When making her first remarks as the 2021 Wells Fargo North Carolina State Principal of the Year, Dr. Ashburn shared from Amanda Gorman's poem, "The Hill We Climb"When day comes we step out of the shade,aflame and unafraid,the new dawn blooms as we free it.For there is always light,if only we're brave enough to see it.If only we're brave enough to be it.Joining Dr. Jackson on the latest episode of the EdLeader podcast, Dr. Ashburn challenges and inspires educators to be brave enough to see the possibilities for education post-pandemic and to be brave enough to make it happen.Dr. Elena Ashburn is the 2021 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year. In making the announcement, North Carolina State Superintendent Catherine Truitt noted that “Elena exemplifies the best qualities of a strong and effective principal. She empowers teachers and staff and creates opportunities for them to grow and learn." Appointed principal of Needham B. Broughton High School in 2017, Dr. Ashburn grew up in southern Virginia and attended Longwood University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor's of English and minor in Spanish. After college, she joined Teach For America and began her career as an English teacher at Southern Durham High School. Dr. Ashburn earned a Master's of School Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After serving as an assistant principal at Fuquay-Varina High School, Dr. Ashburn became principal of East Garner Magnet Middle School in 2014.At East Garner, Dr. Ashburn led the school in significantly improving student achievement outcomes, including exceeding expected growth targets for the first time in the school's history, improving the school's letter grade from D to C, and moving the school out of the state-sanctioned low-performing status in 2016.At Broughton, Dr. Ashburn leads the Leadership Team and school community in the implementation of the Broughton Five Year Strategic Plan, which was created over the course of a full year in 2017. Since implementation, the team has led in affecting meaningful change, including achieving the highest student graduation rate in Broughton's history twice in both 2020 and 2021, increasing 9th grade promotion rate by nearly 50%, and improving teacher retention to its highest rate, with an improvement of nearly 70%.Dr. Ashburn earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2018 and was awarded the Michael Priddy Family Leadership Scholarship & Award for aspiring superintendents from the UNC School of Education the same year. Her dissertation research examined the underrepresentation of women in the superintendency, and in 2019, her research was presented at the annual global Women Leading Education conference in England. In addition to the principalship, Dr. Ashburn serves as a leadership coach for Magnet Schools of America, helping school leaders throughout the country implement magnet school programming in their schools and districts. In 2020, Dr. Ashburn was named the WCPSS Principal of the Year, the North Carolina North Central Region Principal of the Year, and the 2021 North Carolina Wells Fargo Principal of the Year.Needham B. Broughton Magnet High School on TwitterDr. Rob Jackson on TwitterEdLeader Podcast on Twitter

EdLeader is back for Season 3 and it is going to be bigger and better than ever! A big start with a big-time guest is here as Mr. Jack Hoke sits down with Dr. Jackson to discuss launching a new school year in the midst of challenges and uncertainty.  Authentic relationships, listening more than you speak, making sure the team has what it needs to succeed, and keeping the main thing the main thing is the secret to a Leadership Launch into an amazing new school year. Mr. Jack Hoke is one of the most respected and highly-regarded educational leaders in the state of North Carolina. He currently serves as Executive Director of the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association.  He retired in April 2012 after serving twelve years as superintendent of the Alexander County Schools.  He also served as an associate superintendent for two years in the Alexander County Schools.  He previously served as principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in the Caldwell County Schools and served for 32 years in school administration.He served as Superintendent Advisor to the North Carolina State Board of Education from 2009 – 2011 and was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Professional Teaching Standards Commission from 2006 – 2010.  He was involved in the development of the teacher, principal, and superintendent standards for North Carolina and assisted in the development of the North Carolina Education Evaluation System.  As Executive Director of the North Carolina School Superintendents' Association, he has designed and conducted the professional development programs for superintendents and associate/assistant superintendents including the Next Generation Superintendent Development Program, Aspiring Superintendent Program, Digital Leadership Institute for Superintendents,  Future Focused Schools/Emerging Trends Network for NC School Districts, and The NC District Leaders Institute which provides executive coaching for new superintendents.He was inducted into the Appalachian State University: Reich College of Education Rhododendron Society in 2021, received the Alexander County Schools Award of Honor and Caldwell County Schools Education Hall of Honor Award in 2017. In 2012, he received the state’s highest civilian award when he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Twice selected as a Regional Superintendent of the Year, he was selected as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Superintendent of the Year in 2007.More importantly than all of the awards and accolades and vast experience, today’s guest is who Superintendents call when they need advice, encouragement, or just a listening ear. 

In the book, "Good to Great," Jim Collins highlights the hedgehog concept based on the Greek parable that the fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one thing really well. For Perquimans County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tanya Turner, her hedgehog concept is and always has been the importance of literacy in every classroom and in every grade level. In the newest episode of the EdLeader podcast, Dr. Turner sits down with her former teammate Dr. Rob Jackson to discuss the importance of literacy and the school system's plans to increase the reading proficiency of every student in the school system.Dr. Turner is recognized as an effective and highly regarded instructional leader in the Northeastern Region of North Carolina and across the state. She began her career in education as a fifth-grade teacher prior to serving as an instructional facilitator. She served as a Middle School Assistant Principal and later moved to a role as the district's Director of Teacher Development and Testing. She then served as a Middle School Principal leading school improvement efforts to move from a school that had not met growth in several years to meeting growth eight out of nine years, with seven of those years as high growth. Through her leadership, she implemented an organizational restructuring which led to the school being designated A School to Watch in 2010 and later being re-designated in 2013. After her successful tenure as a Middle School Principal, she was tapped as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction with Edenton-Chowan Schools. Dr. Turner's EVAAS presentations have been recognized at the state level and published on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s regional website as well as the NC STAR website. Her knowledge and leadership in data-driven instruction have afforded her the opportunity to conduct numerous EVAAS trainings across the state for many school districts. She is a former District Teacher of the Year, District Assistant Principal of the Year, and two-time District Principal of the Year.Dr. Turner holds a Masters in Supervision and Administration from East Carolina University and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Methodist University. She graduated from the North Carolina Aspiring Superintendent’s Program in 2017 as a member of the program's inaugural cohort.Perquimans County SchoolsDr. Tanya Turner on TwitterDr. Rob Jackson on TwitterEdLeader Podcast on Twitter

In the latest episode of EdLeader, Dr. Jackson is joined by Dr. Susan Enfield, Superintendent of Highline Public Schools in Burien, Washington. Dr. Enfield has served as the Superintendent of Highline since 2012, shepherding in outstanding student and staff success. In Highline Public Schools, the Graduation Rate has grown from 62.3% in 2013 to 83.8% in 2020. Central to the work of the district is the Highline Promise.Knowing every student by name, strength, and need is the promise of Highline Public Schools. Under the leadership of Superintendent Susan Enfield, the district is implementing the second phase of its strategic plan committed to the academic and social-emotional growth of all students so they graduate prepared for the future they choose.Dr. Enfield was selected as the AASA 2020 Women in Leadership Superintendent Award winner. A high school English, journalism, and ELL teacher, Susan served as Chief Academic Officer and then as Interim Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools before coming to Highline in 2012. She previously held leadership positions in Evergreen Public Schools (Vancouver, WA), Portland Public Schools, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.Susan is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and earned master’s degrees from Stanford University and Harvard University. She also holds a doctoral degree in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard’s Urban Superintendents Program.Dr. Susan Enfield on TwitterDr. Rob Jackson on TwitterEdLeader Podcast on Twitter

In Part II of this special two-part EdLeader series on the Effect of Principals, Dr. Jackson sits down with fellow former State Principals of the Year to review the recently released Wallace Foundation Report, "How Principals Affect Students and Schools: A Systematic Synthesis of Two Decades of Research." The researchers found that "an effective principal’s impact is stronger and broader than previously thought, making it “difficult to envision” a higher return on investment in K-12 education than the cultivation of high-quality school leadership, according to this research synthesis."In a previous episode, Dr. Jackson spoke with Dr. Anna Egalite, coauthor of the Wallace Foundation Report on how principals affect students and schools, to delve into the research from the researcher's point of view. This time, skilled practitioners dig into the study's findings and find much that resonates with their practice.Ms. Kisha Clemons is the 2020 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year.  She is currently the principal at Shuford Elementary in Newton-Conover City Schools and a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership Department at UNC-Greensboro.  Dr. Carrie Tulbert is currently in her 11th year as a middle school principal. She is the 2014 North Carolina Principal of the Year.  Carrie is a graduate of Wingate University with her Ed.S and Ed.D. Mr. Tabari Wallace earned a  Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation from East Carolina University. In 2018, he was named North Carolina’s Principal of the Year. He was a recent guest on the Ellen show and is a passionate educator.Dr. Rob Jackson on TwitterEdLeaderPod on TwitterHow Principals Affect Students and Schools: A Systematic Synthesis of Two Decades of Research by Dr. Jason A. Grissom, Vanderbilt University; Dr. Anna J. Egalite, North Carolina State University; and Dr. Constance A. Lindsay, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillSummary of Key Findings - How Principals Affect Students and Schools1. Effective principals are at least as important for student achievement as previous reports have concluded—and in fact, their importance may not have been stated strongly enough.2. Principals have substantively important effects that extend beyond student achievement.3. Effective principals orient their practice toward instructionally-focused interactions with teachers, building a productive school climate, facilitating collaboration and professional learning communities, and strategic personnel and resource management processes.4. Principals must develop an equity lens, particularly as they are called on to meet the needs of growing numbers of marginalized students.5. Effective principals are not equitably distributed across schools.6. Principals are becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, but representation gaps with students are growing, which is concerning, given the payoffs to principal diversity.7. Research on school principals is highly variable, and the field requires new investment in a rigorous, cohesive body of research. (as summarized by the NCDPI Weekly Top Ten)

In the latest episode of EdLeader, Dr. Jackson sits down with fellow former State Principals of the Year to review the recently released Wallace Foundation Report, "How Principals Affect Students and Schools: A Systematic Synthesis of Two Decades of Research." The researchers found that "an effective principal’s impact is stronger and broader than previously thought, making it “difficult to envision” a higher return on investment in K-12 education than the cultivation of high-quality school leadership, according to this research synthesis."In a previous episode, Dr. Jackson spoke with Dr. Anna Egalite, coauthor of the Wallace Foundation Report on how principals affect students and schools, to delve into the research from the researcher's point of view. This time, skilled practitioners dig into the study's findings and find much that resonates with their practice.Ms. Kisha Clemons is the 2020 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year.  She is currently the principal at Shuford Elementary in Newton-Conover City Schools and a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership Department at UNC-Greensboro.  She is a North Carolina Principal Fellow and North Carolina Teaching Fellow alumnus from Appalachian State University. Under her leadership, Shuford Elementary has been selected as a National Title I Distinguished School and recognized for its work with personalized learning.  Ms. Clemons’ personal vision is to inspire greatness in others and she is proud to be a champion for her students, staff, and community.Dr. Carrie Tulbert is currently in her 11th year as a middle school principal. She is the 2014 North Carolina Principal of the Year. She has led schools that truly run the gamut of student populations and sizes. She is approaching her 20th year in education. She's proud to be a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. Carrie is a graduate of Meredith College with her BA in English; Gardner Webb University with her MSA; and Wingate University with her Ed.S and Ed.D. Her greatest honor is being a mother of 2 sons, her most important "students," She passionately believes in public school and its power to transform students' lives. She also truly believes that being a principal is the BEST job in education!In the 1990s,  Tabari Wallace aspired to a career in the NFL. With his long-held dream and his future at stake, he paid a visit to East Carolina University, where he was offered a walk-on spot on the team at ECU. He eventually earned a full scholarship and a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation. His football career continued after college, but it competed with a new passion: teaching. He turned all of his attention to education and rose quickly through the ranks of public school to be promoted to his first assistant principalship in 2003. In 2018, he was named North Carolina’s Principal of the Year. He was a recent guest on the Ellen show and is a passionate educator.With a panel of North Carolina State Principals of the Year and exciting new research on the importance of the principal on student achievement, this is going to be great!@[email protected]

In the latest episode of EdLeader, Dr. Jackson sits down with 6th Grade Science Teacher Mr. Christopher Murray to discuss authentic student relationships. Recently, when the principal announced that Mr. Murray was recognized for Excellence in Teaching, the entire sixth grade erupted in enthusiastic excitement for their beloved teacher. From holding doors for students to saying 'Yes, ma'am' and 'Yes sir' to adolescents, Mr. Murray treats students, even those he doesn't personally teach, with the same respect he treats everyone else. His authentic respect for students results in authentic relationships with them as well.Mr. Christopher Murray is a 6th grade Science Teacher at Broad Creek Middle School who also helps to coach the boys' basketball team. He earned his Bachelors in Middle Grades Education at East Carolina University. Mr. Murray teaches in the same classrooms that he attended and learned in 20 years ago. He has dedicated his achievements to his mother and father,  who gave him a strong work ethic and determination that still drives him daily. Mr. Murray strives to help every student and wants each and everyone to receive the greatest education they possibly can. He also wants every student that he teaches to enjoy school.

For the latest episode of the Edleader podcast, Dr. Jackson is joined by two outstanding EdLeaders who are making a difference serving and supporting schools and school systems in their implementation of Multi-tier Systems of Support. But what is MTSS and what is it not? As a framework used by many schools to improve core instruction and provide targeted support to struggling students, it focuses on the “whole child.” MTSS supports academic growth and achievement, but it also supports many other areas, including behavior, social and emotional needs, and absenteeism.Mrs. BriAnne Hall serves the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as the Integrated Academic and Behavior Systems Consultant for the Northwest Region of North Carolina. She is a passionate educator who enjoys her role of supporting districts in their implementation of an MTSS framework to promote total school improvement to maximize growth for all. With her background in mental health, exceptional children’s programming, and K-12 education, she is a strong advocate for integrated systems to support the needs of the whole child. BriAnne earned a bachelor's degree in Human Services and a master's in executive leadership studies from Gardner-Webb University. BriAnne is married to Steve Hall, who is also an educator. Together they enjoy life on the Little River with their two sons, Elliot and Kameron.Mrs. Heather Boston serves as the Director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) services for Carteret County Public Schools.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she received her M.Ed, and Ed.S degree in School Psychology from Seattle University.  Her career in education began as a School Psychologist in Illinois, where she worked for 4 years specializing in Positive Behavioral Interventions in Schools (PBIS), Responsiveness to Instruction (RtI), and Gifted Services prior to moving to North Carolina as a proud military spouse. For the last 10 years, Heather has served in the role of MTSS Coordinator/Director, adding AIG services to her title in 2016.  The 2020-2021 school year marks her 17th year working in education. She is proud to serve beside the many great teachers and educators in Carteret County Public Schools and is honored to have 2 children that are a part of the CPPS family!@Dr_Rob_Jackson@EdLeaderPod

On the latest episode of the Edleader podcast, Dr. Jackson is joined by two outstanding Media Specialists who are impacting the lives of students and teachers on a daily basis. Both bring their experiences in the classroom to their work in the Media Center. The flexibility and innovation of Media Specialists Mrs. Emily Golightly and Mrs. Amanda McCall are connecting their Media Centers to students and teachers in new ways and making a difference in the lives of students as readers and learners.Mrs. Emily Golightly serves as the Media Specialist at Newport Elementary School, a school serving grades Prekindergarten through fifth grade in Newport, NC. A former classroom teacher, she is in her seventeenth year in education. She has taught kindergarten, first, second, and third grades, reading and math intervention, and English to speakers of other languages before becoming a media coordinator. She received her bachelor's degree from East Carolina University in Elementary Education. Mrs. Golightly completed a master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language through UNCW and is currently pursuing a second master's degree in Media and Library Sciences (MLS) through Appalachian State University.Mrs. Amanda McCall serves as the Media Specialist at Morehead City Primary School, a school serving grades Prekindergarten through third grade in Morehead City, NC. She is also a former classroom teacher and also serving in her seventeenth year in education. She taught 2nd grade for 5 years and 3rd grade for 10 years. She has also served as an Academically-Intellectually Gifted Specialist. She is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher. She graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and is currently attending NC Central University to obtain a Master’s Degree in Library Science.@Dr_Rob_Jackson@EdLeaderPod

In the latest episode of EdLeader, Dr. Jackson sits down with Dr. Anna Egalite, coauthor of the recently released Wallace Foundation Report, "How Principals Affect Students and Schools: A Systematic Synthesis of Two Decades of Research." The researchers found that "an effective principal’s impact is stronger and broader than previously thought, making it “difficult to envision” a higher return on investment in K-12 education than the cultivation of high-quality school leadership, according to this research synthesis."Dr. Anna Egalite has once again been ranked by Education Week’s 2021 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings as one of the Top 200 education scholars who had the biggest influence on educational practice and policy in 2020. This is the second year that Dr. Egalite has earned this ranking. She was selected from a pool of more than 20,000 qualified scholars to be ranked among the Top 200. A native of Ireland, Dr. Anna Egalite is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development in the College of Education at North Carolina State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Arkansas, a master's degree in elementary education from the University of Notre Dame, and a bachelor's degree in elementary education and history from St. Patrick's College in Dublin, Ireland. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University. In fall 2017, she served as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Duke University.@annaegalite@Dr_Rob_Jackson@EdLeaderPod