Administration

Principal, Sarah Pritchard 

This school year marks Mrs. Pritchard’s 22nd year in education. She spent her first 16 years in the classroom at Manteo High School, where she taught English, advised the yearbook and newspaper, and supported the AVID program.

Mrs. Pritchard earned a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004 and completed additional coursework through Elizabeth City State University to obtain her teaching license. In 2011, she earned a Master of Arts in Education in Instructional Technology from East Carolina University. She returned to East Carolina in 2018 as part of a Master of School Administration cohort. That fall, she began overseeing the district’s AVID program. During the 2019–2020 school year, she completed her administrative internship at Manteo High School and received her Master of School Administration in May 2020, followed by a promotion to assistant principal in June 2020.

Mrs. Pritchard served as assistant principal at Manteo High School until transferring to First Flight High School in the same role in February 2024. In October 2025, she joined the Manteo Elementary School team as principal. Mrs. Pritchard and her husband, Davis, reside in Manteo with their three children.

Assistant Principal, Kristin Dyer

Hello! My name is Kristin Dyer, and I am honored to serve as the Assistant Principal at Manteo Elementary School, where I support students in grades Pre-K through 2nd. I

have had the privilege of working in Dare County Schools for more than 20 years and bring over 25 years of experience in education. Before joining the Manteo Elementary team, I served as the Assistant Principal at First Flight Elementary School and spent two decades in the classroom teaching Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

I hold a Master’s degree in Special Education and an Education Specialist degree in School Administration, and I am a former National Board Certified Teacher. As a lifelong learner, I strive to model and nurture that same love of learning in every student.

My passion lies in reading and literacy instruction, and I work diligently to help every child discover the joy and power of reading. Above all, my top priority is each child and their education—ensuring they feel supported, valued, and inspired to grow.

Outside of school, I live in Kitty Hawk with my daughter and my boyfriend, and we love spending time enjoying each other’s company. You can often find us cheering on one of the many sports games we fill our weekends with.

I am thrilled to continue my journey at Manteo Elementary and look forward to partnering with our wonderful students, families, and staff to make every day a meaningful learning experience!

Assistant Principal, Katie Blanchard

My name is Katie Blanchard and I am honored to return to Manteo Elementary as one of your Assistant Principals. This year marks my 14th year in education, and I am finding that each year brings new opportunities to build on my passion for creating inclusive learning environments that support students, teachers, and families. Before entering school leadership, I taught third grade in Greenville, NC, and then at both Manteo Elementary and Nags Head Elementary. I later served as a math interventionist at Nags Head Elementary for three years before most recently completing my administrative internship at First Flight High School during the 2024–2025 school year.

In May of 2025, I earned my Master of School Administration from East Carolina University, where I was a recipient of the ECU PIRATE Leadership Grant. I also hold a Master of Arts in Elementary Education and additional licensure in Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) instruction and Middle Grades Language Arts, and am a National Board Certified Teacher. Throughout my career, I have had the honor of being named Dare County Schools Teacher of the Year and a Regional Teacher of the Year Finalist.

Outside of school, I can be found with my husband, Mike, cheering on our children on the field, at the theatre, and in the dance studio!

I believe that strong relationships, high expectations, and joyful learning are the foundation of a thriving school community, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build on these beliefs here at MES.