LCPS Board of Education honors excellence, advances key initiatives at November meeting
The Lenoir County Public Schools Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 3, at its Vernon Avenue headquarters in Kinston. During a comprehensive session that included recognition of outstanding educators, administrative planning, and project updates, the board took time to acknowledge remarkable achievements and continued progress across the district.
Superintendent Brent Williams began the meeting by highlighting multiple honors earned by district educators. Moss Hill Elementary School’s Kristina Jones was celebrated after being named the District 2 Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher of the Year by the North Carolina Science Teachers Association. Jones was commended for her ability to cultivate curiosity and engagement in science among her students.
The board also recognized Rochelle Middle School Principal Terry Wooten, who was selected as the LCPS 2025–2026 Principal of the Year. Wooten has dedicated 37 years to education and led Rochelle Middle to measurable success, including sustained academic growth and a notable 27-point increase in the school performance score. Her character-driven leadership was remarked upon as a model for excellence.
In addition, the board was pleased to announce a record year for Bright Ideas Grants awarded to LCPS teachers. Sixty-five teachers received funding from Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation, totaling more than $51,000 to support innovative classroom projects. This milestone marks the highest number of Bright Ideas Grants awarded to LCPS educators in a single year and underscores the district’s continued investment in creative instructional practices. These teachers were honored at a celebration hosted by Tri-County Electric earlier in the evening.
The meeting also featured a series of presentations and district updates. Dr. Amy Jones, director of Career and Technical Education and High School Education, outlined the district’s plans for November’s Career Development Month, including a series of events designed to expose students to potential careers and pathways.
Associate Superintendent Frances Herring provided an overview of LCPS’s role in the 2025 North Carolina School Boards Association Conference. LCPS will present a seminar on the district’s interventionist program, showcasing how targeted academic support is helping students make significant gains in reading and math. Herring also reviewed the timeline and planning process for developing the 2026–2027 instructional calendar, which will be shared with stakeholders later this fall.
Assistant Superintendent Nicholas Harvey offered a construction update on the new E.B. Frink Middle School campus, noting that the project remains on schedule. He also shared information on the selected vendor for the school’s all-inclusive classroom camera system, which the board moved to approve.
Board members took action to approve School Improvement Plans for all LCPS schools for the 2025–2026 academic year. The revised plans contain strategic goals designed to elevate student achievement and support enhancements in instruction and school culture. Additional actions included adopting updates to district policies to reflect recent legislative changes.
The next regular meeting of the Lenoir County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, December 1, at 6 p.m.
Neuse News is a locally-owned small business startup in downtown Kinston. Our goal is to provide free, hyper-local news to Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. The kind of news our grandparents read in a format fit for today's times.
We provide this by having supportive advertisers and we encourage you to click on their ads, shop with them, and eat with them. Every bit of financial support is important to help us sustain free, hyper-local news.
Please consider supporting Neuse News with as little as $5 one-time or via a monthly option. Every little bit helps us, help you.
