SMITHFIELD – Several members of the Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) senior leadership team seized the opportunity to present at the 2024 North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) Annual Conference on Tuesday, November 19, in Greensboro, NC.
NCSBA is the professional organization that represents local boards of education in North Carolina. The member-driven association supports school governance teams, including school board members, superintendents, senior administrative staff, and board assistants by providing resources and guidance for governance teams throughout the state.
The annual conference hosts district leaders, such as school board members, superintendents, and members of senior leadership, from school districts throughout the state, providing a platform for attendees to engage in impactful information and training sessions, vendor exhibitions, networking opportunities, and collaborative learning.
JCPS was recently recognized as a high-performing school district after receiving outstanding results from the 2023-2024 school year. The district has also been recognized for its continued academic growth over the past five years, despite challenges presented by the pandemic, and was invited to present at the conference.
“I am extremely proud of our entire district, our recent success, and all the individuals who have contributed to our growth, including students, staff, and parents,” stated JCPS Superintendent Dr. Eric C. Bracy. “This level of achievement takes 100% effort from every single person involved, and when you get that level of commitment, great results happen.”
The upward trajectory of JCPS has not gone unnoticed and has provided unique opportunities to share strategies with other districts in various ways, including during the conference. “We are humbled to have shared our success stories and strategies with our colleagues throughout the state,” added Bracy. “We are advocates for education and desire for school districts and students to achieve success globally.”
The JCPS session was titled, “Board Governance + Instructional Leadership = High Performing School District”, allowing the team to share strategies and procedures that have contributed to JCPS’ recent academic success and consistent improvement. The team discussed curriculum, the importance of synergetic relationships between the board and leadership, accountability at all levels, goal setting and follow through, effective organizational structure, benchmarking, and more.
One point of emphasis throughout the presentation was effective school-based leadership and accountability. JCPS has three grade-level Area Superintendents, Patty Whittington (Elementary), Ken Byrd (Middle School), and Roderic Brewington (High School), who assist each of the 48 principals as liaisons, resource guides, and advisors.
Sharing JCPS’ processes and strategies during the conference was a meaningful experience for the session’s speakers and the entire district. “Presenting at the state-wide conference is a remarkable achievement, as it reflects the incredible progress we have made as a district and highlights our dedication to excellence,” stated Roderic Brewington. “Not only was it an opportunity for the district to continue celebrating its success, but also an opportunity for us to inspire and collaborate with others.” “It was a rewarding and humbling experience to share our intentional efforts to improve student outcomes with other districts across the state,” added Ken Byrd.
Among the presenters were Area Superintendent of Elementary Schools Patty Whittington and Dr. Takicey Dunston, Principal of Benson Elementary. Under the leadership of Dr. Dunston and the assistance of Area Superintendent Patty Whittington, the school has become one of multiple success stories. Benson Elementary improved in all areas, journeying from having a D school performance grade in 2019, to a B after the 2023-2024 school year.
Benson Elementary saw remarkable increases in reading (26 percentage points), math (30.5 percentage points), and performance composite (28.2%). Dr. Dunston attributes the success to great leadership, board governance, educators who are passionate about their profession, and brilliant students who love to learn. Benson Elementary was one of many JCPS schools that have made tremendous improvements, in turn, helping improve the district’s overall performance.
“We have had many schools show great improvements as a result of the hard work and intentionality of school leadership and teachers at all levels, and it is a great honor to share these stories with other school districts,” noted Patty Whittington. “Benson Elementary is one of several schools to have benefited from the current practices, which are ultimately focused on individual student success.”
The ultimate goal of JCPS is to ensure that each student has the best opportunities to receive quality instruction from top-notch educators, within safe learning environments that are conducive for academic excellence. When that criteria is met, students have their best chances to soar.
(JCPS News Release)
