School & District News
Last year at Moss Hill Elementary School, a small group of students began meeting with a simple purpose: learn the tools on their iPads well enough to help others use them better. What started as the Moss Hill Tech Team has now grown into Student Innovation Teams in every school across Lenoir County Public Schools.
The idea is straightforward, but the impact is anything but small. Students are not just completing assignments on a device. They are building presentations from the ground up, animating ideas, troubleshooting problems, and walking into classrooms ready to support both peers and teachers.
For 8th grader Amado Ray at Contentnea-Savannah K-8, joining the team meant taking a risk.
“It sounded like a good opportunity to learn more about technology and branch out my skills,” the student said. “I really stepped out of my comfort zone and gained new skills.”
That growth has been both practical and personal. Ray has learned how to animate in Keynote and design stronger presentations that carry over into everyday classwork. But the biggest change has been in confidence.
“I started communicating with people I didn’t even know existed,” Ray said. “That really helped my social skills.”
Across the district, that blend of technical skill and personal growth is intentional. Student Innovation Teams are structured to give students space to discover strengths they may not have realized they had.
“Instead of just using technology, they learn how to build with it, solve problems, and teach others,” said Megan Lawson, Digital Learning Specialist at Woodington Middle School. “They become creators and leaders, not just consumers.”
Lawson says the teams often bring together students who might never have crossed paths otherwise.
“They find a kinship with students they might have never met or worked with,” she said.
The district’s commitment to digital learning provides the foundation for that work. LCPS operates a 1:1 digital learning initiative, ensuring every student has access to a device, and 15 of its schools have been recognized as Apple Distinguished Schools. That recognition highlights campuses that demonstrate innovative use of technology to support teaching and learning, but district leaders say the real difference is what students do with those tools.
Towards the end of February, that student-centered approach was on full display when an Apple Professional Learning Specialist spent three days working directly with Student Innovation Teams from elementary, middle and high schools. The training strengthened students’ command of the Apple ecosystem, from video and photo workflows to apps like Keynote, Pages and Numbers, while also sharpening their ability to lead.
“The goal of this training is to build the student skill set, but also to build their ability to work side by side with other learners,” the specialist said. “If they’re going into a classroom to work with first graders, what’s the best way to teach and show them? We’re helping them develop communication skills and build on their strengths so they can contribute.”
In sessions that mixed grade levels, younger and older students collaborated, shared ideas and learned from one another.
“The unique power of this is pulling them together in the same room,” the specialist said. “We had elementary, middle, and high school students interacting, supporting each other, inspiring each other. That collaboration across grade levels is powerful.”
According to the specialist, the district’s model stands out nationally.
“I work in a lot of different places across the country on the national team, and I don't see anywhere that they have student innovation teams that are in every building, that are building their skill set and doing what Lenoir is doing with students,” she said.
Training also emphasized creative problem-solving. Students explored when to use specific tools and how to match the right app to the right idea.
“Knowing their tool belt has lots of tools on it and when to use those tools is very powerful,” the specialist said. “If a younger student says, ‘I want to make it rain,’ they know to use Keynote and animation. They understand what the apps can accomplish so they can guide other learners.”
Back at Contentnea-Savannah, that sense of shared purpose is just as important as the skills themselves.
“My favorite thing about the Innovation Team would probably have to be the camaraderie, the companionship, the family that we have,” Ray said. “Our slogan is ‘three halls, one paw.’”
As Student Innovation Teams continue to expand, their role is evolving. Members are not only supporting classmates but also partnering with teachers to create digital resources. In the process, they are strengthening leadership, communication, creativity and collaboration across every grade level.
What began as a single school initiative has become a districtwide culture shift. Students are stepping forward, sharing their expertise, and helping shape learning in their classrooms, one idea at a time.
Education leaders from across southeastern North Carolina gathered at Lenoir County Public Schools Wednesday for a regional meeting focused on collaboration, innovation and advancing student success.
The meeting brought together superintendents from North Carolina’s Southeast Region, along with Southeast Education Alliance Executive Director Kathy Spencer, to discuss shared priorities, regional initiatives and strategies to strengthen public education across the region.
Attendees also heard from State Superintendent Mo Green, who shared insights into his statewide strategic plan centered on achieving excellence in North Carolina public schools. Green discussed key focus areas within the plan, highlighting efforts to support student achievement, strengthen the educator workforce and enhance school support systems across the state.
“We were honored to host education leaders from across the region and to welcome Superintendent Green to Lenoir County,” said Brent Williams, superintendent of Lenoir County Public Schools. “Opportunities like this allow us to collaborate, share ideas and continue working together to provide the best possible educational experiences for our students.”
During the meeting, participants also engaged in additional collaborative discussions and activities focused on regional partnerships, innovative programming and ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting schools and communities.
The Southeast Education Alliance meetings provide a forum for district leaders to share best practices, discuss challenges and identify opportunities to enhance public education across the region.
Inside classrooms, gyms and media centers across Lenoir County Public Schools, science is not just a subject. It is a hands-on journey fueled by curiosity, experimentation and discovery.
That journey was on full display during the district’s annual Celebration of Science, where 82 students presented 53 projects that advanced from individual school science fairs. The projects reflected weeks of research, testing and data analysis, showcasing the depth of scientific thinking taking place across the district.
Students explored a wide range of topics, blending creativity with real-world applications. From investigating environmental concerns to testing engineering solutions and studying biological processes, each project highlighted the strong STEM foundation being built in LCPS classrooms.
The event also provided students with valuable experience sharing their work publicly. Participants explained their research to guests, answered questions and demonstrated the confidence that comes from truly understanding a subject.
“Science gives students the opportunity to ask questions about the world around them and then discover the answers through investigation,” said Christel Carlyle, director of middle grade education. “When students engage in scientific exploration, they develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that extend far beyond the classroom.”
That strong foundation carried beyond the district level. LCPS students made an exceptional showing at the Region 1 Science Fair, competing against students from 19 other counties across Eastern North Carolina. Twenty-nine LCPS students earned overall winner, honorable mention or special award recognition. In total, LCPS students accounted for 50% of all winning projects at the regional competition.
“The success of our students at regionals reflects the hard work, creativity, and support behind this year’s science fair,” said Dr. Stephanie Harrell, STEM coordinator for LCPS. “When students are encouraged to explore and innovate, amazing things happen.”
District leaders say those results are a reflection of consistent classroom instruction combined with opportunities for students to apply their learning through project-based experiences.
“Science fairs allow students to take ownership of their education,” Carlyle said. “When they design experiments, analyze results and present their findings, they are building confidence and communication skills while learning how to think like scientists.”
Events such as the Celebration of Science help reinforce those skills while inspiring students to pursue interests in science, technology and innovation. They also highlight the collaboration between teachers, families and the community in supporting student success.
As LCPS continues its STEM-focused initiatives, science remains a key starting point for encouraging exploration, creativity and achievement. Through hands-on learning opportunities and real-world problem solving, students are gaining the tools they need to succeed in school and in future careers.
More than $40,000 in grant awards will allow Lenoir County Public School educators to provide special
learning opportunities for thousands of students this school year, all thanks to the community’s support of
annual fundraising events championed by the Lenoir County Education Foundation and its parent
organization, the Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce.
Checks totaling $40,386 were distributed to 94 winners at 16 schools in December by a touring,
balloon-bearing prize patrol led by Chamber of Commerce President Cale Grady and LCPS
Superintendent Brent Williams. In its more than 20 years, the mini-grant program has never awarded
more money to more educators.
Two major fundraisers – the Education Foundation Superball Golf Tournament and the Chamber’s Adult
Spelling Bee – make the mini-grant effort possible at ever-increasing levels. Through participation,
sponsorships and individual donations, both fundraisers solicit support for LCPS classrooms from across
the county.
Mini-grants are capped at $500 each.
North Lenoir High School won the most mini-grants with 14. Northwest led elementary schools with
nine and Woodington paced middle schools with eight. Contentnea-Savannah, a k-8 school, won 10.
Winners by school were:
Banks – Jennifer Oliver, Nicole Harrison, Kelly Vinson, William Sawyer, Dawn Hill, the team of
Deanna Morris, Jessica Trull, Ashley Grady and Jessica Barber
La Grange – Jenna Manning, Kelsey Turner, Shavonda Brown, Jenny Daughety, Alicia Davis, Yvonne
Hardy, Brittany Holder
Moss Hill – Kristina Jones, Sharon Dellinger, Melissa Small, Lara Colie, Allyson Heath, April Lee,
Glenda Kennedy, the team of Cassie Wetherington, Riley Price and Valerie Jones
Northeast – Jordyn Gaskins, Yolonda Holmes, Roslinn Warren, Jennifer Johnson, Rachel Cohoon, the
team of Tamika Gaskill and Konya Houston
Northwest – the team of Stephaine Parris and Melissa Manning; the team of Kendall Cash, Ashley
Avery, Raelynn Sheffield and Hailey Forehand (two mini-grants); April Modlin; Heather Clark; Nicolette
Morgan; Kaitlyn Stroud; Rachel Hill; the team of Melissa Manning, Erin Greene, Emily Tribula, Ashley
Stephens and Katherine Hart
Pink Hill – Breanna Tyndall, Gina Daniels, Jodi Peele, Jennifer McLawhorn, Allie Padgett, Thomas
Earp, Skylar Pearson
Southeast – Victoria Goodall, Casey Godbold, Latoya Phillips
Southwood – Jamieson Griffin
Contentnea-Savannah – Adrienne Evans, Sullivan McRae, Timothy Sanderson, Kristin Taylor, Traci
Howard, Danielle Groseclose, Jessie Van Cura, Amanda Price, the team of Tracy Rayner and Diane
Tilghman, the team of Madison Bell, Lena Carroll, Melissa Barwick and Sarah Winnie
Frink – Pamela Pate, Samantha Hawkins, Lily Hartsell, Ashlynn Holloman
Woodington – Shannon Jones, Bryan Potter, Caroline Lancaster, Carolina Baker, Amelia Swenby, Haley
Quarles, Mari Hatcher Turner, Kelly Dawson Stainback
Early College High School – Dr. Travis Towne
Kinston – Crystal Payton-Demry, Laura Dove, Ashley Andrews
Learning Academy – Ella Joyner, Tonya Brooks, Marilyn BrimmageNorth Lenoir – Cameron Sherrer, Katie Bain-Herring, Samantha Newcomb, Brandi Stallings, Teresa
Harper, Kimberly Jenkins, Aaryn Fazakerly, Alicia Dale, Michelle Taylor, Christy Burkett, Brittany
Harrison, Joshua Wallace, Elizabeth Espino, the team of Breonna Baker and Teresa Harper
South Lenoir – Sydney Edwards, Courtney Strickland, Ashley Turnage
Career Development Month is a time when schools across the nation celebrate the importance of helping students explore their interests, build practical skills, and imagine the future that fits them best. In Lenoir County Public Schools, that commitment extends far beyond a single month. It is built into the daily work of helping students discover what is possible through hands-on learning, exploration, and strong partnerships with local industries.
At the center of this work is Workforce Ignite Lenoir, a new initiative that strengthens internships, job shadowing, and hands-on connections with local industry. Dr. Amy Jones, LCPS Director of Career and Technical Education, explained why this approach matters. “It empowers them to explore their strengths, build essential skills, and imagine a future filled with opportunity,” she said. “During Career Development Month, we are proud to partner with our schools and community to help every student take the next step toward a meaningful career.”
The path toward that future begins long before high school graduation. Pamela Pate, LCPS Middle School Career Development Coordinator, believes early exposure changes lives. “Career development in middle school offers students exposure to careers they may not know exist,” she said. “At home, you know what your parents do, but you don’t really know what is outside that spectrum.” To help broaden their view, she coordinates industry tours, brings programs like BetaBox to campus, and partners with Lenoir Community College to introduce students to hands-on fields. “We want them to be confident enough to ask questions,” she said. “Not just ‘how much does this job pay,’ but ‘how do I get there and what does this work mean.’”
Pate’s own story illustrates why exploration matters. “I started out as a dental assistant, and I did not like it,” she said. “Finding something you don’t like is just as valuable as finding something you do.” She went on to earn a degree in biology, worked in research, and later discovered a passion for teaching and STEM. “I have personally learned so much from visiting local industries,” she said. “There were businesses in Kinston I had never stepped into until I took students there.” She described moments when students suddenly connect with a speaker or a career in front of them. “I had three boys at one of our middle schools who hung on every word a Public Services employee said. They told me, ‘When I get to high school, I am going to apply for that internship.’ It sparked something in them they did not know existed.”
As students move into high school, Career Development Coordinators help them turn that spark into direction. At Kinston High School, Ashley Andrews sees her counseling background as an essential part of her work. “My counseling background helps me create a safe space where students feel seen and supported,” she said. “School counseling focuses on academic, career, and social emotional development, and I use that lens to focus on the whole child.” When she stepped into the CDC role, she felt immediately at home. “Being a CDC allows me to focus on the career piece, which is truly my passion,” she said. “I absolutely love helping students feel confident about their plans after high school.”
One project she is especially proud of is reinstating the National Technical Honor Society at Kinston High. “Working with the advisors to bring NTHS back is something we are really proud of,” Andrews said. “NTHS is just one example of the many opportunities that taking a Level I and Level II CTE course can provide.” In her daily work, she helps students prepare résumés, practice interviewing, explore apprenticeships, and meet professionals in fields they may never have considered. “There is an option for everybody,” she said. “My goal is for students to feel confident, no matter which path they choose.”
At both North Lenoir and South Lenoir, Brittany Harrison and Melanie Smith work closely with students to connect them to experiences that show them what is possible. Harrison, the district’s lead CDC, has spent nearly twenty years helping students explore the world beyond their own communities. “You do not know what you do not know,” she said. “Every opportunity helps students discover what they want and what they do not want.” Smith, who comes from a business education background, uses that foundation to help students understand the skills and expectations of the modern workplace. Whether coordinating job shadowing, supporting CTE teachers, or connecting students with local organizations, she plays a key role in making sure opportunities are accessible and relevant. Together, the full team of CDCs collaborates across schools to expand programs such as Careers on Wheels, district job fairs, guest speaker series, and career readiness workshops that prepare students for interviews and apprenticeships.
Harrison helps to coordinate many of the district’s most visible career programs, such as Careers on Wheels, fifth grade high school visits, and the districtwide job fair. She also supports preparation for apprenticeship interviews and job placement. Her philosophy is straightforward. “You don’t know what you don’t know,” she said. “Every opportunity helps students understand what they want and what they don’t want.”
Central to all of this work is the district’s partnership with local employers. Workforce Ignite Lenoir has strengthened these relationships and created new opportunities for students. “Crown Equipment has been an incredible partner,” Andrews said. “The apprenticeship program gives students a direct path into a skilled career.” The connection with Kinston Public Services has also grown. “Some of our students hear about public utilities or engineering for the first time when Kinston Public Services comes to speak,” Pate added. “And sometimes you can see right away that it clicks.”
LCPS students have also gained new opportunities with the Lenoir County Council on Aging, the Arts Council, the Down East Bird Dawgs, and several small businesses that have opened their doors to job shadowing and internships. “It could be two students or twenty,” Andrews said. “Any chance for them to step inside a workplace is a chance for them to grow.”
Dr. Jones sees these partnerships as essential to LCPS’s mission. “Our Career Development Coordinators collaborate closely with Career and Technical Education teachers, school counselors, and school administrators to ensure students are connected to experiences that align with their goals or help them discover new interests,” she said. “Through the Workforce Ignite Lenoir initiative, students participate in résumé workshops, interview practice sessions, workforce-focused field trips, competitive events, and many other experiences that prepare them for life after graduation.”
Across the district, students are gaining a clearer understanding of their own future paths. Elementary students begin with early awareness activities. Middle school students learn to ask questions and explore new fields. High school students prepare résumés, interact with employers, train for apprenticeships, and step into real workplaces. Career Development Day offers a national moment of recognition, but in LCPS the work happens all year long. As Dr. Jones summarized, “Career and Technical Education opens doors for students, and Workforce Ignite Lenoir places them on a focused and intentional pathway toward their future.”
Career development in Lenoir County Public Schools is rooted in exploration, empowerment, and community partnership. As students continue discovering what inspires them, the district remains committed to guiding them toward futures filled with opportunity and purpose.