RALEIGH, N.C —This summer, Kim Smith will step inside the Nutrien Aurora facility for an immersive industry experience to see firsthand how the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services connects rural Eastern North Carolina to global food production.

Smith teaches fourth and fifth grades at Northeast Elementary School in Beaufort County and holds National Board Certification. She is one of 36 teachers awarded Kenan Fellowships for the 2026–27 fellowship year. The fellowship is designed to do what traditional professional development rarely does: place a teacher directly inside the workforce her students may one day enter.

This is the second time in recent years that Nutrien has sponsored a Kenan Fellowship, a signal of the company’s commitment to workforce education in the communities surrounding its North Carolina operations. Smith comes to the fellowship with a clear sense of how this opportunity will benefit her students.

“In our area, the impact of potential community partnerships could be extremely beneficial for our students by giving them authentic learning experiences,” she stated. “While my 5th-grade students study ecosystems, collaborating with local partners could deepen their understanding of science standards and show them how classroom learning connects to their own community.”

The Aurora facility sits 18 miles from Northeast Elementary, yet most of Smith’s students may not know a global industry is operating in their backyard. The fellowship aims to change that, connecting her students to the science and industry taking shape right outside their classroom door.

“When we commit to teachers’ growth with intention and care, schools and communities benefit in lasting ways. That investment shows up every day in how they teach and what becomes possible for their students,” said Vance Kite, director of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership.

Building on a Partnership That’s Already Making an Impact

In the 2024–25 fellowship year, the first Nutrien-supported Kenan Fellow brought 40 middle school students to the Aurora facility for a tour of its phosphate operations. Students walked the floor, talked to workers, and gained a clearer picture of how STEM skills translate into jobs close to home. Smith’s fellowship builds on that foundation.

“When we invest in teachers, we invest in entire communities. Teachers carry that experience back to their classrooms and share it with every student they teach, and that ripple effect is exactly why we’re proud to support the Kenan Fellows Program. Educators who understand the world their students are growing up in are better equipped to inspire them, and that’s good for our community and our future,” said William Ponton, General Manager, Aurora Phosphate Operations. 

A Statewide Community That Keeps Teachers Growing.

Beyond her time at Nutrien, Smith will complete a capstone project based on her industry experience and receive 80 hours of professional development and a $5,000 stipend. She joins a statewide network of 680 Kenan Fellows alumni, a community that keeps teachers connected and, in the classroom, longer.

About Nutrien

Nutrien is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services, playing a critical role in helping growers increase food production sustainably. With a major presence in Beaufort County, N.C., Nutrien is committed to cultivating solutions that drive systemic change across agriculture. Learn more at nutrien.com.

About the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership

The Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership is a statewide force for teacher leadership and growth in North Carolina. Founded in 2000 and based at the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science at N.C. State University, the program invests in teachers through immersive industry experiences, professional development, and a strong, enduring community. Every investment returns to classrooms, schools and communities, advancing education and our communities’ future together. Learn more at kenanfellows.org