Leelynn Biggers

Jan 19, 2015

NELA Visits the Ron Clark Academy

Cohort IV and some fellows from previous cohorts were accompanied by Dr. Wirt, Dr. Riddick, Jennifer LaGarde, and Leelynn on the trip to Atlanta, GA. On Friday evening, busloads of educators were greeted by Ron Clark and his enthusiastic students and teachers. Friday night events included a school tour of RCA and its new facility… 

Dec 30, 2014

South Creek Middle Advances to Statewide FIRST Lego League Tournament

Students ranging in age from 9 to 14 competed in a regional tournament focused on STEM concepts on November 22nd, 2014. It was a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology in students) Lego League qualifier tournament. The teams participating created and programmed autonomous robots. They also did a research project to develop… 

Dec 17, 2014

Successful STEM Night at Tonya Little’s School

NELA Cohort II fellow, Tonya Little, is an assistant principal at Riverside Middle School. The school hosted a STEM Family Night and PTA event. Many RMS STEM Stakeholders attended, including representatives from NC School of Science and Math, Martin Enterprises, NC A&T State University Regional Outreach for Excellence in STEM, and others. The Mop Shop,… 

Nov 22, 2014

Fellows and Project Team to Washington, D.C. for UCEA Conference

All Cohort IV fellows, the NELA project team, and a few fellows from previous Cohorts visited Washington D.C. to attend the University Council for Education Administration (UCEA) Conference. Below are a few photos from the visit to Washington. 

Nov 20, 2014

NC State Wins National Award for Preparing Rural School Leaders

“A North Carolina State University program to train leaders for rural schools in northeastern North Carolina was honored Nov. 20 with a national award for effectiveness – one of only two programs to receive the distinction. Dr. Bonnie Fusarelli receives the UCEA award for the Northeast Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C. The Northeast Leadership Academy… 

Oct 29, 2014

NELA Featured in Education Weekly!

Recognized as “American education’s newspaper of record”, Education Week is a nationally-read newspaper that strives to connect K-12 education policy with practice. Within the Education Week website, there is a blog that focuses on news in Rural Education. The NELA program at NC State was featured in this blog for winning the UCEA award on October… 

Oct 16, 2014

Teicher Patterson, of Cohort II, in The Daily Herald

The Daily Herald is a local news source for the Roanoke Valley and Lake Gaston area. On October 16, 2014, Teicher Patterson was featured in The Daily Herald for his new role as principal at Enfield Middle School in Halifax County. In the article he shares how he will help the school achieve Panther PRIDE.… 

Oct 15, 2014

Rocky Mount High Football Players Volunteer at Winstead Ave Elementary School, where Yolanda Wiggins, of Cohort I, is Principal

Football Players are visiting Winstead Avenue to work with young students, as a part of a program created by the physical education teachers at both schools. There are benefits for everyone involved! Read more about this story in the Rocky Mount Telegram. 

Oct 12, 2014

NELA featured on Front Page of the Technician

The Technician is the Student Newspaper on NC State’s campus. On October 12, 2014, a story featuring NELA was seen on the front page, celebrating the grant that was recently awarded to the program. The article also gave some information about the purpose of NELA and the impact that principals have in rural schools. View the… 

Aug 16, 2014

Leadership Social at the Franklinton Center at Bricks

  On Saturday, August 16th, 2014 all four NELA Cohorts were invited to the Franklinton Center at Bricks for a NELA Leadership Social. The event was created to offer advice to the newest Cohort and to recharge for the upcoming school year. The Franklinton Center at Bricks is a historical site in Whitakers, NC. Pre-Civil…