#WhyIChoseEducation: ‘I Look Forward to Continuing to Leave No Stone Unturned for Our Students,’ Says Pitt County Schools Superintendent Steve Lassiter Jr. ’19EDD

Steve Lassiter Jr. ’19EDD  grew up in eastern North Carolina, where his K-12 teachers made a lasting impression on his life, inspiring him to one day become an educational leader. 

In November, Lassiter, who earned his doctoral degree through the NC State College of Education’s educational leadership program, was named superintendent of Pitt County Schools, and he is looking forward to ensuring students receive the best education possible. 

“I’m excited that I have the opportunity to create more opportunities for our students in Pitt County Schools,” Lassiter said. “If it’s a great opportunity for our students, then we need to pursue it. That’s why I’m here in this role, and I look forward to continuing to leave no stone unturned for our students.”

Why I Chose Education: 

I wake up in the morning, and I get to choose to come to a job that I absolutely love, especially when it comes to serving students and serving our educators who are in the trenches working with our children every day. Why not do something that you’re passionate about and that you enjoy, where you can bring skills to the table to make sure that every child has the best education possible? I do it because I love it, and I’m passionate about it.

How Education Shaped Me: 

I see education as an equalizer. It leveled the playing field to give me access to better opportunities to create a better life for myself, a better life for my family. 

I grew up in Edenton, North Carolina, in Chowan County, and I believe we had some of the best educators and teachers in the state of North Carolina. I can remember all of my teachers from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. They left lasting impressions and opened doors for me. I had a great education growing up and am proud to have come from Chowan County public schools.

What I Enjoyed Most About the NC State College of Education:

Every night, I looked forward to driving from Greenville to Raleigh for class because I enjoyed the professors. I also enjoyed meeting colleagues from across the state. There were a number of individuals I was with at NC State who are now superintendents across North Carolina, or they’re a chancellor. That’s the best part about the College of Education and being a part of NC State. It truly is a family. Those connections that you build continue with you throughout your career or lifetime, and that’s the part I love and remain excited about.

What Others Should Know About the College of Education:

It is a top-notch program that I would encourage anyone to pursue. There is a great system and network of support to get you through the dissertation process, to help you think differently and consider real problems in education and how we can work together to solve those problems. The program has so much to offer and is a very well-respected program across our state and our nation.

The Last Thing That Inspired Me:

The last thing that inspired me was the night I was sworn in as superintendent. My family was there– my mother, my father, my siblings– and as I looked down the hallway, there was a hallway full of people who I had no clue were excited about me becoming the superintendent.

It was at that moment I knew I was in the right place at the right time. That moment lifted me. It gave me inspiration. It made me want to do my best and to give all that I could give, and it is a memory and a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.