Provides professional development for aspiring superintendents
The North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD) and the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA) has announced the selection of the following as the recipients of the inaugural Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award:
- Dr. Ve-Lecia Council, Assistant Superintendent of the Pitt County Schools
- Dr. Jeremy Gibbs, Chief Academic Officer, Transylvania County Schools
- Dr. Heather Mullins, Chief Academic Officer of the Newton-Conover City Schools
- Dr. Otis Smallwood, Assistant Superintendent of the Jones County Schools.
The award is named in honor of Dr. Samuel Houston who is President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center, which is housed and supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. This annual award is presented to a graduate or graduates of the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development’s Aspiring Superintendent Program, a program which is designed to empower transformational education leaders for North Carolina’s public schools.
Dr. Houston served as superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District for ten years where he opened the first year round school in North Carolina. Throughout his career, Dr. Houston has championed for strategic planning, student performance and accountability, meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce, skills for the STEM world and building education partnerships. Dr. Houston also served as the first executive director of the University of North Carolina Center for Leadership Development.
Dr. Houston was awarded the Jay Robinson Leadership Award as an Exemplary Educator for his outstanding contributions to statewide public K – 12 education. He also earned the RJR-Nabisco Foundation’s China Breaker Award for implementing educational change. He has been inducted into the Appalachian State University Reich College of Education’s Rhododendron Society and the East Carolina University’s Education Hall of Fame and has received the Distinguished Career Award from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro School of Education.
The award recipients exemplify the traits that have guided Dr. Sam Houston’s career in educational leadership.
“I am very proud of these Dr. Sam Houston Leadership Award winners and look forward to seeing them progress in educational leadership,” said NCSAA Executive Director Jack Hoke. “They have a commitment to continuous improvement, high standards of ethical conduct, strategic planning, improving student performance and meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce.”
Each award winner was presented a check for $1000 to be used for personal professional development.
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