RALEIGH, N.C.⸺Nine K-12 educators from eight North Carolina districts have been awarded Kenan Fellowships to spearhead a clean energy workforce development initiative. Supported by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, this program equips teachers to help students enhance their STEM skills and introduce them to career opportunities within this vital sector.
Investing in Educator Leadership
Recognizing the need for clean energy workforce development, this initiative strategically invests in the leadership potential of these nine educators, who join a statewide cohort of 30 Kenan Fellows for 2025-26. Their work will focus on building links between local industries and schools, showcasing regional career opportunities in clean energy for students.
The nine educators leading this year’s initiative are listed below, with their headshots appearing above in the same order.
- Laurel Currie, Pitt County Schools
- Atiba D. Bethea Sr., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Jodie Washington, Halifax County Schools
- Michael Giddens, Sampson County Schools
- Tanya Novakowski, Duplin County Schools
- Alexis Moore, Durham Public Schools
- Matthew Murchison-Blake, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Bill Vincent, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Rebekah Morse, Polk County Schools
Multi-Year Program for Educator Training
Now in its third year, this initiative is part of a multi-year program designed to train 32 educators total. The impact of previous cohorts is evident in the projects that previous cohorts developed, such as STEM lessons, STEM Day events, apprenticeship websites, and career fairs.
This summer, these nine Fellows will gain firsthand experience in the clean energy industry through three-week placements with host organizations. Through job shadowing and direct interaction with employees, they will connect abstract STEM concepts to tangible workplace applications and develop clean energy-focused projects for their students and colleagues.
NC DEQ Support Fuels Energy Workforce Pathways
“Thanks to the support of the NC Department of Environmental Quality, this effort will strengthen clean energy workforce pathways across North Carolina, raising students’ awareness of promising career pathways in their home communities,” noted Vance Kite, director. “By investing in the professional growth of educators, we are building a stronger bridge between the skills needed in the clean energy workforce and the learning happening in our classrooms.”