Principal - Kelly Flynn
Kelly Flynn has worked in Pender County Schools for over 20 years. She began her career as a teacher at Rocky Point Elementary and just completed her sixth year as an Assistant Principal spending the last five years at South Topsail Elementary.
Ms. Flynn is an enthusiastic school leader and is committed to success for all students. She has been dedicated to education since 1995 where she began her Elementary Education degree. Since then, she has earned three degrees from UNC-Wilmington including a BA in Elementary Education, a Masters in Elementary Education, and a Masters in School Administration.
Ms. Flynn enjoys cooking, long walks, and lots of time on the tennis court. She loves spending time with family, especially her daughter Medaya. While now 28, her daughter was only two months old when Ms. Flynn first stepped foot into her own classroom.
Assistant Principal - Ashley Petre
Ashley Petre was named Assistant Principal of Surf City Elementary during the summer of 2023.
A native of Connecticut, Ms. Petre moved to Wilmington in 2016. Ms. Petre earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Elementary Education from Quinnipiac University. She later earned her Administrative Licensure from UNC-Wilmington in May of 2023.
Ms. Petre’s career as an educator began in a third grade classroom in New London, Connecticut. When she moved to Wilmington, she taught 4th and 5th grade at Rachel Freeman School of Engineering. Ms. Petre eventually became one of the Instructional Coaches and MTSS Coordinators at Rachel Freeman before moving to Winter Park Elementary where she continued this role. She has been named Rookie and Teacher of the Year in New Hanover County.
Ms. Petre is an avid runner and dog lover. You can often find her at the beach, outside on a long run, or spending time with her family. Ms. Petre is committed to providing an equitable learning environment for all students by building and maintaining nurturing relationships. She is excited to join the Surf City family and celebrate all students’ successes.