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Dr. Kim McMinn has been named the new director of Polk County Early College.

McMinn, currently principal at Polk County Elementary School, will transfer to PCEC and replace current director Mary Greene, who recently announced her intent to retire at the end of the current academic year.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to serve at Polk County Early College,” McMinn said. “I strongly believe in the Early College and Innovative high school models for our students. My daughter graduated from PCEC under Mary Greene’s leadership and guidance.

“I am honored to step into this role following someone who has dedicated most of her career to fostering educational equity and student leadership to guide students into becoming successful members of our great community.”

McMinn has served as the principal at Polk Central Elementary for the past four years. During that time, she completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction, with her dissertation focusing on high school Career and Technical Education programs. Most recently, she has completed the Distinguished Leadership in Practice program through North Carolina State University’s Friday Institute and the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals’ Association and was awarded the Truist Leadership Academy Scholarship for 2025.

Before serving in administrative roles, McMinn taught English at the high school and college levels and history and science at the middle school and high school levels.

“Congratulations to Dr. McMinn on her new role leading Polk County Early College,” said Polk County Schools Superintendent Aaron Greene. “Dr. McMinn brings a strong background of work experience and academic study to this position.  Her firsthand experience with the Early College model and knowledge and expertise in secondary student transitions to workforce and college will be beneficial to our students and programs.

“Dr. McMinn has a passion for workforce development, and she will also be helping with Career and Technical Education moving forward.  Most of all, I believe that Dr. McMinn cares about students and will work very hard to ensure they are successful and that the Early College program continues to thrive.  We thank her for her dedicated service at Polk Central Elementary, and look forward to her taking the helm at Polk County Early College.”

Polk County Early College is part of the Learn and Earn initiative launched by then-Governor Mike Easely in 2004. It provides an opportunity for students to earn both a high school diploma and a two-year associate’s degree or two years of transferable college credit. Students take classes from in-house instructors, all of whom have master’s degrees, as well as online courses.

Polk County Schools has begun a search to fill McMinn’s position at Polk Central Elementary.