Meet the Wake Principal Leadership Program!

The award winning, evidenced-based Northeast Leadership Academy is expanding. One of its newest iterations will work with Wake County Public School System in Raleigh, North Carolina. A grant from the state of NC through the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD) funds the new Wake Principal Leadership Program (WPLP), including full scholarships for WPLP’s newly admitted Fellows.

WPLP applicants participated in NC State’s MSA Candidate Assessment Day in January. The rigorous admissions process identified 14 passionate, energetic, and effective educators who were selected to become WPLA Fellows. Through NC State’s WPLP, these Fellows will earn a NC school principal license and a Master of School Administration degree. WPLP Fellows recently began the two-year program. This academic year they will engage in a full Master degree course load while maintaining their teaching positions. During the 2019-2020 academic year, WPLP Fellows will complete a full-time, paid Principal Residency and will graduate in May 2020. Following graduation, in exchange for the scholarship they received, Fellows will serve in high-need schools in WCPSS for at least four years.

Mrs. Karen Anderson serves as the WPLP Program Director. Karen attended North Carolina State University as a NC Teaching Fellow and earned a B.S. in Elementary Education. She also successfully completed the Piedmont Triad Leadership Academy and earned a Master of School Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Most recently she received her Educational Specialist (Ed.S) degree from Appalachian State University specializing in leading and promoting high-quality student achievement. Her experiences as a teacher, curriculum facilitator, assistant principal, and principal solidified her desire and passion for joining NC State’s Principal Preparation team in their pursuit of excellence in education.

Learn more about the WPLP Fellows by reading their brief biographies below.

WPLP Fellows

Jessica Currin

Jessica graduated with honors from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a K-6 Teaching License. Jessica has worked in the Wake County Public School System since 2008, first as a third-grade teacher and later as a Title One Math Coach. She currently serves as a Magnet Coordinator, pioneering the Environmental Connections Magnet Program at Lincoln Heights Magnet Elementary School. In addition to these roles, she has had many leadership opportunities which include Grade Chair, PBIS Chair, MTSS Chair, Leadership Team Member, Beginning Teacher Mentor, SIP Math Committee Chair and Testing Co-Coordinator. Jessica can be reached at jppike@ncsu.edu.

Erica Everett

Erica graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies with a minor in History. She then earned her Master of Education degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Lynchburg College in Lynchburg Virginia. She taught Elementary Reading and Writing for the first four years of her teaching career. After her first year of teaching in Durham, at a charter school, she taught Social Studies in Mungyeoung, South Korea. Upon returning from South Korea, she transitioned into teaching in Wake County, where she co-led Equity teams and Caucuses, conducted professional development for staff, and served as a member of the Intervention Team at Moore Square Magnet Middle School. Erica led the Policy Project Initiative as a member of the Leadership Council of the Beginning Teacher Leadership Network. She is working on co-writing a Social Justice elective for Wake County Magnet schools curriculum. Erica is currently serving as a sixth grade Social Studies teacher at Moore Square Magnet Middle School. She can be reached at eeveret@ncsu.edu.

Taylar Flythe

Taylar earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Grades Education from East Carolina University in May 2012. After graduation, she began teaching sixth grade science at Ligon Middle School in Raleigh, NC. Taylar served many roles at Ligon, including Grade Level Team Lead, Science Department Chair, and Cooperating Teacher. She was also an active member of the School Improvement Team, Equity Team, and Magnet Recruitment Team. In 2015, Taylar was selected as a Kenan Fellow and worked on a project creating Citizen Science projects within the Genomics lab at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Taylar has written curriculum products for a variety of middle grades science objectives and was recognized as a Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist in 2017. Taylar is currently serving as Magnet Coordinator and University Liaison at Centennial Campus Middle School in Raleigh, NC. She can be reached at tbflythe@ncsu.edu.

Erica Fox

Erica graduated with honors from Miami University of Ohio and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Environmental Principles and Practices. She was a 2013 Teach For America corps member in Eastern North Carolina and served her commitment at Northwest Halifax High School as a special education science teacher. She currently teaches at Garner Magnet High School in Wake County as a special education reading teacher. Erica is also a member of the School Improvement Team and the Instructional Leadership Team. She can be reached at eafox7@ncsu.edu.

Waun Fulton

Linwaun (Waun) earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He worked with the Carolina College Advising Corps, serving as a college advisor in Warren County high schools. He has also served as an advisor for Student Government Association and Students Against Violence Everywhere. He later returned to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and obtained his Master of Education in School Counseling. He currently serves as a school counselor at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School. Waun can be reached at Ljfulton@ncsu.edu.

Jesse Gore

Jesse earned an undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Language Arts and Social Studies and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, both from NC State. Jesse was recognized as Dillard Drive Middle School’s Teacher of the Year and as a Wake County Teacher of the Year Finalist in 2016. Jesse spent the first seven years of his teaching career at Dillard Drive Middle School as a social studies and language arts teacher, where he also served as Leadership Team Chair, Yearbook Advisor, and Mentor. Jesse will serve as an Instructional Coach at Apex Friendship Middle School in the 2018-2019 school year. He can be reached at jhgore@ncsu.edu.

Cally Hudson

Cally graduated from Wake Forest University as a double major in Psychology and Health and Exercise Science. She is a certified Science, Math and Special Education Teacher. She was a 2013 Metro-Atlanta Teach for America Corps member teaching at Maynard Jackson High School in Atlanta. She has taught 9th grade biology at Knightdale High School of Collaborative Design for the past three school years. Cally is also a leader of the Capturing Kids Hearts Process Champion team at her school, leading professional developments during the summer for staff members. She can be reached at cahudso2@ncsu.edu.

Kate Miller

Kate earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Meredith College. She also attended East Carolina University, where she earned a teaching license in Special Education and a Master of Education degree in Special Education with a concentration in Learning Disabilities. She serves on the Instructional Learning Team for her school representing Special Education and the SIT. She is also the chair of the SIT and of the Special Education Department. Kate currently teaches Special Education Math at Holly Ridge Middle School. She can be reached at kmwilli6@ncsu.edu.

Sara Morey

Sara earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Binghamton and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Bridgeport. She was a Kenan Fellow from 2010-2012 working with the Forest Biotechnology lab at NC State University. She has been a mentor teacher for eight years and also served as a cooperating teacher to several student interns. She has served as the PLT leader for Biology, participated on the School Improvement Team and was part of the Bring Your Own Device initiative at Middle Creek High School. She has been involved in student activities serving as an adviser for the Marine Biology club, was a coach for Science Olympiad, and was an adviser for National Honor Society. She also worked for North Carolina Virtual Public Schools for a few years and served as a Course lead for OCS Biology. Sara is currently serving as a Biology teacher and Department Chair for the Science Department at Middle Creek High School. She can be reached at sekelly3@ncsu.edu.

Monica Noa

Monica graduated Summa Cum Laude from Winston Salem State University where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Middle Grades Education – English Language Arts and Social Studies. As an undergraduate, she was a Millennium Teaching Scholar and a Chancellor Scholar. She also earned a Master of Education degree from Elon University in Gifted Education. Monica worked with 6th grade Language Arts in Durham Public Schools on curriculum development and improving instruction. Monica currently teaches 8th Grade Language Arts at East Wake Middle School in Raleigh, NC. She also serves as the Language Arts Department Chair, 8th Grade Level Chair, and on the Restart Team. She can be reached at mbball@ncsu.edu.

Heather Peaden

Heather Peaden earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University. She has taught all subject areas of 3rd grade and 5th grade at Underwood GT Magnet Elementary School. Heather served as the co-School Improvement chair for two years, after being a long-time member of the Leadership/SIP team. She has also been a member of the MTSS team, PBIS team, and the Discovery Teacher Leader Corps. Heather is currently serving as a third grade teacher at Underwood Elementary School. She can be reached at hapeaden@ncsu.edu.

Sarita Shaw

Sarita earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She has taught Kindergarten, First, and Fourth Grade. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year for the 2013-2014 school year. She has served as a member of the Discovery Education Teacher Leader Corps, where she provided digital literacy and technology training to teachers, a K-2 Literacy Coach, an Instructional Resource Teacher, the School Improvement Team Chair, a Teacher Mentor, a member of the Instructional Leadership Team, and a Professional Development Facilitator for Project READY-Re-imagining Equity and Access for Diverse Youth. During the 2018-2019 school year, Sarita will be a K-5 Instructional Resource Teacher and a K-2 Literacy Coach. She can be reached at smshaw@ncsu.edu.

Rozanne Todd

Rozanne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Bowling Green State University and earned additional certifications for Special Education, Middle School Language Arts, Middle School Math, and Middle School Social Studies. These enabled her to teach in the Elementary, Middle, and High School levels in both Regular and Special Education positions as well as with the ELL Intersession program. She is a member of the MTSS/Instructional Leadership Team, SIT team, SIT Special Topics Committee, School Safety Team, Progress Monitoring Implementation Committee, and is a BT Mentor. Rozanne also provides in-house and community professional development on serving students with disabilities in the general education setting. Rozanne currently teaches in the Apex High Special Education Department as an Occupational Course of Study instructor and was elected by her peers as the 2018-19 Teacher of the Year. She can be reached at retodd2@ncsu.edu.

Gladys Washington

Gladys earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from North Carolina Central University. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year for the 2005-2006, 2010-2011 and 2015-16 school years at Brooks Museums Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh. She is a mentor for new teachers, grade level chairperson, a member of the School Improvement and Leadership Team and an active member of the Safe and Healthy Schools Committee. Gladys currently teaches fourth grade students at Brooks. She can be reached at gmwashi2@ncsu.edu.