NC State University Announces School Leader Scholarship Recipients: North Carolina Leadership Academy (NCLA) Fellows

Great schools have great leaders and NC State is working to prepare highly effective principals. Fellows in the North Carolina Leadership Academy (NCLA) will serve in Greene, Wilson, and Lenoir counties, along with counties served by the Northeast Leadership Academy such as Edgecombe and Franklin. We also have Fellows from the Duplin County School System. The founder of Northeast Leadership Academy and subsequent leadership academies, Dr. Bonnie Fusarelli, explains: “Each component of NCLA is anchored in research-based best practices in leadership preparation and is designed to meet the specific leadership needs of participating school districts.” The North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD) Grant currently funds the program, including full scholarships for NCLA’s newly admitted Fellows.

NCLA applicants completed a rigorous selection process, including a day-long experiential assessment day to identify individuals who are passionate, energetic, and effective educators committed to improving the performance of all students. The selected Fellows receive substantial benefits including a full scholarship, paid internships, conference travel, textbooks, and technology materials. They earn a NC school principal license and a Master of

School Administration degree. Graduates make a three-year post degree commitment to lead high-need schools in Lenoir, Greene, and Wilson counties along with other North Carolina NELA school districts. Dr. Shirley Arrington will be serving as director of the North Carolina Leadership Academy and will be working with the Fellows in the cohort. Dr. Arrington earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education from North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount and her master’s degree, principal certification, and doctorate from Campbell University. She has had a number of leadership positions in North Carolina public schools. She has worked as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in the Edgecombe County School System, the Rocky Mount City School System and the Nash-Rocky Mount School System. She joined the Principals’

Executive Program, The University of North Carolina, in 1993 as an Assistant Director where she directed several leadership programs for school administrators including the Assistant Principals Executive Program, the Developing Future Leaders Program, the Higher School Performance Program, the Instructional Leadership for Reform Program, and the Leadership Conference for New Administrators. She was named Executive Director for the Model Teacher Education Consortium in 2006. Dr. Arrington retired on September 1, 2011 after over thirty-four years of service to public education in North Carolina. She has served as a professor at Gardner-Webb University, teaching in the Master’s of Elementary Education Program. She also works part time as a program assistant and facilitator for the North Carolina Principals’ and Assistant Principals Association. She serves on the board of The Prodigal Son Foundation and the Lincoln Community Hospital Foundation Board.

Brenda D. Champion, Ed.D. was also recently hired to work with the new Fellows as well. Dr. Champion will serve as Executive Director of NC State’s Leadership Academies. She will assist Dr. Bonnie Fusarelli and will oversee all four leadership academies – The Northeast Leadership Academy 2.0 (NELA 2.0), The Northeast Leadership Academy – District and School Transformation (NELA-DST), The Durham Principal Leadership Academy (DPLA), and the North Carolina Leadership Academy (NCLA). She earned her undergraduate degree in government from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Her studies as an undergraduate included study abroad in Strasbourg, France.

With two elementary education courses taken in the summer of 1986, her teaching career in NYC began that fall. After three years of teaching, feeling a desire to be a student again, she took a leave of absence for one year and received a Master’s Degree in Education in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University. Her love of learning compelled her to obtain a second Master’s Degree of Science in Elementary School Science and Environmental Education from Brooklyn College. After which she held various positions at both the school and district level in NYC. Finally in 2004, she decided that she wanted to make an impact as an instructional leader and applied to the NYC Leadership Academy and was accepted as an Aspiring Principal. Upon completion of the program, she became the principal of a middle school with a large student body (1400) in Brooklyn where she remained for 8 years. During her tenure as principal the urge to study came once more. She earned her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Understanding that change is inevitable and can present new challenges as well as opportunities, she joined NCDPI as a School Transformation Coach and has supported principals and their school communities in Halifax County.

North Carolina State University is pleased to announce the North Carolina Leadership Academy’s Fellows:

Shavon Brown School District: Edgecombe County

Shavon Brown earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English education from East Carolina University. She earned National Board Certification in 2010. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year for the 2016-2017 school year. She has served as a member of the Digital Conversion Team providing technology training to other teachers. She has also served as the English department chair and the secretary of the School Improvement Team. She has been actively involved in extra-curricular activities including yearbook, National Honor Society, and prom committee. Shavon currently teaches English at Tarboro High School.

Byron Bullock School District: Edgecombe County

Byron, a North Carolina Teaching Fellow, earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education at East Carolina University. He currently teaches English I and English II at Edgecombe Early College High School. Byron is also a co-leader of the school’s PBIS committee and member of the School Improvement Team.

Leaundra Clay School District: Duplin County

Leaundra Clay graduated with Honors from Hampton University where she received a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice. While attending Hampton, she was a member of Golden Key International Honor Society, treasurer of Phi Alpha Delta Honor Society, and vice president of Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society. During her undergraduate years, Leaundra spent time interning at Hampton Regional Roads Jail and the Hampton Sheriff’s Department. In 2014, Leaundra joined Teach For America in Eastern North Carolina where she served as the region’s social studies liaison. Over the past 3 years, Leaundra has taught 6th & 7th grade social studies at Warsaw Middle School. Leaundra is currently the PBIS chair, the social studies department chair, and culinary arts instructor. It is Leaundra’s lifelong goal to provide a superior education in order to deter incarceration among our youth.

Jamilah Collins School District: Edgecombe County

Jamilah earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Bethune-Cookman University. She was a 2014 Teach for America Corps Member in Eastern North Carolina. Jamilah currently teaches American History at North Edgecombe High School in Tarboro, North Carolina. She served as the social studies department chair and currently serves on the School Improvement, Innovation Scheduling, and Opportunity Culture teams. Additionally, Jamilah has served as a Servant Leader Intern for the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School program at the Peacemakers of Rocky Mount site in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Natalie Cook School District: Greene County

Natalie earned an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is a Master Literacy Trainer for grades K-3. In 2016 she was selected as Teacher of the Year for her school. She is also the 2016-2017 teacher of the year for Greene County Schools. Natalie currently teaches first grade in the Los Puentes dual immersion program at Snow Hill Primary School in Snow Hill.

Christopher Cullom School District: Franklin County

Christopher earned his undergraduate degree in history education from Campbell University. He serves as a social studies teacher, baseball coach, and Power Lunch Coordinator for Bunn High School. Christopher has served as a member of the School Improvement Team, Leadership Team, and co-founder of Rho Kappa at Bunn High School. He was a 2016 Bright Ideas Grant recipient. He has led the Bunn High School baseball team to five consecutive Northern Carolina Conference Championships and is a three time NCC Coach of the Year.

Hunter Dansby School District: Duplin County

Hunter Dansby earned an undergraduate degree in Finance and Business with Honors from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He currently teaches in Duplin County at James Kenan High School, serves as the Mathematics Department Chair and School Improvement Team representative, and is a 2nd year Teach For America Corps Member. He teaches Math 1 and is the creator and instructor of the school’s first formal ACT prep program for juniors. He was James Kenan High School’s Beginning Teacher of the Year for the 2015-2016 school year and is also the Junior Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach.

Cassandra Haddock School District: Edgecombe County

Cassandra Haddock earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at East Carolina University; she is also licensed as a Reading Specialist for grades K-12. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2015. She serves as SIT team chair, grade chair, STEM chair, PBIS team member, and Beginning Teacher mentor. She is currently working towards becoming a Global Educator through VIF training. Cassandra currently teaches 5th grade Science. One of her favorite quotes from Dr. King is “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.”

Becky Hines School District: Lenoir County

Becky earned a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University in agricultural business and agricultural and extension education with a communications concentration. She was a lateral entry teacher and has taught middle grades science and agricultural education. In addition to her teaching duties, Becky serves as the school’s STEM Coordinator, FFA Advisor, School Improvement Team member and Science Olympiad Coach. Becky has an active role in district level activities as the STEM Summer Camp Director and North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division Regional Director. Her love for agriculture extends beyond the classroom as a curriculum specialist for the North Carolina Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom program. Becky currently teaches middle grades agricultural education at Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School in Kinston.

Emily Kicklighter School District: Wilson County

Emily earned an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Meredith College and a Master’s degree in Church Music from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2014. She coordinates the Wilson All-County Middle School Chorus. Emily currently teaches Chorus and General Music at Springfield Middle School in Wilson County. She serves as the Leadership Team Chair, School Improvement Team Chair and MTSS Team Chair. Her students consistently participate in the NC Honors and All-State Choruses and receive Superior ratings at the NC Music Performance Adjudication.

Tyler Morris School District: Franklin County

Tyler earned his degree in history education from North Carolina State University. He was recognized as his school’s teacher of the year in 2014. He served on his school’s leadership and data teams. He was also a member of his district EmpowerED team, which focuses on ways to improve digital learning in the classroom. He also served as the social studies chairperson at his school. Tyler currently teaches AP World History and Civics & Economics at Bunn High School.

Keith Neal School District: Lenoir County

Keith graduated from Kinston High School in 2002, and then attended North Carolina State University. After he earned his undergraduate degree, he began his teaching career at Rochelle Middle School. Keith taught middle school from 2008-2012. Currently, he teaches history at Kinston High School. Keith says that being a teacher is so much more than teaching content or getting great scores on standardized tests; it is building positive relationships to help students exceed their expectations. The day a student enters his classroom (whether at Rochelle Middle School or Kinston High School) to the moment they graduate, they always know he is there to listen, guide, and encourage. He goes to work each day hoping to make a positive change in their lives. In so doing, he has built lasting relationships with students that he maintains ’til this day.

Jessica Parker School District: Edgecombe County

Jessica earned an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow, from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Jessica has taught in both elementary and middle school settings in the twin counties (Edgecombe and Nash Counties). After years of bringing excitement into the classroom by incorporating technology and cultivating a love for learning, she was awarded Teacher of the Year in 2016. She is an active member of the School Improvement Team, the AMPLIFY ECPS Technology Innovation Team, and the Opportunity Culture School Design Team for her district. Jessica is currently serving as an Instructional Coach at Coker-Wimberly Elementary School in Battleboro North Carolina.

Wendy Piro School District: Lenoir County

Wendy earned an undergraduate degree in Child Development with an add-on K-6 license from Meredith College. She participated in Project LEAP at East Carolina University, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education with an add-on license in English to Speakers of Other Languages. She has been recognized twice as Teacher of the Year. She actively serves as second Vice President for the Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. This is her 17th year in education. She is currently working as the ELA Curriculum Specialist for Southeast Elementary School.

Brittany Rose

School District: Wilson County Brittany earned a degree in Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Mathematics and Science from East Carolina University in 2013. Brittany has participated in the Meredith Math and Science Institute, eLearning training, Science curriculum development, and professional development highlighting student achievement and growth. She was recognized as Springfield Middle School Teacher of the Year. Brittany currently teaches eighth grade science and Math I at Springfield Middle School in Wilson.

Rebecca Sugg School District: Edgecombe County

Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from North Carolina State University and a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from East Carolina University. She began her career as a 7th grade math teacher at West Edgecombe Middle School. Rebecca has worked as a counselor in Edgecombe County for the past 7 years and is currently counseling students at SouthWest Edgecombe High School. Rebecca serves as the lead high school counselor for Edgecombe County.

LaToyha Washington School District: Lenoir County

LaToyha earned an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Winston-Salem State University and a Master of Arts degree in Reading Education (K-12) from East Carolina University. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year for the 2013-2014 school year and named Lenoir County’s Top 3 Teacher of the Year finalist. She has received training as a Master Literacy Trainer by NCDPI and has had the privilege of presenting at Learning Forward’s National Teaching Conference. Her daily intent, as an educator, is to make an IMPACT. LaToyha currently serves as the K-2 literacy coach at Northeast Elementary School in Lenoir County.

Keisha White School District: Lenoir County

Keisha earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from East Carolina University. She was recognized as Northeast Elementary’s 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year and WITN Channel 7’s “Teacher of the Week”. She served as a Beginning Teacher Mentor and a panel speaker for the North Carolina New Teacher Support. Keisha currently teaches third grade and is grade chair at Northeast Elementary School.

Rommy Woodley School District: Franklin County

Rommy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and certification of Spanish translation from San Diego State University. She taught in the private school sector and received her North Carolina teaching certification from North Carolina Central University. She is currently teaching Spanish at Franklinton High school where she is the Foreign Language Department chair, a member of the staff development team and a member of the School Leadership Team.

Rashida Yellock

School District: Greene County Rashida earned a Master of Education in Training and Development from NC State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching elementary education from East Carolina University. Rashida is an active participant in her grade level PLT, currently hosts a senior intern from East Carolina University in her classroom, is a 2016-17 SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) participant, a member of the PBIS committee and a member of the science committee at school. Rashida took part in updating science and math curriculum maps for the 2016-2017 school year. Currently, Rashida teaches math and science to fourth grade transition students at Greene County Intermediate School.