SMITHFIELD – Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) administrators throughout the school district gathered at Cleveland High for the annual Leadership Conference held July 16-18, 2024.
JCPS organizes the conference each year to provide valuable information for administrators to learn and share with their school teams. On day one, the focus was curriculum and instruction. Day two consisted of departmental overviews and updates. Day three focused on policies and procedures, and school safety. JCPS School Resource Officers were celebrated for their continued efforts to ensure the safety of every campus.
The instructionally intensive format provided an opportunity for new administrators as well as veterans to enhance their leadership skills, and become even more proficient in their roles.
Selma Middle Assistant Principal Lisa Graham attended the annual event for the first time in 2023. Having completed her first year in the role, she was eager to attend the conference and learn more strategies and grow. “Having the opportunity to attend the leadership conference is beneficial because it helps me hone in on my skills, individually as well as being able to take back what I have learned to help my teachers, equip them, and motivate them to be prepared as our students return to school.”
For Virtual Academy Principal Joy Bryant, who recently joined the JCPS team, the conference was a chance for her to learn more about the school district, meet and collaborate with her new colleagues, and get an overall feel for JCPS as a whole. “This conference is giving me things to think about for teachers in ways I haven’t thought of before,” she said. “It’s also provided me with ideas of ways that I can springboard for the new school year.”
Veteran administrator South Johnston High Assistant Principal Brody Massengill looks forward to the Leadership Conference each year. “We’ve got a lot of great leadership in this county in all of our schools, and in the Central Office. It’s always important to get in small and large group discussions and bounce ideas off of each other,” he said.
Principals and assistant principals were dedicated to achieving the five year goal for all JCPS schools to achieve a letter grade of A,B, or C by 2024. JCPS Superintendent Dr. Eric C. Bracy excitedly reiterated the school district’s newest strategic plan goal, which is for JCPS to be in the top 20 school districts in North Carolina by 2029. He encouraged school leaders to continue building on the success they attained in the last four years, even in the midst of a pandemic.
The conference’s grand finale was the announcement of 2024-2025 principal and assistant principal of the year. Corinth Holders High Principal Melissa Hurst was named the JCPS 2024-2025 Principal of the Year. Assistant Principal of Riverwood Elementary Shannon Pawlak received JCPS 2024-2025 Assistant Principal of the Year award.
