NELA Graduates

Sep 4, 2024

Dr. Keith Parker (NELA Cohort IV) serves as Superintendent of Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools. ECPPS student achievement has doubled in the past two years, resulting in the first “A” performing school & no “F” performing schools.

We are proud of Keith’s leadership! 

Aug 29, 2024

Rashard Curmon (NELA Cohort V) has been named Lenoir County Public Schools Principal of the Year for 2024-2025. Congratulations, Rashard!

Aug 13, 2024

Jayme Whitehead (Red/Wake 2025) is completing her principal residency at the Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy, where Brooke Little (Durham/Wake 2023) serves as AP.

Mariah Walker serves as principal and is Jayme’s principal mentor. We’re filled with excitement seeing current fellows learning alongside NELA graduates! 

Jul 18, 2024

Brittany Roberts (Cumberland 2022) was recognized on the Fayetteville Observer’s 40 under 40 list for her community contributions as an Asheboro City Schools assistant principal.

Brittany Roberts, 30, of Laurinburg, is an assistant principal at Asheboro City Schools. She was nominated for 40 Under 40 because she “is exploring the recruitment and retention experiences of Black female principals in North Carolina as her research focus. 

Jul 2, 2024

Dr. Lacey Seaton (NELA Cohort V, ‘21 EDD) featured in @NCStateCED article. We are thrilled about her return to @NCState and look forward to her impactful contributions to our educational leadership program!

Lacey Seaton ’17MSA, ’21EDD will join NC State’s College of Education as an associate teaching professor of educational leadership, beginning Aug. 16, 2024. Currently, she’s an assistant professor of educational leadership and the faculty director for the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). 

Jun 5, 2024

Quantisha Spencer (Cumberland 2022) has been selected to participate in Cumberland County School’s L.E.A.D (Leadership, Empowerment, and Administrative Development) program for the 2024-2025 school year.

May 23, 2024

An Unforgettable Adventure: Meet Reginald Simon (Southern 2024), MSA ‘24

Educator Reginald Simon is genuinely passionate about developing the leadership potential and self-esteem of the young people he teaches, mentors, advises and coaches.  As an early-career language arts teacher and athletic coach for public middle and high school students, Simon quickly realized his own potential for fueling the fires of student success through leadership and student advocacy. 

May 14, 2024

Melissa Denton (NELA 2022) named Nash County Public Schools AP of the Year.

May 14, 2024

Lemondre Watson (NELA Cohort V) named Chatham County Schools Principal of the Year.

Apr 11, 2024

Dr. Donnell Cannon (NELA Cohort IV) serves as Executive Director of Maureen Joy Charter School. MJCS is profiled in the Canopy Project, which is a collaborative effort to advance equity and student-centered learning. 

The Canopy Project is a collaborative effort by the Center on Reinventing Public Education and Transcend Education to surface and share diverse, innovative learning environments designed to advance equity and student-centered learning, the press release says.