NELA Cohort 2023
NELA 2023 Cohort Home NELA 2023 Cohort Fellows Principal Residency
NELA Cohort Fellows
Jai’La Carmack
Jai’La Carmack earned a B.S. in Biology from Elizabeth City State University and an M.S. in Biomedical Science from Liberty University. She taught Earth and Environmental Science, Biology, and Physics at Washington County Early College High School before transitioning to Instructional Coach, Intervention Specialist, and Coordinator of Testing and Accountability at Washington County Middle School. Named Washington County’s 2020–2021 Teacher of the Year, she completed her Principal Residency at Creswell Elementary during the 2022–2023 school year and now serves as Principal at Creswell Elementary School.
Hayley Gearheart
Hayley Gearheart graduated cum laude from Butler University in 2017 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Classical Studies. She was a 2017 Teach for America Corps Member in Eastern NC and taught English I, English II, English III, and ACT Prep at Weldon STEM High School Career Academies. During her time at Weldon, she served as the senior class advisor, School Improvement Team Chair, English Department Chair, assistant softball coach, and Instructional Lead Teacher (ILT) for the district. Additionally, Hayley served as a Servant Leader Intern for the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School program at the Peacemakers of Rocky Mount site. In the fall of 2020, Hayley transitioned to serving as the English Department Chair and English II teacher at North Edgecombe High School. She continued to serve on the School Improvement Team, School Design Team, and the North-Philips School of Innovation (NPSI) Team. Hayley was named Edgecombe County Public School’s Teacher of the Year for the 2021-2022 school year. Hayley has worked, designing curriculum and serving as the lead English Design for Change facilitator at North Edgecombe High School in Edgecombe County. She completed her Principal Residency at Patillo Middle School during the 2022-2023 school year. Then, she served as Assistant Principal of Operations at Maureen Joy Charter School in Durham. Currently, Hayley serves as Assistant Principal at Durham Charter High School in Durham.
Dillon Hamill
Dillon Hamill earned a B.A. in History and Russian Studies from East Carolina University and an M.A. in Teaching from Lenoir Rhyne University. He taught Secondary Social Studies in Lenoir and Edgecombe counties and is APSI Certified in Advanced Placement World History. At SouthWest Edgecombe High School, he served as Social Studies Department Chair and School Improvement Team Chair, leading the implementation of new NCDPI standards and a master schedule redesign that created daily opportunities for remediation, enrichment, and leadership growth through “POWER” hour. Dillon completed his Principal Residency at Martin Millennium Academy in 2022–2023, where he later served as Assistant Principal. He currently serves as Principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Rocky Mount.
Marsha Harvey
Marsha Harvey earned a Diploma in Education from Mico University College and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from The Consortium of Colleges for Teacher Education in Jamaica. At Vance County High School, she served as English Department Chair, School Improvement Team Chair, and taught English and AP Literature. She was recognized with multiple honors, including North Carolina’s Governor’s Award, the Vanceformation Award, and the LEAP grant for innovative classroom design. A Duke University MEAC Fellow, Marsha has presented at district and state-level workshops and was named a Model Learning Environment Teacher for her innovative use of technology. She completed her Principal Residency at New Hope Elementary during the 2022–2023 school year. Most recently, she served as Dean of Middle School at Wake Forest Charter Academy.
Lorane Johnson
Lorane Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from NC Wesleyan College. After beginning her career in the financial sector, she transitioned into education as a lateral entry teacher. She later earned a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from Shaw University, with add-on licensure in Elementary Education (K–6) and Middle Grades Math. Throughout her career, Lorane has served as SIT Team Chair, Grade Level Chair, Beginning Teacher Mentor, and Multi-Classroom Leader. She has been actively involved in school initiatives including PBIS, MTSS, and Makerspace committees, and she has coached for the MathCounts Foundation. Beyond the classroom, she worked as a part-time instructor with the St. Augustine’s TRIO Upward Bound Program and funded and directed her own community summer camp. Recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2019–2020, Lorane is passionate about ensuring economically disadvantaged students have access to high-quality educational opportunities. She taught math at Enfield Middle STEAM Academy in Halifax County and completed her Principal Residency at Everetts Elementary S.T.E.M. Academy during the 2022–2023 school year. Most recently, she served as Principal of Hollister Elementary School Leadership Academy in Halifax County.
Deric Munoz
Deric Munoz earned his degree in Social Studies Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and later added certification in English Education. He began his career at Bunn Middle School, where he taught 7th and 8th grade English for four years, served as grade chair and MTSS chair, and was named Teacher of the Year in 2019–2020. He was also a member of the district’s EmpowerED team, focusing on improving student learning through technology integration.
Deric went on to teach all levels of English at Bunn High School in Franklin County and coached multiple sports, including baseball, volleyball, football, basketball, and soccer. He completed his Principal Residency at Louisburg Elementary during the 2022–2023 school year. Currently, he serves as Assistant Principal at Nash Central Middle School in Nash-Rocky Mount Schools.
Haley Coker Owens
Haley Coker Owens earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from East Carolina University. She spent six years teaching 4th and 5th grade at G.W. Bulluck Elementary in Edgecombe County before transitioning into the role of 3rd–5th grade Reading Interventionist. During her time at Bulluck, she was named Beginning Teacher of the Year, mentored beginning teachers, sponsored the Jr. Beta Club, and served on both the School Improvement Team and the Resilience Committee. She was also recognized for achieving a value-added score in the top 25% at the district and state level for three consecutive years.
Haley completed her Principal Residency at Southwest Edgecombe High School in 2022–2023. She now serves as Assistant Principal at Southwest Edgecombe High School in Edgecombe County.
Alaina Ritter
Alaina Ritter earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Science in History Education from East Carolina University in 2015 as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. She began her career at Southwest Edgecombe High School, where she taught World History, American History, and AP U.S. History for five years before transitioning into the role of Digital Literacy Coach and Multi-Classroom Leader. During her time at Southwest, Alaina was named Beginning Teacher of the Year, served as Social Studies Department Chair, mentored beginning teachers, and contributed as a member of the School Improvement Team. In 2021, she was accepted into the Rural School Leadership Academy through Teach For America. She completed her Principal Residency at South Edgecombe Middle School during the 2022–2023 school year.
Currently, Alaina serves as Principal of the Freshman Academy at North Edgecombe High School of Innovation in Edgecombe County.
Ryan Thorne
Ryan Thorne graduated from Duke University in 2016 in the top third of her class with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and minors in English and Italian Studies. She began her career working in museums and cultural institutions with a focus on public and university education. In 2018, she joined Teach For America–Eastern North Carolina, serving as a middle grades humanities educator, HillRAP tutor, and School Improvement Team member at Phillips Middle School, while concurrently earning a Master of Science in Education in Secondary Education from Johns Hopkins University, which she completed in 2020. In 2020, Ryan joined South Edgecombe Middle School as a reading resource teacher on the Exceptional Children’s team, later becoming department chair. She has also contributed to the school’s Equity in Action Team, previously served on the School Improvement Team, and participated in projects through the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Buck Institute for Education, and the Rural Opportunity Institute.
Ryan completed her Principal Residency at G.W. Carver Elementary during the 2022–2023 school year and now serves as Assistant Principal at G.W. Carver Elementary School in Edgecombe County.
LaVonda Williams
LaVonda Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Mount Olive. She began her career at Carver Elementary School in Henderson, where she taught Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. Alongside her teaching, she also served as Testing Coordinator, Afterschool Coordinator, Beginning Teacher Mentor, and member of the School Improvement Team.
LaVonda participated in the Teacher Executive Leadership Institute and was recognized as Carver Elementary’s Teacher of the Year in both 2013 and 2021. Guided by her belief that “all students are willing and able to learn” and her conviction that “we are well able to overcome,” she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to student success and teacher development.
She completed her Principal Residency at STEM Early High School during the 2022–2023 school year and now serves as Assistant Principal at Pinkston Elementary School in Vance County.