RALEIGH, N.C. ⸺ Two North Carolina teachers have been awarded 2026–27 Kenan Fellowships supported by the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science Board of Trustees and the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership Board of Advisors, each taking on a project that reflects the breadth of opportunity available to students across the state.

Emily DiNoto, a teacher at Manteo High School in Dare County Schools, will work with TCOM, L.P., a global leader in lighter-than-air platforms and elevated awareness solutions. Her project, “From the Surface to the Stratosphere,” will give her an inside look at the many career pathways available to students in this specialized and growing industry.

Breanna Morris, a teacher at Rosman Elementary School in Transylvania County Schools, will work with The Science House at NC State. Her project, “Strengthening the STEM Pipeline,” will focus on developing professional development and curricula around relevant current issues and local topics. Morris’s fellowship will also connect to the Kenan Fellows Program’s NC Resiliency initiative, which supports efforts to gather resources for a teacher support package in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Together, DiNoto and Morris are two of 36 teachers awarded Kenan Fellowships this year.

As part of their fellowships, DiNoto and Morris will each receive 80 hours of professional development and a $5,000 stipend. They join a statewide network of 680 Kenan Fellows alumni who support one another, share resources and stay in education longer as a result.

“These two fellowships show the full range of what this program can do. From aerospace technology on the coast to STEM workforce development in the mountains, both teachers will return to their classrooms with experiences that change what their students can imagine for themselves. That is the return on investing in teachers,” 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.