Meet Mr.Graham:

Mr. Graham was born in Wilkes County and with the exception of the three years spent serving in the U.S. Army he has lived in Wilkes County all of his life.   He attended Lincoln Heights School and later finished his primary grades at Fairplains Elementary. He is a 1976 graduate of Wilkes Central High School.   

Mr. Graham spent a great part of his life in the business sector working for Lowes, Northwestern Bank, First Union bank, and owning his own business franchise.  He began his educational career as a substitute teacher. He later accepted a teaching assistant position and served in that position at North Wilkesboro Elementary School for thirteen years.  In 2014 Mr. Graham felt strongly that education was his calling in life and decided to pursue a teaching degree. He obtained his associates degree from Wilkes Community College and went on to attend Lees-McRae College where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  Mr. Graham obtained both his master’s in elementary education and add on licensure for school administration from Gardner-Webb University. Before his first administration assignment, Mr. Graham taught fourth and fifth grade at North Wilkesboro Elementary. He has served as assistant principal at Millers Creek Elementary, Wilkesboro Elementary, and West Wilkes High School.  Mr. Graham’s first principalship appointment was at Wilkesboro Elementary School where he just completed his fourth year.

Mr. Graham believes that his most important job as a building administrator is to advocate for and promote the growth and success of students and teachers.  He considers himself to be a servant leader, never asking someone to do something that is not willing to do. He seeks to inspire and empower others to be great and to do great things.  Mr. Graham believes that great things are best achieved through strong relationships, partnerships and collaboration.

Mr. Graham has been married to his childhood sweetheart Cathy for 42 years.  They have three children, two sons-in-laws, and four of the most beautiful, handsome, and adorning grandchildren ever.  His faith is of utmost importance to him and church is a big part of his life. He plays piano and is blessed to be able to provide worship music for multiple churches.  Mr. Graham is a huge Duke Blue Devils fan

Meet Ms.McCathern:

Greetings Falcon Family! I am so excited to be a part of the great tradition that my own children have been a part of here at Central Wilkes Middle School!

I am a Teaching Fellow graduate from Appalachian State University. I began my career in Hickory City Schools in 2002 as a self contained special education teacher in a middle school alternative program. After teaching and living in Hickory I moved back to Wilkes and was a resource and inclusion teacher at Wilkesboro Elementary. I became National Board Certified and then became a Principal Fellow and interned As an AP at North Wilkesboro Elementary. I then went back in the classroom for a short time before becoming an AP at Wilkesboro and Millers Creek. I have been there for 2 years and I’m entering my third year in this role.

I am a single mom with 3 beautiful children some of you have taught. Jaliyah is a senior at WECHS. TJ is a sophomore at WCHS. My baby girl Jayla will be a 7th grade student here. I love to travel and was in the process of going to each country represented in my DNA before COVID cut it short. I did start with a wonderful trip to Nigeria last summer. Next up is Senegal, then Germany, and the UK, and Taiwan.

I am a dedicated educator who believes everyone can learn. I am an advocate for the least of these and my experience and faith inform how I approach life, people, and all experiences. I am committed to growing and being better every single day. I am passionate about learning, faith, education, social justice, politics, reading, hip hop, and food. I look forward to meeting and learning from each and every one of you. I plan to push you to be the very best you can be for our students and I expect the same from you. Let's go forward together! 

Meet Dr.Weddington:

Dr. Michael Weddington is a native of Central and Southwest Virginia. He attended Berea College in Kentucky and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. After taking a year off, Dr. Weddington attended law school at Appalachian School of Law, in Grundy Va., where he was elected the Chief Justice of the schools Honor Court, earned the Willard Owens Award for Excellence in Community Service, was one of only a few students to receive the Lawyer as a Problem Solver certification and graduated with his Juris Doctorate. After graduation, Dr. Weddington began teaching elementary music in Wilkes County at Mountain View and Traphill Elementary Schools. In his final year of teaching (2017-2018), he taught at Mountain View and Moravian Falls Elementary.  Dr. Weddington is the newest member of the Central Wilkes Middle administration. Go Falcons! 

Dr. Weddington is married to Jennifer Weddington, East Wilkes Director of Bands, and has two wonderful kids.