34 New Fellows Join NC State Education’s Principal Preparation Programs
Thirty-four students make up the new cohorts enrolled in three of the NC State College of Education’s principal preparation programs: Johnston Principal Leadership Academy (JPLA), the Wake Principal Leadership Program (WPLP) and the NCSU Cohort. The new students began classes in May and will work toward the completion of a Master of School Administration while serving North Carolina schools.
Modeled after the college’s nationally recognized Northeast Leadership Academy, fellows from each cohort will complete a full master’s-level curriculum while continuing to teach in their current classrooms during the first year of the program. The fellows will then complete a full-time, paid principal residency the following year. Fellows earn a North Carolina principal license in addition to their graduate degree.
A N.C. Alliance for School Leadership Development grant provides financial support to the fellows throughout the program. Upon completion, JPLA and WPLP fellows will serve a minimum of four years in high-need schools in Johnston County Public Schools and Wake County Public School System, respectively. NCSU Cohort fellows will serve high-needs schools in North Carolina for at least four years.
Johnston Principal Leadership Academy
The Johnston Principal Leadership Academy includes 11 fellows that will work with Johnston County Schools in Smithfield, N.C. Cathy Williams, ’11 Ed.D., serves as the program director for this cohort.
Meet the JPLA Fellows
Melissa Altemose
maaltemo@ncsu.edu
Degrees: B.S. in Cell Developmental Biology, University of Rochester; M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, K-12 Science Education, George Mason University
Teaching Experience: Teach for America – Weldon Middle School; Achievement Prep Academy (Washington, D.C.); Jefferson Academy Middle School (Washington, D.C.)
Awards/Interests: Capital Commitment Fellow by D.C. Public Schools, mentor teacher with TechBridge Girls (George Washington University and the University of D.C.); awarded a Foundation for Blended Online Learning Innovative Educator Grant; named a National Finalist in the National Science Teacher Association Shell Lab Redesign Challenge
Current Classroom: Teaches eighth-grade science at W.A. Pattillo Middle School in Tarboro, N.C. and serves as a Project Manager for ENC STEM
Marta-Malia Blake
mlblake2@ncsu.edu
Degrees: B.A. in Journalism, Hawaii Pacific University; M.Ed., Hawaii Pacific University
Teaching Experience: 12-year career as a high school English Language Arts teacher (From Florida to Hawaii); served as Support Facilitator to help bridge the communication between struggling students and their parents
Awards/Interests: Recognized for excellence in Curriculum and Assessment and Exceptional School Leadership; selected to represent Hawaii in Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium trainings across the country
Current Classroom: In her first year at West Johnston High School
Michelle Butler
mwbutler@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A., University of South Florida
Teaching Experience: 18 years teaching in Florida and North Carolina
Awards/Interests: Elementary Education (K-6) and Academically Gifted (K-12) certifications; Certified Teacher of the Month (Johnston County Schools – 2013); member of School Improvement Team
Current Classroom: Serves as an Instructional Resource Teacher for North Johnston Middle School and a Teaching and Learning Coach for Johnston County Schools
Sarah Cowell
smhoyle@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Middle Grades Education, NC State University
Teaching Experience: Eight years of teaching in the middle school setting
Awards/Interests: Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year (2010); an active member of the School Improvement Team; serves as the MTSS coach, leads the school Curriculum Team, facilitates professional development at the school and district level, and supports teachers in their continued efforts to improve teaching and learning
Current Classroom: Serves as a Teaching and Learning Coach at McGee’s Crossroads Elementary School in Angier, N.C.
Jeffrey Henry
jwhenry2@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Elementary Education, East Carolina University
Teaching Experience: Six years of teaching experience
Awards/Interests: Beginning Teacher of the Year (2012); Teacher of the Year (County Finalist – 2015); WRAL Teacher of the Week; served as a member of the School Improvement Team, member of the Teacher Advisory Council, STEM Chair, Science Coordinator, and Beginning Teacher mentor
Current Classroom: Serves as a fifth-grade science and social studies teacher at Cleveland Elementary School in Johnston County.
Amanda Huber
amhuber@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Middle Childhood Education, Youngstown State University
Teaching Experience: Began her teaching career as a middle school science teacher at McGee’s Crossroads Middle School in Johnston County for six years then served as an instructional coach for three years
Awards/Interests: Supported and streamlined her school’s MTSS program while serving as an instructional coach; served on the School Improvement Team, and coached volleyball (10 years)
Current Classroom: Recently returned to the classroom and is currently teaching Earth and Environmental Science at West Johnston High School
Leshaun Jenkins
llleshau@ncsu.edu
Degrees: B.A. in History, East Carolina University; B.A. in Political Science, East Carolina University
Teaching Experience: History teacher for 16 years at Tarboro High School in Tarboro, N.C.
Awards/Interests: Four time Teacher of the Year; District Global Educator of the Year (2015) for Edgecombe County Public Schools
Current Classroom: Serves as Interim Assistant Principal at Princeville Elementary and Phillips Middle School
Dominique Manson
ddmanson@ncsu.edu
Degrees: B.S. in Sports & Fitness Management, NC A&T State University; MAT in Physical Education, NC A&T State University
Awards/Interests: A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc, where he served as program coordinator, and community service chair where he logged over 1,000 hours of community service. Serves as an interventionist, where he is a mentor with “at-risk” students
Current Classroom: Serves as the Physical Education teacher, Head JV Football Coach, Head JV Girls Basketball Coach and Head Track Coach at South Johnston High School
Nicole McKenna
nmckenn@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Early Childhood and Childhood Education, Iona College
Teaching Experience: Developed and implemented the U.S. Army’s newest Kindergarten readiness pilot program, Strong Beginnings, and taught first grade at the Livorno Unit School for the Department of Defense Education Activity Europe
Current Classroom: Teaches Kindergarten and is responsible for the English portion of the English-Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program at Polenta Elementary School (Garner, N.C.)
Allison Price
adprice2@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Special Education, East Carolina University
Teaching Experience: Taught inclusion and resource for four years with one year in a self-contained Autism classroom at West Clayton Elementary in Clayton, N.C. She spent the next three years of her career at Cleveland Middle School, also in Clayton, where she was the Exceptional Children’s (EC) Department Chair
Awards/Interests: Chosen to open the first high school High Functioning Autism classroom in Johnston County
Current Classroom: Teaches in the High Functioning Autism classroom in Cleveland High School and serves as the EC Department Chair
Beth Rhyne
merhyne@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Health Education, Gardner-Webb University
Teaching Experience: Has taught middle and high school Science in Cleveland County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Brunswick County, New Hanover County, and Johnston County school districts.
Awards/Interests: Served as the “High Schools that Work” Co-Chair for Burns High School in Cleveland County; served as a participant in New Hanover County’s Leadership Academy; recognized as Johnston County Employee of the Month for February 2013; named Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year (2018)
Current Classroom: Teaches physical science at Cleveland High School in Johnston County
Wake Principal Leadership Program
The Wake Principal Leadership Program includes 14 fellows that will work with Wake County Public School System in Raleigh, N.C. Karen Anderson serves as the program director for this cohort.
Meet the WPLP Fellows
Jessica Currin
jppike@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in Psychology, Meredith College
Teaching Experience: Worked in the Wake County Public School System since 2008, first as a third-grade teacher and later as a Title One Math Coach
Awards/Interests: Grade Chair, PBIS Chair, MTSS Chair, Leadership Team Member, Beginning Teacher Mentor, SIP Math Committee Chair and Testing Co-Coordinator
Current Classroom: Serves as a Magnet Coordinator, pioneering the Environmental Connections Magnet Program at Lincoln Heights Magnet Elementary School
Erica Everett
eeveret@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in African American Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, Lynchburg College
Teaching Experience: Taught Elementary Reading and Writing for the first four years of her teaching career plus a year at a charter school in Durham and a year teaching Social Studies in Mungyeoung, South Korea.
Awards/Interests: Co-led Equity teams and Caucuses, conducted professional development for staff, and served as a member of the Intervention Team at Moore Square Magnet Middle School; led the Policy Project Initiative as a member of the Leadership Council of the Beginning Teacher Leadership Network
Current Classroom: Serves as a sixth-grade Social Studies teacher at Moore Square Magnet Middle School
Taylar Flythe
tbflythe@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Middle Grades Education, East Carolina University
Teaching Experience: Taught sixth-grade at Ligon Middle School in Raleigh, N.C., beginning in 2012
Awards/Interests: School improvement, equity, and magnet recruitment; she served as a Kenan Fellow and worked on a project creating Citizen Science projects within the Genomics lab at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences; Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist (2017)
Current Classroom: Serves as Magnet Coordinator and University Liaison at Centennial Campus Middle School in Raleigh, N.C.
Erica Fox
eafox7@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Principles and Practices, Miami University of Ohio
Teaching Experience: Served as a 2013 Teach For America corps member in Eastern North Carolina and served her commitment at Northwest Halifax High School as a special education science teacher
Awards/Interests: She is a member of the School Improvement Team and the Instructional Leadership Team
Current Classroom: Teaches at Garner Magnet High School in Wake County as a special education reading teacher
Waun Fulton
ljfulton@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in English, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.Ed. in School Counseling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Teaching Experience: Worked with the Carolina College Advising Corps, serving as a college advisor in Warren County high schools
Awards/Interests: Served as an advisor for Student Government Association and Students Against Violence Everywhere
Current Classroom: Serves as a school counselor at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School
Jesse Gore
jhgore@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Middle Grades Language Arts and Social Studies, NC State University; M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, NC State University
Teaching Experience: Spent the first seven years of his teaching career at Dillard Drive Middle School as a social studies and language arts teacher, where he also served as Leadership Team Chair, Yearbook Advisor, and Mentor.
Awards/Interests: Dillard Drive Middle School Teacher of the Year (2016); Wake County Teacher of the Year Finalist (2016)
Current Classroom: Will serve as an Instructional Coach at Apex Friendship Middle School in the 2018-2019 school year
Cally Hudson
cahudso2@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Psychology and Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University
Teaching Experience: A certified Science, Math and Special Education Teacher; a 2013 Metro-Atlanta Teach for America Corps member teaching at Maynard Jackson High School in Atlanta, Ga.
Awards/Interests: a leader of the Capturing Kids Hearts Process Champion team at her school, leading professional developments during the summer for staff members
Current Classroom: Teaches ninth grade biology at Knightdale High School of Collaborative Design
Kate Miller
kmwilli6@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in Psychology, Meredith College; M.Ed., Special Education, East Carolina University
Awards/Interests: Serves on the Instructional Learning Team for her school representing Special Education and the SIT; serves as chair of the SIT and of the Special Education Department
Current Classroom: Teaches Special Education Math at Holly Ridge Middle School
Sara Morey
sekelly3@ncsu.edu
Degrees: B.S. in Biology, University of Binghamton; M.Ed. in Education, University of Bridgeport
Teaching Experience: Served as a Kenan Fellow from 2010-2012 working with the Forest Biotechnology lab at NC State University; served as a mentor teacher for eight years and as a cooperating teacher to several student interns
Awards/Interests: Served as the PLT leader for Biology, participated on the School Improvement Team and was part of the Bring Your Own Device initiative at Middle Creek High School. She has been involved in student activities serving as an adviser for the Marine Biology club, was a coach for Science Olympiad, and was an adviser for National Honor Society
Current Classroom: Serving as a Biology teacher and Department Chair for the Science Department at Middle Creek High School
Monica Noa
mbball@ncsu.edu
Degrees: B.S. in Middle Grades Education – English Language Arts and Social Studies, Winston Salem State University; M.Ed. in Gifted Education, Elon University
Teaching Experience: Worked with sixth grade Language Arts in Durham Public Schools on curriculum development and improving instruction
Awards/Interests: Serves as the Language Arts Department Chair, 8th Grade Level Chair, and on the Restart Team
Current Classroom: Teaches eighth-grade Language Arts at East Wake Middle School in Raleigh, N.C.
Heather Peaden
hapeaden@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Elementary Education, Eastern Michigan University
Teaching Experience: Has taught all subject areas of third and fifth grades at Underwood GT Magnet Elementary School
Awards/Interests: Served as co-School Improvement chair, a member of the MTSS team, PBIS team, and the Discovery Teacher Leader Corps
Current Classroom: Serves as a third-grade teacher at Underwood Elementary School
Sarita Shaw
smshaw@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in Elementary Education, University of North Carolina – Wilmington
Teaching Experience: Has taught Kindergarten, first and fourth grades; served as a member of the Discovery Education Teacher Leader Corps, a K-2 Literacy Coach, an Instructional Resource Teacher
Awards/Interests: Teacher of the Year (2014); the School Improvement Team Chair, a Teacher Mentor, a member of the Instructional Leadership Team, and a Professional Development Facilitator for Project READY-Re-imagining Equity and Access for Diverse Youth
Current Classroom: Will be a K-5 Instructional Resource Teacher and a K-2 Literacy Coach beginning this fall
Rozanne Todd
retodd2@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Elementary Education, Bowling Green State University
Teaching Experience: Has taught in the Elementary, Middle, and High School levels in both Regular and Special Education positions as well as with the ELL Intersession program
Awards/Interests: Teacher of the Year (2018); a member of the MTSS/Instructional Leadership Team, SIT team, SIT Special Topics Committee, School Safety Team, Progress Monitoring Implementation Committee, and is a BT Mentor; also provides in-house and community professional development on serving students with disabilities in the general education setting
Current Classroom: teaches in the Apex High Special Education Department as an Occupational Course of Study instructor
Gladys Washington
gmwashi2@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in Elementary Education, North Carolina Central University
Teaching Experience: Serves as a mentor for new teachers, grade level chairperson, a member of the School Improvement and Leadership Team and an active member of the Safe and Healthy Schools Committee
Awards/Interests: Teacher of the Year (2006, 2011, 2016)
Current Classroom: Teaches fourth-grade students at Brooks Museums Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, N.C.
NCSU Cohort
The NCSU Cohort extension of the NC State College of Education Principal Preparation program includes nine fellows that will take classes in Durham, N.C., while continuing in their teaching positions this academic year. Pat Ashley, Ed.D., serves as the program director for this cohort.
Meet the NCSU Cohort Fellows
Jeffrey Batten
jsbatten@ncsu.edu
Degrees: B.A. in Biology, Trinity University; M.S. in Plant Pathology & Microbiology; Ph.D. in Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University
Teaching Experience: Became a middle school science teacher at Hawley Middle School in Granville County after conducting postdoctoral research on the biochemistry of viruses; Duke TIP instructor from 2010-2012; instructor for the University of Phoenix from 2011-2015
Awards/Interests: Teacher of the Year (2015); taught LEGO robotics as part of the county’s STEM summer camp
Current Classroom: Teaches seventh-grade science
Kathleen Carswell
kecarswe@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in Elementary Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (N.C. Teaching Fellow)
Teaching Experience: Has taught fifth-grade at Morris Grove Elementary in Chapel Hill, N.C.; has served as lead teacher of her PLC, faculty chair and member of the SIT, and has mentored student teachers
Awards/Interests: Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School’s Promising New Teacher of the Year; Teacher of the Year (2018); has assisted in planning school events such as the African American Read-In and Curriculum Nights
Current Classroom: Teaches fifth-grade at Morris Grove Elementary
Harrison Do
hjdo@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Biological Sciences, NC State University; N.C. teaching license through the NC State NC TEACH program
Awards/Interests: Enjoys giving back to the Magellan community by serving in a variety of leadership roles such as Coordinator of MCS News, Co-Founder/Co-Instructor of the MCS Leadership Team, and Faculty Adviser to the MCS Dance Committee
Current Classroom: Teaches sixth-grade science at the Magellan Charter School
Glenn Estacio
gmestaci@ncsu.edu
Degrees: B.S. in Biology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; MAT in Secondary Science, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Teaching Experience: Has taught in the Durham Public School system for 10 years
Awards/Interests: Has served on the School Improvement Team, PBIS Committee, and MTAC Committee; also served as the Science Department Chairperson and as team leader for several years; actively involved in extracurricular activities including coaching the lacrosse team and serving as the advisor for the National Junior Honor Society
Current Classroom: Teaches seventh-grade at Rogers-Herr Middle School
Melanie Forte
mrforte@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Psychology, The College of the Holy Cross
Teaching Experience: Joined Teach for American Eastern NC as a 2013 Corp member, teaching sixth and seventh grade English at her placement school, Henderson Collegiate
Awards/Interests: Participated in the RELAY Graduate School of Education Principal’s Program
Current Classroom: Serves as the reading department chair, instructional coach, and fourth-grade level chair at Henderson Collegiate
Portia Harmon
pkharmon@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.S. in Criminal Justice, North Carolina Central University
Teaching Experience: Served as a lateral entry teacher while obtaining a degree in Elementary Education
Awards/Interests: Serves as grade chair, SIT team member, PBIS team member, Beginning Teacher mentor, and mClass facilitator
Current Classroom: Teaches third-grade at Parkwood Elementary
Anita Jarrett
aljarret@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in Elementary Education, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Teaching Experience: Has taught at Burton Magnet Elementary in Durham, N.C. for 10 years
Awards/Interests: Teacher of the Year (2015) at Burton Magnet Elementary
Current Classroom: Teaches third-grade
Will Lamb
kwlamb@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in Romance Languages, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Awards/Interests: Serves as grade level chair, a member of the Instructional Leadership Team, and chair of the School Improvement Leadership Team; founded and coordinates a Friday Clubs program; serves as a mentor teacher for the Duke University Program in Education; serves as a Guardian ad Litem in Durham County
Current Classroom: Teaches third-grade at Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet School
Erika Newkirk
ecnewkir@ncsu.edu
Degree: B.A. in Elementary Education, North Carolina Central University (N.C. Teaching Fellow); M.Ed. in Elementary Education, Winston-Salem State University
Teaching Experience: Has 19 years of experience in North Carolina’s public schools teaching in Pender County Schools, Winston-Salem-Forsyth County Schools, and Durham Public Schools
Awards/Interests: Has earned four Teacher of the Year honors
Current Classroom: Serves as the Senior Executive Director of Human Resources for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Categories:
