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