Educational Leaders Talk About Impact Transformational Scholarships Program Will Have on Building Teacher Pipeline in Eastern North Carolina

In Eastern North Carolina counties with fewer resources but greater needs, it can be difficult for educational leaders to attract and retain quality teachers.

To address this challenge, the NC State College of Education is using a charitable grant from the Anonymous Trust to establish the Transformational Scholarships Program and prepare 100 teachers for counties in Eastern North Carolina. 

The college will start with a cohort of 20 Transformational Scholars in the 2022-2023 academic year and add 20 more per year in each of the following four years. Each Transformational Scholar will receive $10,000 per year in scholarship support and professional development over four years as they prepare to become highly effective educators who teach in Eastern North Carolina following their graduation.  For educational leaders in the region, like David Lewis, Wayne County Public Schools superintendent; Erica Shoulders-Royster ‘12MSA, ‘20EDD, Franklin County Early College High School principal and Rashard Curmon, Northeast Elementary School principal, the program represents an opportunity to strengthen the teacher pipeline in the communities they call home.