RALEIGH, N.C. – On National Teacher Day, the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at N.C. State University is pleased to announce the 24 North Carolina public school K-12 educators who have been awarded 2022–23 fellowships.
The educators represent 17 counties across the state from Western to Eastern North Carolina and teach a wide range of grade levels from elementary to high school. The teachers are subject matter experts in a variety of disciplines including science, Career Technical Education (CTE), social studies, and special education.
“Each year, we look forward to naming our newest cohort of teacher leaders and are grateful to the many partners and supporters who make these fellowship opportunities possible for educators across the state,” said Dr. Elaine Franklin, director of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership. “We are excited to see how this outstanding group of educators will leverage their fellowships to benefit their students, schools, and community.”
This summer, the 2022–23 Kenan Fellows will spend three weeks interning with local experts in agriculture, scientific research, high-tech manufacturing, and other STEM fields. As part of the award, Kenan Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend and participate in 80 hours of professional development that focuses on project-based instruction, digital learning, elevating teacher voice, strengthening ties between the school and the local community, and peer coaching and mentoring.
Making these connections are critical, as traditionally teachers often do not have the opportunity to engage with the world beyond their classroom. The Kenan Fellows Program provides teachers with the opportunity to work in industry and research settings and supports the translation of their internship experience into an array of instructional resources that are then shared with their schools, districts, and communities.
The fellowships are made possible through the generous support of the program’s corporate, education, government, and foundation partners including American Zinc Products (AZP), Ag in the Classroom, Biogen Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Dogwood Health Trust, Goodnight Educational Foundation, Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, NC State University, Meta, Randolph Electric Membership Corporation, Stokes County Farm Bureau, and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Established in 2000 as an initiative of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science at N.C. State University, the Kenan Fellows Program addresses the critical need for high-quality professional development for educators and is the largest (science, technology, engineering, and math) STEM-focused teacher fellowship in North Carolina. Today, a network of 540 Kenan Fellows is working to improve K-12 education statewide and nationwide.
Below is a list of the 2022–23 Kenan Fellows, their fellowship projects, their mentors, and supporters by school district.
BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOLS William Tyson | CAMDEN COUNTY SCHOOLS Jennifer Lilly | CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS Karen Kyei-Fordjour | CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS Charles Mikesell |
| CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS Alicia Moss | CHEROKEE CENTRAL SCHOOLS Nichole Efird | CHEROKEE CENTRAL SCHOOLS April Parrott | CHOWAN COUNTY (charter) Ryan Miller |
CURRITUCK COUNTY SCHOOLS Anita Rubino-Thomas | GREENE COUNTY SCHOOLS Emily Lahr | HENDERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS Courtney Najdek | HAYWOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS Sandra Hermida |
JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOLS Kathryn Moses | JOHNSTON COUNTY SCHOOLS Dorothy Holley | PITT COUNTY SCHOOLS Lindsey Stalls | POLK COUNTY SCHOOLS Jennifer Taylor |
RANDOLPH COUNTY SCHOOLS Mindy Thornlow | RUTHERFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS Annie McEntyre | STOKES COUNTY SCHOOLS Lisa Atkins | WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM Leslie Aguirre |
WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM Cherilyn Murray | WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM Jill Ray | WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM Emily Simpson | WAKE COUNTY (charter) Shannon Hardy |