Mrs. Angel Owens - Superintendent
Angel Owens is honored to serve as Superintendent of Cherokee County Schools. This opportunity is especially meaningful to her because she grew up in Cherokee County, attended Peachtree Elementary School, and graduated from Murphy High School. She continues to have deep family roots throughout the county and understands firsthand the values, traditions, and strong sense of community that make Cherokee County special.
With nearly three decades of experience in North Carolina public education, Ms. Owens has dedicated her career to serving students, supporting employees, and strengthening school systems. Prior to becoming Superintendent, she served as Chief Officer of Human Resources and Federal Programs for Clay County Schools. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of roles, including teacher assistant, bus driver, athletic coach, classroom teacher, school administrator, and district administrator, giving her firsthand experience with nearly every aspect of public education.
Ms. Owens has provided leadership in Human Resources, Federal Programs, Exceptional Children, licensure, student support services, workforce initiatives, and strategic planning. She established Clay County Schools' first freestanding Human Resources department, modernized hiring practices, and led different grant or medical reimbursement initiatives to gain millions of dollars in sustainable funding to support educational initiatives, students services and employee retention. She also has extensive experience administering state and federal grants, managing public funds responsibly, and ensuring transparency and fiscal accountability.
Ms. Owens began her postsecondary education at Tri-County Community College, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Western Carolina University, a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Piedmont College, and an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Administration from Lincoln Memorial University. She also achieved National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist, demonstrating her commitment to excellence in teaching and lifelong professional growth.
Throughout her career, Ms. Owens has demonstrated a servant leadership philosophy. Whether serving as a classroom teacher, driving a school bus, coaching student-athletes, or leading district initiatives, she believes every role in a school system contributes to student success. During the statewide bus driver shortage following the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to driving a daily afternoon bus route for nearly two years while continuing to serve as a central office administrator. This experience reinforced her belief that no job is beneath a leader when students and schools need support.
As Superintendent, Ms. Owens is committed to fostering a culture built on trust, collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility. She believes every employee, including teachers, teacher assistants, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria staff, maintenance personnel, office staff, administrators, and district leaders, plays a vital role in creating opportunities for students to succeed. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that when employees feel valued and supported, students benefit.
A strong advocate for preparing students for life beyond high school, Ms. Owens is committed to expanding opportunities in Career and Technical Education, workforce development, college readiness, military pathways, and industry partnerships. She believes every graduate should leave Cherokee County Schools prepared to pursue higher education, technical training, military service, or meaningful employment with the skills and confidence to succeed.
Ms. Owens is actively involved in her community and has served in numerous civic, educational, and professional organizations throughout her career. She believes strong schools are built through meaningful partnerships among families, businesses, community organizations, and local leaders.
Above all, Ms. Owens is committed to ensuring Cherokee County Schools is a place where students thrive, employees feel appreciated and respected, and families and community members take pride in their public schools. She is humbled by the opportunity to lead the district that helped shape her own life and looks forward to working alongside the Board of Education, employees, students, families, and the entire Cherokee County community to build on the district's strong foundation and create an even brighter future.