The Four Oaks Middle principal starts studying names and faces of an incoming class during the summer, using an elementary school yearbook. When the school year starts, she greet students each morning outside the building.

"I may be the first person they talk to that morning," Calcutt said.

That personal touch is one reason Calcutt was named Johnston County's 2009 Principal of the Year. Teachers also cited her innovative approach to education.

"If there's something good out there that's going to help kids, we're going to be the first ones to know about it," said Barbara Ashworth, who teaches sixth grade.

Calcutt and her staff keep the school a busy place, sometimes with several special events in a single day. Last Thursday, students had a visit from the State Bureau of Investigation, which brought along a helicopter. In the afternoon, the eighth-graders staged a "Mystery Museum," with presentations on historical events.

Calcutt was there for both events, but she also has spontaneous visits with her students. Several kids saw her watching a P.E. class recently, and persuaded her to walk a few laps with them.

"I have always had a close association with these grade levels," Calcutt said, adding that she can't quite put a finger on what exactly appeals to her about middle school. "You have to really love this age."

Calcutt said she became interested in teaching at an early age, noting the influence of her father, who was also an educator.

"At the end of the summer, I always looked forward to going back to school, and I still do," she said.

Calcutt credits her teachers for much of the school's success. "It takes a team of committed people to help children reach their dreams," she said.

But the teachers say it's her high expectations for teachers that result in high expectations for the students. They also noted that Calcutt communicates well with teachers and that they usually receive multiple reminders of happenings at the school.

The faculty is a close-knit group, and several teachers said the small size of the school makes it a family. For new teachers, that helps make for a smooth transition.

"Everyone's my mentor," said Christi Johnson, who's in her first year of teaching. "I haven't felt lost."

Calcutt started her career in education in 1981 as a teacher. She has been an administrator in the Johnston County schools for 12 years and has been principal at Four Oaks since 2003.