Administration
Steven G. Blackstock
Principal
I was born in Hampton, Virginia, and lived in Poquoson, Virginia, until attending college. In 1987 I married Suzanne, who now teaches social studies at First Flight Middle School. My daughter Katie Blanchard is a teacher; my son John is a professional bass player, and my daughter Mary Alice is a journalism major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
I earned a Bachelor of Music Education from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a Master of Liturgical Music from The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. and a Master of Educational Leadership from East Carolina University. My educational career included 16 years in music education, 7 years teaching secondary mathematics, and 7 years in school administration. I was an administrative intern at Manteo Elementary School from 2010-2011, undertook the responsibilities of an assistant principal at First Flight High School from 2011-2012, was principal at Jarvisburg Elementary School in Currituck from 2012-2015 and have been proud to serve as principal of Manteo Elementary since 2015.
Assistant Principals
Tami Harper
I have been blessed to be an educator in Dare County Schools for 19 years. I served as a high school history teacher for 15 years and as an administrator for the past 4 years here at MES. I hold an Associates Degree from COA, a Bachelors in History/Secondary Ed. from ECSU, and a Masters in Administration and Curriculum Specialists from ECU. I am also a National Board Certified Teacher. I have been a resident of Manteo/Wanchese for thirty-three years and have two children who are in the Manteo Schools. I understand the importance in which my position holds, which is to invest in the success of the children in my community. I believe that every child matters and my goal is to instill that belief in themselves and to eliminate barriers and obstacles that would prevent students from realizing their full potential. My mission is to prepare students to be responsible, thoughtful, respectful, independent, creative and to encourage them and build their self-esteem. It is vital that we provide students the opportunity to build those skills that will help them navigate life successfully. I am proud of the superior teachers and staff we have at MES, and I am overwhelmed by their dedication and commitment they have for our students. I cannot express enough how much I love and appreciate the students and parents, and it is an honor and a privilege to serve the families at MES.
Dr. Shannon Castillo
I have been in K-8 education for more than 16 years, both in Florida and North Carolina. During this time, I have been an elementary teacher, reading recovery teacher, and instructional coach. For the last seven years I have been an administrator in Pitt, Greene, and Edgecombe County Schools. I earned a Bachelors of Elementary Education, a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction, a Masters in School Administration, and a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from ECU. I come from a family of educators and school employees. We have two daughters, Annalisse, who is in 7th grade, and Genevieve, who is in 2nd grade. I am excited to bring my skills and passion for education to your school and to work with you as a partner to ensure the success of our MES students!