Rising high school seniors from across North Carolina traveled to the NC State College of Education this summer to participate in the Leadership Institute for Future Teachers (LIFT), a six-day, invitational program for students who are interested in teaching, first held in 1986.

Throughout the week, they developed their leadership and communication skills, interacted with statewide education leaders, received mentorship from current NC State College of Education students, and connected with LIFT alumni at a networking mixer. They also had the opportunity to visit two community schools in Vance County: Clarke Elementary School and Vance County Middle School.

See a visual recap from the 2026 Leadership Institute of Future Teachers below:

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Reel: How Ms. Webb Inspired These LIFTers To Be Teachers

Founded by Matt Bristow-Smith ’14MSA, Edgecombe Early College High’s Scholar Teachers Program prepares outstanding high school students to become teachers. Four current scholars — Glitch, Reuben, Yaya and Kiyonna — attended this summer our Leadership Institute for Future Teachers, a six-day invitational summer program first held in 1986. In this video, they share how Scholar Teachers prepared them for LIFT — and how their teacher, Ms. Webb, inspired their decision to become teachers, too.

Reel by Jada Williams