RALEIGH, N.C. ⸺ North Carolina is one of the nation’s top egg-producing states. But most students are unaware of that fact. Nash County teacher Charisma Lee is changing that by taking students inside the industry.

Lee is among 36 teachers from across North Carolina and Virginia selected as 2026-27 Kenan Fellows by the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at N.C. State University. Her fellowship places her with NC Farm Bureau Federation, Ag in the Classroom, Nash County Farm Bureau and the North Carolina Egg Association, where she will learn firsthand about egg production across the state. Those organizations are also funding her fellowship.

Lee teaches fifth-grade science and social studies at Nashville Elementary School. She has led the school’s basketball program and served on its resiliency and data team since 2018.

“I am passionate about helping my students see how science and STEM concepts are used not just inside the classroom but outside the classroom, especially in industries that are important to North Carolina,” Lee said. “The Kenan Fellows Program provides a unique opportunity to learn directly from industry experts and turn those experiences into engaging, standards-based lessons.”

The centerpiece of her fellowship will be developing content for a North Carolina-specific Eggs Ag Mag, modeled on the established North Carolina Ag Mags series. The finished resource will offer facts and activities that help students, teachers and parents understand the scope and significance of the state’s egg industry.

”The Kenan Fellows Program aligns so well with Ag in the Classroom’s mission of educating all NC teachers and students about the importance of agriculture. Agriculture is the perfect example of an application of science, technology, engineering and math concepts being taught to our state’s youth. This Fellowship is going to be an invaluable experience for a local educator to use our egg industry to teach students about core concepts, careers and agriculture. The NC Eggs Ag Mag will be a great resource for teachers, students and the general public as a whole to learn about one of our state’s top agricultural industries. North Carolina Farm Bureau is proud to be a partner in this Fellowship,” said North Carolina Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding.

The Kenan Fellows Program positions teachers as collaborators with industry partners in building stronger communities. Fellows spend three weeks embedded in their host sites, learning alongside professionals who share the challenges and opportunities defining their industries. As a result, schools build stronger ties to nearby employers and students begin to see pathways for local careers.

“Agriculture is the backbone of North Carolina, and too few students understand the careers it supports. The teaching tool this fellow develops will live in classrooms across the state and give students a window into an industry that has always been part of their community,” said Vance Kite, director of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership.

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.