Last year, App State was one of six institutions selected by the Principal Fellows Commission through a competitive grant process to be the recipient of recurring grants from the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program, which provides a pathway for 12 state school districts and the Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance to train and support future principals through the Reich College of Education’s online Master of School Administration program.
The first cohort of 15 fellows has been selected:
- Desteney Greene, Academy at Middle Fork
- Katherine Seno, Alexander County Schools
- Cynthia Harless ’12, Ashe County Schools
- Sarah Call ’09, Burke County Schools
- Shania Holt, Burke County Schools
- Lauren Huffman, Burke County Schools
- Shana Stewart ’08, Caldwell County Schools
- Brent Poplin ’10, Elkin City Schools
- Jami Gullick ’13, Newton-Conover Schools
- Daniel Machon ’21, Watauga County Schools
- Scotty Schaffer-Greer ’15, Watauga County Schools
- Megan Gorski ’11, Wilkes County Schools
- Alexander Baucom ’12, Wilkes County Schools
- Christopher Jeffords, Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools
- Laketha Ebrahim-Blackwell,Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools
The program provides participants with full in-state tuition and fees for the 36 credit hour, two-year Masters in School Administration graduate program. Candidates receive salary replacement during the second year for the 10-month, full-time internship at the salary level commensurate with the current position in the 2021-2022 school year (plus any relevant step increases and raises). Participation in the Principal Fellows Program requires a commitment of service for four years in a North Carolina Public School as a school administrator, and candidates must repay the grant through service.
In the two-year program, the fellows will be prepared to serve as school administrators in North Carolina Public Schools. The fellows will benefit from participating in Leadership Days at each of the partnering school districts, additional leadership opportunities through the NWRESA, and supplemental trainings on equity and literacy through the NC Principal Fellows State Program. They will also receive an equity-focused, job-embedded coach to help support them in their first year of employment.
As the director of the Public School Partnership, Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm is “looking forward to working with the fellows over the next two years to support them on their journey to becoming successful school administrators.”
Dr. Kimberly Money, assistant professor in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies, added, "I am excited to co-direct the Principal Fellows Program at App State as it will provide students with enhanced professional growth opportunities and coursework designed to develop equity-focused school leaders."
App State Alumni Participate in Other UNC Principal Fellow Programs
Alumna Michelle Whitson ’09, a teacher with Rowan-Salisbury Schools, was selected to be part of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Principal Fellows program (read full release). Whitson is also currently enrolled in App State’s curriculum specialist graduate program.
First cohort of principal fellows
