"Enhancing, Promoting And Supporting Educational Leadership"
AWARDS & HONORS
2024 Dr. Brad Sneeden
Leadership Award
The North Carolina School Superintendents' Association (NCSSA) has announced the selection of Dr. Eisa Cox, Superintendent of Ashe County Schools, as the recipient of the Dr. Brad Sneeden Leadership Award. The award is presented in honor and recognition of a superintendent who has demonstrated a strong commitment to lifelong learning, unwavering integrity in leadership, and transformation of vision into action.
2024 NCSSA Dr. Dwayne Stallings Leadership Award
The North Carolina School Superintendents' Association (NCSSA) has announced the selection of Dr. Eric Cunningham, Superintendent of Halifax County Schools, as the recipient of the Dr. Dwayne Stallings Leadership Award. The award is presented in honor and recognition of a superintendent who has demonstrated a strong dedication to public education, commitment to academic excellence, and a continual focus on professional growth and student learning.
Previous Superintendent
of the Year Recipients:
2025 – Dr. Freddie E. Williamson, Robeson
2024 – Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr., Cumberland
2023 – Dr. Don Phipps, Caldwell
2022 – Dr. Valerie Bridges, Edgecombe
2021 – Dr. Brent Williams, Lenoir
2020 – Dr. Anthony Jackson, Vance
2019 – Dr. Patrick Miller, Greene
2018 – Dr. Janet Mason, Rutherford
2017 – Dr. Jim Merrill, Wake
2016 – Dr. Freddie E. Williamson, Hoke
2015 – Dr. Rodney Shotwell, Rockingham
2014 – Brady Johnson, Iredell-Statesville
2013 – Dr. Mark Adrian Edwards,
Mooresville City
2012 – Dr. Diane L. Frost, Asheboro
2011 – Dr. Donald L. Martin, Jr.,
Winston-Salem/Forsyth
2010 – Dr. Donna Cox Peters, Montgomery
2009 – Dr. Terry K. Holliday, Iredell-Statesville
2008 – Dr. Terry B. Grier, Guilford
2007 – Dr. Shirley B. Prince, Scotland
2006 – Dr. Larry E. Price, Wilson
2005 – Dr. James G. Merrill,
Alamance-Burlington
2004 – William R. McNeal, Jr., Wake
2003 – Dr. Edward D. Sadler, Jr., Gaston
2002 – Dr. Eric J. Smith, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
2001 – Dr. Neil G. Pedersen, Chapel Hill-Carrboro
2000 – Dr. Ann T. Denlinger, Durham
1999 – Dr. Jerry D. Weast, Guilford
1998 – Dr. James F. Causby, Johnston
1997 – Steven Wrenn, Lee
1996 – Douglas Scott Penland, Clay
1995 – Dr. John B. Dunn, Edenton-Chowan
1994 – Dr. Michael E. Ward, Granville
1993 – Charles L. Byrd, Hendersonville City
1992 – Dr. Travis Twiford,
Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Schools
1991 – Dr. James F. Causby, Polk
1990 – Dr. G. Thomas Houlihan, Granville
1989 – Dr. Emmett Malvin Floyd, Catawba
1988 – Dr. Cleveland Hammonds, Durham
Robeson County Superintendent Wins Burroughs Wellcome Fund 2025 A. Craig Phillips NC Superintendent Of The Year Award
GREENSBORO | Dr. Freddie Williamson, Superintendent of Public Schools of Robeson County (PSRC), was named the Burroughs Wellcome Fund 2025 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year at an awards presentation and banquet held Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Grandover Resort.
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This annual honor is presented jointly by the North Carolina
Association of School Administrators (NCASA), the North Carolina School Superintendents' Association (NCSSA) and the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) and includes a $5,000 award to the winner. The state award ceremony and selections process is sponsored by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF).
"In honoring the dedicated leaders vying for the Burroughs Wellcome Fund A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year Award, we celebrate the commitment to excellence in education that shapes the future of our students,” said Dr. Louis Muglia, President and CEO, Burroughs Wellcome Fund. “Their unwavering passion and innovative leadership inspire us all to strive for a brighter tomorrow in our state’s public schools."
Dr. Freddie Williamson has been serving in public education for nearly 40 years and has served as a superintendent in multiple districts throughout North Carolina. He joined PSRC as superintendent in 2021 in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon taking over as superintendent, Dr. Willamson quickly worked towards the needs of special education students and the inequities of instructional practices in his school district. His devotion to advocating for under-served students ensured all students in his district received access to high-quality instruction.
“To the Public Schools of Robeson County, what an honor it is to serve that great district as we continue to push forward, and it’s been said so much, … it means a lot that we can serve kids and that we can make a difference in their lives every single day,” said Dr. Williamson.
Jack Hoke, NCSSA’s Executive Director who presented the award, praised Dr. Williamson for his leadership that led to his receiving this state honor for the second time. Dr. Williamson also was the state’s Superintendent of the Year in 2016, while leading Hoke County Schools.
"It is a great honor to present Dr. Freddie Williamson with this award,” Hoke said. “Dr. Williamson has been a champion for children throughout his career as an educator. He is a great professional and held in high regard by those in his community and statewide by his peers."
Dr. Williamson’s efforts to increase opportunities for under-served groups in his district have led to marked improvement. Since the pandemic, PSRC schools showed signs of academic recovery in nearly every subject – with the strongest gains measured in End Of Grade Reading for Grade 3. Notable gains were also found in Reading and Math for grades 3-5.
Dr. Williamson’s leadership and vision has also led PSRC to serve as a pilot for North Carolina with the implementation of a model to enhance school instruction and leadership. In addition, PSRC fosters strong educational partnerships with Robeson Community College and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke to provide students in the district with the best opportunities possible to thrive in a global work environment.
With his many accomplishments and wealth of experience, Dr. Williamson continues to find ways to enhance instruction in his district to create a positive, more inclusive environment that leads to success for all students in his care.
Dr. Williamson continued, “If ever a time in the history of public education that we need to be united – one team, one goal – is now. Not for political reasons, not for recognition, but for the very future of this great nation and the very future of families yet to come.”
As the Burroughs Wellcome Fund 2025 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Williamson will compete at the national level for the Superintendent of the Year Award, to be given at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education Mar. 6-8, 2025, in New Orleans, LA.
The 2025 North Carolina Regional Superintendents of the Year, all of whom were nominees for this prestigious state award, were also recognized as such at the Oct. 10 ceremony, thanks to the sponsorship of Scholastic Education:
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Northeast | Dr. Tanya Turner, Perquimans County Schools
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Central | Dr. Eric Bracy, Johnston County Public Schools
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Sandhills | Dr. Freddie Williamson, Public Schools of Robeson County
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Piedmont-Triad | Dr. Aaron Woody, Asheboro City Schools
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Southwest | Dr. Andrew Houlihan, Union County Public Schools
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Northwest | Dr. Aron Gabriel, Newton-Conover City Schools
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Western | Dr. Will Hoffman, Madison County Schools
Previous Raymond Sarbaugh Leadership Award Recipients:
2025 | Ashe County Schools
Asheville City Schools
Avery County Schools
Buncombe County Schools
Haywood County Schools
Henderson County Public Schools
Madison County Public Schools
McDowell County Schools
Mitchell County Schools
Watauga County Schools
Yancey County Schools
2024 | Dr. Freddie Williamson
2023 | Dr. Ethan Lenker
2022 | Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr.
Marcie Holland
2021 | Tabari Wallace
2020 | Patrick Miller
2019 | Jeff Hollamon
2018 | Glenda Jones
David Hicks
2017 | Frank Till, Jr.
2016 | Dr. Rodney Shotwell
2015 | Dr. Dudley Flood
Charlie Glazener
2014 | Jo Ann Norris
2013 | Donald L. Martin, Jr.
2012 | Dr. James Casuby
2011 | Dr. Larry Price
2010 | Mr. Jack Hoke
2009 | Ms. Melisa Jessup
Western North Carolina School Administrators Honored For Leadership
RALEIGH | Superintendents of the 11 western North Carolina school districts most severely impacted by Hurricane Helene accepted the North Carolina Association of School Administrators’ (NCASA) 2025 Raymond Sarbaugh Leadership Award on behalf of their district and administrative team during NCASA’s 2025 Conference on Educational Leadership, Friday, March 28, 2025. This award, named in honor of NCASA’s first full-time Executive Director, the late Raymond Sarbaugh, is given annually to an NCASA member or members who show outstanding leadership in public school service, as well as a commitment to enhancing and supporting efforts by fellow administrators and educators.
Immediately following the impact of Hurricane Helene, school and district leaders from Ashe, Asheville, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey got to work ensuring that not only their staff and students were safe, but also that their entire community had the support and resources needed to begin recovering. Despite their own personal loss and lack of power and water, these leaders dedicated their time to ensuring the safety and well-being of every employee and child in their districts.
Following initial search and rescue efforts, schools in these 11 districts opened their doors to the community to serve as vital resource hubs. Classrooms became food distribution sites. School parking lots served as fueling stations. Gyms were converted into emergency shelters. Sports fields became helicopter pads for supply distribution, and buses were repurposed for evacuations and food delivery. These schools operated around the clock, and school leaders remained on-site 24/7 to oversee operations. Thanks to their efforts, their school buildings served as a place of reprieve, where community members could enjoy a hot meal and obtain needed water, food, clothes, and other supplies. This crisis showcased how school and district leaders stepped up in unprecedented ways to support and serve their students, families, and communities.
“The collective leadership shown by the superintendents, principals and other administrators in these 11 hardest-hit districts is nothing short of remarkable,” said Katherine Joyce, NCASA’s Executive Director. “Even as they faced heartbreak and loss of their own, these school and district leaders went above and beyond to ensure that local children and families had the essential support needed following their region’s devastation by this unprecedented natural disaster. They proved that public schools are indeed the heart of local communities.”
As immediate recovery efforts concluded, school and district leaders remained committed to addressing the long-term needs of their school communities. They conducted ongoing assessments, met with staff, and implemented strategies to support the mental health and well-being of students and educators. Districts even banded together to provide school counselors and social workers to assist students and teachers upon their return to school. In anticipation of ongoing needs, school districts also created relief funds to provide long-term support for students and families. The outstanding work achieved by school and district leaders from Ashe, Asheville, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey is a testament to their extraordinary leadership and thus earned them well-deserved recognition as co-recipients of NCASA’s 2025 Raymond Sarbaugh Leadership Award.
Previous Champion for Children Award Recipients:
2025 | Alan Duncan
2024 | NC Rep. Donny Lambeth
2023 | Jack Hoke
2022 | NC Sen. Don Davis
2021 | Beverly Emory
2020 | NC Rep. Jeffrey Elmore
2019 | Gov. Roy Cooper
2018 | D. Craig Horn
2017 | Hugh Blackwell
2016 | James H. Langdon, Jr.
2015 | John Dornan
2014 | Ann B. Goodnight
2013 | Linda P. Johnson
2012 | Beverly E. Perdue
2011 | Bill McNeal &
June St. Clair Atkinson
2010 | Vernon Malone
2009 | Howard N. Lee
2008 | Rick Glazier
2007 | Douglas Yongue
2006 | James B. Hunt, Jr. &
Michael F. Easley
Board of Education Vice Chair Named NCASA 2025 Champion For Children
RALEIGH | State Board of Education Vice Chair Alan Duncan received the 2025 Champion for Children Award during the North Carolina Association of School Administrators’ (NCASA) 2025 Conference on Educational Leadership on Friday, March 28, 2025. The award, given annually to an individual demonstrating leadership in supporting and enhancing public education, recognizes his more than two decades of advocacy on behalf of public schools. He has dedicated his time to the State Board of Education and
Guilford County Board of Education, in addition to his service in various other government and community organizations, including but not limited to: Governor Roy Cooper’s Commission on Access to a Sound Basic Education, the North Carolina Task Force for Safer Schools, Ready for School/Ready for Life, Say Yes to Education, and the Guilford Education Alliance.
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Throughout his career, Vice Chair Duncan has worked to protect student and teacher safety and enhance student achievement. In his role as Vice Chair of the State Board of Education, he has advocated for addressing difficult but important topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, school safety improvements, and ensuring accountability in school choice expansion across the state. Before his time on the State Board, he served as Chair of the Guilford County Board of Education, during which he worked tirelessly to protect teacher tenure, champion new initiatives such as cooperative innovative high schools, supported the implementation of a $457 million school bond, and advocated for overall increases in funding for local public schools and their students.
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“Vice Chair Duncan is the epitome of a true Champion for Children,” said Katherine Joyce, NCASA’s Executive Director. “He has dedicated significant time and effort throughout his career volunteering in state and local leadership roles, in which he has focused on enhancing learning opportunities for all public school students and in uplifting teachers, administrators and other school personnel.”
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As a steady and trusted voice in shaping policies that benefit educators and their students, Vice Chair Duncan’s dedication to addressing systemic challenges and enhancing opportunities for all students will have a positive impact on North Carolina’s public schools for years to come.
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“Because all thanks for our successes in education go to our educators, I struggle to think that I am deserving of this award and certainly feel honored beyond all bounds by being the recipient of it,” Mr. Duncan said. “Outside of my family, nothing has given me a sense of purpose more than the work to support our educators and children, who are so deserving of our support. I am grateful for this honor, and I look forward to continuing the work for our children and supporting our educators in the years to come.”
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In addition to his efforts to uplift public schools, he currently works as an attorney with Van Laningham Duncan PLLC advocating for his clients in both the state and federal courts in North Carolina and other jurisdictions. With over 40 years of litigation experience, Vice Chair Duncan has become one of the best and most respected lawyers in North Carolina. As a resident of North Carolina for decades, he holds an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Davidson College and his Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University Law School. He currently lives in Greensboro with his wife Pam, who is also a practicing lawyer. Together they have two grown daughters.