Tag Archive for: #excellenceineducationbanquet

Vance County Schools ‘Excellence In Education’ Honorees Recognized At June 11 Ceremony

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— information courtesy of Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools honors the 2025 Educators of Excellence: Brian Schlessinger of Vance County Early College as Teacher of the Year, Simone Harris of Vance County Middle as Beginning Teacher of the Year, LaVonda Williams of Pinkston Street Elementary as Assistant Principal of the Year, and Dr. Carnetta Thomas of E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy as Principal of the Year.

The awards were presented at the district’s annual Excellence in Education banquet, which was held on Wednesday, June 11 at the Henderson County Club. The banquet honored teachers, staff and administrators from across the district, representing their respective schools.

Schlessinger and Thomas will represent Vance County Schools will advance to the regional competitions for Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year, respectively.

Schlessinger was named Vance County Schools 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. Schlessinger earned his Bachelor of Education in Secondary Social Studies from PennWest Edinboro in Edinboro, PA. He earned a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from Grand Canyon University.  He has been in education for 10 years and is the Lead Social Studies Teacher at Vance County Early College.  He shared a meaningful quote by Julia Child that captured his perspective: “The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It’s doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile.”

Beginning Teacher of the Year

Harris, a Vance County Middle School science teacher, was recognized as the 2025-2026 Beginning Teacher of the Year. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology Education from Church Teachers’ College in Mandeville, Jamaica. She has been with Vance County Schools since 2023 but has 10 years of experience as an educator. She shared, “I am truly honored and humbled to receive this recognition. It affirms my passion for teaching and my commitment to inspiring students to explore, question, and discover the wonders of science every day.”

Assistant Principal of the Year

Williams is the VCS 2025-2026 Assistant Principal of the Year and serves as an Assistant Principal at Pinkston Street Elementary.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Mt. Olive and a Master’s Degree in School Administration from North Carolina State University. Williams began her career in education in 2009 with Vance County Schools. She strives to be impactful and make a difference with a quote from Maya Angelou at the forefront of all she does: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Principal of the Year

Thomas, principal at E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, was recognized as the 2025-2026 Principal of the Year. Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from North Carolina Central University. She earned her Doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. She has been in education since 2001 and was the District Principal of the Year in 2018-2019. She shared a quote from Jack Welch that guides her: “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”

2025-2026 Vance County Schools Teacher of the Year Nominees: 

  • Nino Robles, AdVance Academy
  • Tamekia Thompson, Aycock Elementary
  • Fe McCoy, Carver Elementary
  • Ebony Jones, Clarke Elementary
  • Patricia Roberson, Dabney Elementary
  • Amber Baker, E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy
  • Orlinda Terry, E.O. Young Elementary
  • Christian Alexander, L.B. Yancey Elementary
  • Tina Terry, New Hope Elementary
  • Jennivise Lindsay, Pinkston St. Elementary
  • Christian Salinas, STEM Early High
  • Brian Schlessinger, Early College
  • Bobbi Parks, Vance County High
  • Len Manley, Vance County Middle
  • Penny Britty, Vance Virtual Village
  • Mary Landis, Zeb Vance Elementary

2025-2026 Vance County Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year Nominees:

  • Gay Charisse, Advance Academy
  • Hadassah Dixon, Aycock Elementary
  • Hailey Stroud, Carver Elementary
  • Shakera Roach-Thompson, Clarke Elementary
  • Natasha Williams, Dabney Elementary
  • Constance Seward, E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy
  • Marcia Cobbs, E.O. Young Elementary
  • Kimberley Reid, L.B. Yancey Elementary
  • JaCari Diggs, New Hope Elementary
  • Kaylom Crawley, Pinkston St. Elementary
  • Alexandra De Guzman, STEM Early High School
  • Ashley Bolling, Vance County Early College
  • Cortez Jones, Vance County High
  • Simone Harris, Vance County Middle School
  • Munirah Ali, Vance Virtual Village
  • Jeffrey Bagagnan, Zeb Vance Elementary

2025-2026  Vance County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year Nominees: 

  • McShell Edmonds, Vance County High
  • Facetia Branch, Vance County Middle
  • LaVonda Williams, Pinkston Street Elementary
  • Harold Thompson, Zeb Vance Elementary

2025-2026 Vance County Schools Principal of the Year Nominees:

  • Shannon Bullock, L.B. Yancey Elementary
  • Carnetta Thomas, EM Rollins STEAM Academy
  • Joy Suther, Zeb Vance Elementary
  • Letitia Fields, New Hope Elementary
  • Edward Ortega, STEM Early High

Vance County Schools Honors Top Teachers, Administrators At ‘Excellence in Education’ Banquet

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Vance County Schools honored the district’s top educators at its annual Excellence in Education banquet Thursday evening at the Henderson Country Club.

Jozette Broughton of New Hope Elementary was named Teacher of the Year and Khris-Tina Stewart-Hendricks of Vance County High was selected as the Beginning Teacher of the Year, Top administrators included Facetia Branch of Vance County Middle as Assistant Principal of the Year, and Dr. Nealie Whitt III of Vance County High as Principal of the Year.

VCS Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett said, “Being a part of the recognition of our Educators of Excellence is always such an honor. Vance County has some of the best educators in North Carolina, while we can only recognize a few of those stellar educators, I continue to be humbled by their commitment to children by ensuring they are on the path to a successful future.”

The top winners will represent Vance County at the regional level.

A little about last night’s honorees:

  • Broughton earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Strayer University. She has been in education for more than 20 years, and has been at New Hope Elementary for the past four years. She has a new role – that of an instructional facilitator – at the school.

Currently working on her National Board for Professional State Standards, Broughton said she plans to elevate her work through continued memberships in professional organizations and professional development in instruction.

  • Stewart-Hendricks teaches history at Vance County High School, She received a degree in Sociology from the University of the West Indies and is in her third year of teaching with Vance County Schools.  With plans to pursue a master’s degree in Psychology, Stewart-Hendricks said her classroom experience has highlighted the correlation of social and emotional wellness and academic success. She aims to develop effective strategies to support students, enhance their educational experience, and foster their enthusiasm for learning.
  • Branch is an assistant principal at Vance County Middle School. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from N.C. Central University and a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Special Education from East Carolina University. She continued her education at Strayer University with a master’s of Public Administration and at Gardner-Webb University with a master’s of Education in School Leadership.
  • Whitt is principal at Vance County High. He earned a bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health with an emphasis in Secondary Education from N.C. Central University and has a master’s in Educational Administration and a Specialist Degree from Grand Canyon University. Whitt also has a doctorate in Educational Administration at the University of Southern Mississippi.

2024-2025 Vance County Schools Teacher of the Year Nominees:

  • Nino Robles, AdVance Academy
  • Stephanie Sewell-Brown, Aycock Elementary
  • Lillian King, Carver Elementary
  • Cassandra Chartier, Clarke Elementary
  • Justin Wrenn, Dabney Elementary
  • Ebony Watkins, E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy
  • Christina Welch, E.O. Young Elementary
  • Estelle Mangum, L.B. Yancey Elementary
  • Jozette Broughton, New Hope Elementary
  • Laura Brown, Pinkston St. Elementary
  • Jean Marie Munroe-Criddle, STEM Early High
  • Eva Jennings, Vance County Early College
  • Wennie Perez, Vance County High
  • Deris Mora, Vance County Middle
    ● Cynthia Schlessinger, Vance Virtual Village
  • Venessa Lalor-Lofters, Zeb Vance Elementary

2024-2025 Vance County Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year Nominees:

  • Dian Bowers, Advance Academy
  • Sharnakay Plummer, Aycock Elementary
  • Tressy Person, Carver Elementary
  • Nordette Givens, Clarke Elementary
  • Nichole Campbell-Gordon, Dabney Elementary
  • Danielle Brissett, E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy
  • Hailey Reavis, E.O. Young Elementary
  • Keita Kelly Lamay, L.B. Yancey Elementary
  • Carolina Carraway, New Hope Elementary
  • Ma Viance Estrosos, Pinkston St. Elementary
  • Edna Celis, STEM Early High School
  • Vance County Early College, Angelique Bagagnan
  • Khris-Tina Stewart Hendricks, Vance County High
  • Venice Arellano, Vance County Middle School
  • Raymond Pagayon, Vance Virtual Village
  • Niya Sneed, Zeb Vance Elementary

2024-2025 Vance County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year Nominees: ● McShell Edmonds, Vance County High

  • Facetia Branch, Vance County Middle
  • LaVonda Williams, Pinkston Street Elementary

2024-2025 Vance County Schools Principal of the Year Nominees: ● Dr. Shannon Bullock, L.B. Yancey Elementary

  • Dr. Carnetta Thomas, EM Rollins STEAM Academy
  • Dr. Nealie Whitt III, Vance County High
  • Nowell Brooks, Advance Academy

Vance Co. Schools Celebrates Top Educators at Excellence in Education Banquet

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools celebrated the accomplishments and talents of the district’s top educators at the annual Excellence in Education Banquet held on September 11, at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson.

During the event, an audience of about 150 people watched as Angela Cusaac, now a teacher at Vance County High School, received the prestigious award for Vance County Schools Teacher of the Year for 2018-2019. Cusaac was presented a very nice trophy by Superintendent Anthony Jackson. She also received a new Toyota Camry from Henderson Toyota to drive for the next year as the district’s top representative for local teachers. Cusaac was selected last school year as the Teacher of the Year for Southern Vance High School. She competed for the coveted district Teacher of the Year title with a field of 14 other outstanding educators chosen as their respective school’s Teacher of the Year.

Davia Johnson, who last year was the Teacher of the Year for Eaton-Johnson Middle School, was named the runner-up in the district competition to Cusaac. Johnson now teaches at Vance County Middle School.

Dr. Carnetta Thomas, principal of L.B. Yancey Elementary School, was named the Vance County Schools Principal of the Year for 2018-2019. She also received a nice acrylic trophy for her award.

The Vance County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year for 2018-2019 is Lemondre Watson, who was nominated for the award when he was an assistant principal last year at Eaton-Johnson Middle School. He is now an assistant principal at Vance County Middle School.

Finally, the district named Donna Stratmon, who last year taught at Northern Vance High School, as the Vance County Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year for 2018-2019. Stratmon now teaches at Vance County High School.

Those nominees for the Vance County Schools Teacher of the Year included: Cusaac of Southern Vance High School; Johnson of Eaton-Johnson Middle School; Sarah Jeffries of Aycock Elementary School; Mary Bowers-Taylor of Carver Elementary School; Connie Krupa of Clarke Elementary School; Sharonda Bullock-Morton of Dabney Elementary School; Linda Villa of New Hope Elementary School; Nicola Dobbs of Pinkston Street Elementary School; Regina Hilliard of E.M. Rollins Elementary School; Tameka Brown Burwell of L.B. Yancey Elementary School; Katie Tielking of E.O. Young, Jr. Elementary School; Vanessa Davis of Zeb Vance Elementary School; Cherie Dixon of Henderson Middle School; Nordia McLaughlin of STEM Early High School; and Sheri Evans-Bailey of AdVance Academy.

The nominees for Principal of the Year, along with Thomas, were Kristian Herring of Zeb Vance Elementary School (now STEM Early High School); Rey Horner of Southern Vance High School (now Vance County High School); and Stephanie Ayscue of AdVance Academy.

Educators nominated for the district’s Assistant Principal of the Year in addition to Watson were Joy Suther of Dabney Elementary School; Letitia Fields of Zeb Vance Elementary School; Kevin Ross of Northern Vance High School (now Vance County Middle School); and Darwin Carter of AdVance Academy.

Nominees for the Beginning Teacher of the Year award with Stratmon were Craig Harris of New Hope Elementary School; Melissa Matterson of Pinkston Street Elementary School; Le’Cresha Henderson of E.M. Rollins Elementary School; Debian Blackwood of L.B. Yancey Elementary School; Sallie Nelson of Eaton-Johnson Middle School (now Vance County Middle School); Layla Aldousany of Early College High School; and Steven Myerscough of AdVance Academy.

Angela Cusaac, second from right, receives her Vance County Schools Teacher of the Year award from, left to right, Ed Wilson and Ruth Hartness, both members of the Vance County Board of Education, Superintendent Anthony Jackson and Kedecia Stewart, the school system’s Teacher of the Year last year from Pinkston Street Elementary School. (Photo Credit Vance Co. Schools)

Dr. Carnetta Thomas, second from left, receives her Vance County Schools Principal of the Year Award from Superintendent Anthony Jackson, left, as they are joined by Ruth Hartness, Ed Wilson and Vance County Schools Principal of the Year for 2017-2018 Kristen Boyd of Aycock Elementary School. (Photo Credit Vance Co. Schools)

Lemondre Watson holds his trophy as the Vance County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year after he was presented the award by Superintendent Anthony Jackson. With them are Ruth Hartness, Ed Wilson and Dr. Jacqueline Batchelor-Crosson, last year’s Assistant Principal of the Year who is now principal of Pinkston Street Elementary School. (Photo Credit Vance Co. Schools)

Donna Stratmon holds her Beginning Teacher of the Year award as she is joined by, from left, Ed Wilson, Ruth Hartness and Superintendent Anthony Jackson. (Photo Credit Vance Co. Schools)