Leelynn Biggers

May 16, 2019

Matt Bristow-Smith, NELA Cohort III Graduate, NC Principal of the Year “Edgecombe School Leader Named 2019 NC Principal of the Year”

Matt is the Principal of Edgecombe Early College High School. 

Feb 22, 2019

Hugh Scott, Cohort II Graduate, Highlighted in The Southern Nash News: “Celebrating Black History Month – Hugh Scott – A Positive Role Model For All Young Minds”

Hugh Scott currently serves as Principal at Southern Nash High School. 

Feb 14, 2019

Matt Bristow-Smith (Cohort III) Honored as Regional Wells Fargo Principal of the Year 2019

Matt Bristow-Smith graduated with NELA Cohort III in 2014. Before becoming a NELA Fellow, he served as an English Teacher and School Improvement Team Chair at Tarboro High School. He completed his NELA administrative internship at SouthWest Edgecombe High School. Matt has been serving as Principal at Edgecombe Early College High School since 2014. Matt… 

Feb 14, 2019

JPLA Fellow, Leshaun Jenkins, on Upcoming Panel at Talking Black in America Screening Feb. 26

Leshaun Jenkins is a current Fellow in NC State’s Johnston Principal Leadership Academy (JPLA). Leshaun spent 16 years as a teacher at Tarboro High School, where he taught World History, World Geography, Civis and Economics, US History, and Global Studies. He has been recognized as Teacher of the Year four times. Leshaun is currently serving as… 

Feb 11, 2019

EdNC Features NELA Graduate, Katie Row, in Article “Coker-Wimberly: Setting kindergarteners up for success starts day one”

Katie Row, a NELA Cohort III Graduate, is Principal of Coker-Wimberly Elementary School. 

Jan 3, 2019

Happy New Year!

NC State Educational Leadership Academies (NELA) had a great year in 2018. Please watch the video below about our year. We are looking forward to a great year in 2019! Happy New Year! 

Dec 14, 2018

Rocky Mount Telegram highlights Cohort IV Graduate, Donnell Cannon, in “Local principal awarded national fellowship” Article

Mr. Cannon is honored as an Opportunity Culture Fellow, 1 of 15 nationwide. 

Dec 7, 2018

NELA Highlighted in The Hunt Institute’s “Principal Preparation Case Study”

NC State’s Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA) was one of two innovative principal preparation programs discussed in The Hunt Institute’s “Principal Preparation Case Study”. The case study covers an overview of the program and where graduates are now. The Hunt Institute also discusses NELA’s “Elements of Success” including school district partnerships, the rigorous admissions process, “practice-based learning”… 

Dec 5, 2018

NELA Graduate, Erin Swanson, discusses Opportunity Culture in Edgecombe County in The Hechinger Report’s “Using teacher-leaders to improve schools”

Erin Swanson serves as Director of Innovation in Edgecombe County Schools. Click to read the article. 

Oct 25, 2018

“Redesigning Education” Article by Graduate, LaAlice Hopkins

LaAlice Hopkins graduated with NELA Cohort IV in May 2016. She is currently serving as the Principal of Warren County High School. LaAlice wrote the following article for the Henderson Dispatch, which is presented below.