My name is Heather Peaden, and I am the proud principal of Lakewood Elementary School. This is my second full year of being a principal.

I began my career at Underwood Gifted and Talented Magnet Elementary School in downtown Raleigh as a teacher. Underwood is a K-5 school about the size of Lakewood that offers a wide variety of electives (dance, theater, band, orchestra, engineering, foreign languages, visual arts etc.) along with core classes. Not knowing many people when I initially relocated, this school became my family. In fact, I ended up staying there for 14 years, so that my own son, Braylon could experience the dynamic opportunities and warm culture I experienced there. I taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade at Underwood, and my final two years there I served as an intervention coordinator/instructional coach/School Improvement Chair.

Teaching is not just a job to me. It’s a hobby and defines who I am as a person. I enjoy watching children grapple with the things they learn in the classroom, especially when that light flickers on.

I decided to pursue a career in School Administration because I wanted to be able to share the strategies that I experienced success with as a teacher beyond the walls of my classroom.

I was one of 32 educators in the state of North Carolina that was selected to be part of the North Carolina State Principal Leadership Program, which awarded me a full scholarship to obtain my Masters in School Administration. Because I wanted to see what life was like outside of elementary school, I completed a year-long principal residency at Carroll Leadership and Technology Magnet Middle School in Raleigh. I ended my journey in North Carolina at Enloe Gifted and Talented Magnet High School as an assistant principal. I am fortunate to have seen what instruction looks like in all grade levels, which I believe will be a great benefit as we work together to prepare your children for what lies ahead in their educational journey.

When I am not at school, I enjoy traveling, reading, exercising, playing golf and tennis, and spending time with my family. My husband, Jeremy and I have been married for 14 years, and we have one son, Braylon (14 years old), a dog, Cookie (10 years old), and a cat Leah (15 years old).

Heather Peaden

Lakewood Principal