Meet Assistant Principal, Mrs. Samantha Gabriel

Assistant Principal, Samantha Gabriel, is proud to have graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2011 with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Exceptional Education. In 2020, she earned her Master’s in Educational Leadership from Queens University.

She began her teaching career in Florida, where she spent three years teaching Special Education and 4th grade. In 2014, she moved to Charlotte and taught 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades, gaining diverse experience across various grade levels.

As an Air Force child, Mrs. Gabriel moved around quite a bit but went to high school in Virginia and college in Florida. She was born in South Carolina, so she has a rich tapestry of places that have shaped me.

The community and family feel of KES are unparalleled. She enjoys being surrounded by positive and passionate staff, families, and students every day. Her ideal team is a group that finds joy in working together, and she’s thankful to have found that at the Castle. Plus, she’s so thrilled that her daughter will be a Knight this year!

In her second year at KES, she’ll aim to continue promoting a positive learning atmosphere and fostering a collaborative environment. She’s passionate about ensuring every child receives a high-quality and enjoyable education and strongly believes elementary school should be filled with joy and a love for learning.

When not at the Castle, Mrs. Gabriel loves spending time with her husband and their two children, Ryleigh (5) and Kendall (2), whom she considers her greatest accomplishment. You can also find her enjoying a good work out at Burn Boot Camp or spending time with friends and family.

We are looking forward to another incredible year at KES and are excited to continue building a positive and collaborative environment for all our Knights! 

Now for the fun stuff!

Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving, but Spring is her favorite season

Hero: Storm from X-Men

Instant Day Brightener: Diet Coke

Favorite Random Fact: If you are being chased by an alligator, run straight as fast as you can. Alligators are fast but do not have endurance.

Desired Superpower: Reading minds

Three Words to Describe Me: Considerate, patient, empathetic

Best Professional Advice:

"Say what you mean, and mean what you say." I heard this during my first week of internship, and it has stuck with me ever since. Also, have patience and be understanding; you never know what someone is going through, so it's important to see the entire picture.

Meet Assistant Principal, Mrs. Kelsey Horne 

Mrs. Horne is originally from Mooresville, NC, and has lived in North Carolina since she was in 4th grade. She grew up spending the majority of her time on the lake boating and jet skiing with family and friends. After highschool, Mrs. Horne attended UNC-Charlotte where she earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. She started her career in education as a Kindergarten teacher, then she moved to third grade and finished her teaching career as a fifth-grade teacher. Mrs. Horne completed her principal internship at Piedmont Middle School through the NC Principal Fellow Program, graduating in May 2023 with her Master’s in School Administration. Shortly after, she was named one of the our Assistant Principals!

Since becoming a KNIGHT she's found the community that encompasses Kensington is amazing. Mrs. Horne believes the support from families and the community is truly what makes our school so special, and we couldn't agree more. Teachers, staff, and the community include and support all of our Kensington students, not just their own.

She finds pride in being an educator. Educators play such an important role in how students perceive and receive their education. Her belief is that all students can be successful when given the appropriate tools to achieve whatever they set their minds to. Every student, big or small, has genius, and it's an educators job to help them see that.

When she's not at the CASTLE she loves spending time with her husband, Brandon, their 1-year-old daughter, Everley, and their two labs. Becoming a mom has been one of her greatest accomplishments. It's made her slow down, enjoy all the time she gets to spend with Everley, and not dwell on things she can't change. Watching Everley grow, laugh, and smile with such innocence makes her heart happy. The highlight of her day is coming home from work to laugh with her, read to her, rock her, and more.

We are excited to be under the leadership of Mrs. Horne and welcome her back to the CASTLE!

Now for the fun stuff! 

Instant Day Brightener
An ice-cold Dr. Pepper 🙂

Her Favorite Random Fact
Sharks can't get cavities.

Favorite Season
Fall – She loves the cool air, vibrant leaves, Halloween movies, fall festivals, pumpkin carving, and anything pumpkin-flavored!

Favorite School Subjects
Reading and science.