
Assistant Principal
Ms. Sheila Watts
[email protected]
We are determined individuals valuing education.
It is an honor and privilege to continue serving your child here at Factory Shoals Elementary School as Assistant Principal. While the last few years have brought on many changes, our commitment to providing students with the necessary tools for success in a caring and supportive environment remains; our commitment to meeting children where they are while maintaining high expectations is unwavering.
I recognize that you are a vital part of our school team and appreciate your partnership as we forge ahead in anticipation of realizing countless accomplishments throughout this school year. I am excited about all the possibilities of excellence that results from a vision in which the focus is the whole child. There is no better time to DIVE into learning and growing than now.
Welcome to the 2022-23 school year. I look forward to taking a deeper DIVE into academic excellence for all students while building and nurturing authentic partnerships with you, your child, and the community.

Assistant Principal
Mr. Derek Cobb
[email protected]
My name is Derek Cobb and I am so excited to join the Factory Shoals community as your new Assistant Principal for the 2021-2022 school year. I am from a small town called Hartwell, GA and I attended college at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) where I majored in Political Science. I am married to Dr. Stacy Cobb and we have 2 sons; Ayden and Amir.
My educational career began during my senior year in college working with elementary students as a behavioral interventionist. After two years of working in early childhood education, I began to work in recruitment for the University of Georgia hoping to make an impact in getting more students of color enrolled in colleges. I spent countless hours hosting events and meeting with students of color hoping I could interest them in applying to the university. The majority of the conversations resulted in them not even thinking about going to college. It was then I made the decision to return back to the classroom where I can have more of an impact.
In 2016, I decided to join Teach for America and the organization sent me to Pitt County Schools in Greenville, NC where I taught 5th grade. After that, I moved to Durham, NC, where I taught 5th grade at Parkwood Elementary School for the next two years. In 2019 I was accepted to the NC State University Leadership Academy to pursue my Masters Degree in School Administration. While enrolled, I continued my journey at Ligon Magnet Middle School as the resident principal intern. I look forward to learning and working with this great staff and to the greatness that is to come!