RALEIGH, N.C. ⸺ Two western North Carolina teachers have been awarded 2026–27 Kenan Fellowships supported by Meta, each working alongside a different organization to deepen their connection to the community they serve. Together, Culbreth and Lewis are two of 36 teachers awarded Kenan Fellowships this year.

Rachel Culbreth, a teacher at Polk Central Elementary School in Polk County Schools, will spend three weeks this summer immersed in Biltmore Farms, a multi-faceted company that has been cultivating land and spurring economic development in western North Carolina since 1897. Her project, “Towards a Hospitable World,” will draw on Biltmore Farms’ commitment to wellness, educational enrichment, and sustainability to create a resource that connects students to those values in their own community.

Shelby Lewis, a teacher at Hendersonville High School in Henderson County Schools, will work with the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), a nonprofit serving the 23 counties of western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary. ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and build healthy communities through local food. Lewis’s project, “Local Food, Strong Farms, Healthy Communities,” will result in a resource shared with after-school programs statewide.

“At Meta, we believe strong communities start with strong schools. Western North Carolina is home to our Forest City Data Center, and investing in teachers like Rachel and Shelby is one of the most meaningful ways we can give back to the region we call home. Sustainability is a core value in how we build some of the industry’s most advanced data centers. It’s inspiring to see both of these fellowships rooted in that same commitment — connecting students to the land and local food systems,” stated Meta Community Development Technical Lead Manager Kelley McCall.

Partner Shoulder to Shoulder Across Communities

This initiative marks Meta’s seventh consecutive year of support for the Kenan Fellows Program, underscoring the company’s long-standing commitment to fostering industry-education partnerships in western North Carolina.

“The commitment from industry leaders like Meta enables us to equip teachers with the tools to build bridges between classroom learning and the demands of the evolving workforce,” said Vance Kite, director of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership.

As part of their fellowships, Culbreth and Lewis will each receive 80 hours of professional development and $5,000 to support their work during the fellowship. They join a statewide network of 680 Kenan Fellows alumni who support one another, share resources and stay in education longer as a result.

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.