RALEIGH, N.C. ⸺ Kerri Hampton, a teacher at North Buncombe Middle School in Buncombe County Schools, has been awarded a 2026–27 Kenan Fellowship to continue expanding Ready, Set, Resilience, a research-backed program that uses nature-based storytelling to help students build resilience.

Hampton teaches 7th-grade English Language Arts at North Buncombe Middle School. She is one of 36 teachers awarded a Kenan Fellowship this year. Duke University Marine Lab and the NC State Environmental Education Lab support her fellowship.

Hampton’s fellowship centers on Ready, Set, Resilience, a middle school program that draws on lessons from nature to help students navigate personal and communal hardships. The program was developed through a collaboration between Duke University and NC State researchers, resilience practitioners and North Carolina educators. It has expanded to eight school districts across the state, including communities affected by Hurricane Helene.

More than 100 educators from eight public school districts have worked with Ready, Set, Resilience materials. Recent expansion into Yancey and Buncombe counties has brought the program to communities still recovering from Hurricane Helene, where teachers have used it to equip students with resilience skills to help them find a path forward.

Step Into the Field. Return to the Classroom With New Vision.

Hampton first participated in Ready, Set, Resilience professional development in 2024. She has since been implementing the curriculum in her classroom. The program’s approach resonated with her own teaching philosophy and continues to inspire her professional growth.

“I’m drawn to the Kenan Fellows Program because it blends real-world collaboration, teacher leadership, and professional curiosity, keeping both my students and me energized,” she said.

Partner Shoulder to Shoulder Across Communities

The Kenan Fellows Program’s partnerships with Duke University Marine Lab and the NC State Environmental Education Lab reflect a shared commitment to building environmental literacy and resilience among North Carolina’s students.

“We are so excited to partner with Kenan and welcome Kerri Hampton to work with us at the Duke Marine Lab this summer! Kerri impressed us with her creativity and passion, and we look forward to creating educational resources with her.” Dr. Liz DeMattia, Duke University Marine Lab

As part of the fellowship, Hampton will receive 80 hours of professional development and $5,000 to support their work. She joins a statewide network of 680 Kenan Fellows alumni who support one another, share resources and stay in education longer as a result.

“Our partnerships with Duke University Marine Lab and the NC State Environmental Education Lab position teachers as collaborators in some of the most meaningful research happening in North Carolina today. That investment returns to schools and communities across the state,” said Vance Kite, director of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership.

About Duke University Marine Lab Community Science Initiative

Duke Marine Lab’s Community Science Initiative (CSI) was created in 2017 with a mission to increase meaningful opportunities for local students, teachers, the general public, and scientists to engage through public participation in environmental research. Led by Dr. Liz DeMattia, CSI’s core programs include K-12 educational outreach, teacher training, citizen science, and high school and undergraduate student mentoring.

About the NC State Environmental Education Lab

The NC State EE Lab is led by Dr. Kathryn Stevenson in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at NC State. They study both the benefits of nature for children as well as how to best support youth in shaping conversations around the environment in their own communities. Dr. Stevenson and her team of students support Ready, Set, Resilience with evaluation and research.  

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.