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Natalie Johnson ’22 Named Lee County Schools’ 2025 Exceptional Children Educator of Excellence

alumni awards

College of Education alumna Mariah Walker speaks from a podium at Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy as she receives the 2026 Wells Fargo North Central Region Principal of the Year award.

Jan 15, 2026

Mariah Walker ’06, ’10MED, ’12MSA, ’24EDD Named 2026 Wells Fargo North Central Region Principal of the Year

Mariah Walker ’06, ’10MED, ’12MSA, ’24EDD, a four-time graduate of NC State’s College of Education and the principal of Wake Young Women' s Leadership Academy, has been named the 2026 Wells Fargo North Central Region Principal of the Year.

Dec 5, 2025

Bailey McGuire ’13 Named Stanly County Teacher of the Year

Bailey McGuire‘’13 was named Stanly County Teacher of the Year earlier this year, but it’s her experience in the NC State College of Education that she says truly prepared her to be successful in the classroom.

Dec 2, 2025

Bryan Hayes ’20MED Receives NCCTM Outstanding Mathematics Teacher Award

Former North Carolina High School Master Mathematics Teacher Fellow Bryan Hayes’ commitment to seeing his students succeed earned him the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) Outstanding Mathematics Teacher award for his school district.

Nov 21, 2025

Matthew Bissette ’17MED Named Nash County Teacher of the Year

Matthew Bissette ’17MED loves watching his students grow in their skills and thinking throughout the year only to look back and realize how far they’ve come. His commitment to helping his students grow was recognized earlier this year, when he was named the 2025-26 Nash County Teacher of the Year.

Oct 21, 2025

Mike Casey ’18MSA Named Pitt County Schools’ Principal of the Year

Mike Casey ’18MSA knows that being a school leader can be both challenging and rewarding, but his time in the NC State College of Education’s NC State Educational Leadership Academy (NELA) provided him with the essential tools he needed to succeed.

Oct 17, 2025

Christopher Cullom ’18MSA Named Franklin County Schools’ Principal of the Year

As a result of his successful leadership at Bunn Elementary School, Christopher Cullom ’18MSA was recently honored with the Franklin County Principal of the Year Award.

Oct 15, 2025

Kristin Mattison-Williamson ’19MSA Named Orange County Schools’ 2025-2026 Principal of the Year

When Kristin Mattison-Williamson ’19MSA returned to North Carolina after teaching abroad in China, she knew that the College of Education would be the next best step in her journey to becoming a school administrator. Now, as principal of Pathways Elementary School, Mattison-Williamson’s work is being honored with the Orange County Schools 2025-2026 Principal of the Year award.

Oct 14, 2025

Rodney Peterson ’01MSA, ’11EDD Named Burroughs Wellcome Fund 2026 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year

Rodney Peterson’s impact on Person County Schools was honored on Oct. 9, when he was named the Burroughs Wellcome Fund 2026 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year.

Oct 13, 2025

Mariah Walker ’06, ’10MED, ’12MSA, ’24EDD Named Wake County Public School System Principal of the Year

As the principal of Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Mariah Walker said that “growing good humans is the light of my role,” and she aims to lead with the same values she works to instill in her students. Her impact was recently recognized when she received the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) Principal of the Year award.

Oct 9, 2025

Natalie Johnson ’22 Named Lee County Schools’ 2025 Exceptional Children Educator of Excellence

Working in special education at W.B Wicker Elementary School in Sanford is where Natalie Johnson ’22 said her “heart, purpose and passion all came together.” Her work in the classroom was recently recognized with Lee County Schools’ 2025 Exceptional Children (EC) Educator of Excellence award.