of a tremendous educational community.

 

“I’ve known Dr. Maneen for many years, and I believe she is a perfect fit for Tryon Elementary.”

 

“Polk County Schools has been very fortunate to have Kevin Weis as a school leader in our Polk Schools family for many years now,” Greene said. “We thank him for a long career of dedication and service to students and staff, and he will certainly be missed. We congratulate Mr. Weis on his retirement and wish him the best.”

 

Greene said the district would immediately begin a search to fill the principal vacancy at Saluda Elementary.