School administrators hone skills at leadership conference

SMITHFIELD — Johnston County public school administrators gathered July 16-18 at Cleveland High for their annual Leadership Conference.

The district holds the conference to provide information for administrators to learn and share with their school teams. On day one, the focus was curriculum and instruction. Day two consisted of departmental overviews and updates. Day three covered policies, procedures and school safety.

The administrators also celebrated the district’s school resource officers for their continued efforts to ensure campus safety.

The intensive format allowed new and veteran administrators to enhance their leadership skills and become even more proficient in their roles.

Selma Middle Assistant Principal Lisa Graham attended the event for the first time in 2023. She was eager to return this year to learn more strategies and grow.

“Having the opportunity to attend the leadership conference is beneficial because it helps me hone in on my skills individually as well as being able to take back what I have learned to help my teachers, equip them and motivate them to be prepared as our students return to school,” Graham said.

For Virtual Academy Principal Joy Bryant, who recently joined the Johnston County Schools, the conference was a chance to learn more about the school district and meet and collaborate with her new colleagues. “This conference is giving me things to think about for teachers in ways I haven’t thought of before,” she said. “It’s also provided me with ideas of ways that I can springboard for the new school year.”

Veteran administrator Brody Massengill, an assistant principal at South Johnston High, looks forward to the Leadership Conference each year. “We’ve got a lot of great leadership in this county in all of our schools and in the Central Office,” he said. “It’s always important to get in small- and large-group discussions and bounce ideas off of each other.”

Superintendent Eric C. Bracy reiterated the school district’s newest strategic goal, which is for Johnston to be among the top 20 school districts in North Carolina by 2029. He encouraged school leaders to continue building on the success they attained in the last four years even amid a pandemic.

The conference’s grand finale was the announcement of the 2024-25 principal and assistant principal of the year. Corinth Holders’ Melissa Hurst was named the Principal of the Year. Shannon Pawlak of Riverwood Elementary is the Assistant Principal of the Year.

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