Happy Board of Education Appreciation Month to the Wilson County Board of Education! We are grateful to Dr. Christine Fitch, Henry Mercer, Velma Barnes, Beverly Boyette, Blake Boykin, Rhyan Breen and Debora Powell for their service to our students, staff, families and community!

 

During the Jan. 22 Board meeting, WCS Teacher of the Year Heather Reneau thanked the Board members, gave them cards from her students and shared major district accomplishments that have happened since last January because of the Board’s leadership. The accomplishments include:

• A total of 719 seniors graduated in 2023 and accepted $5.7 million in scholarships.

• The district celebrated incredible accountability results due largely to the Board’s leadership. There was a 5.4% increase in overall proficiency compared to the previous year, and the district achieved its highest state ranking ever. WCS is now 41st in the state out of 115 school districts. Twenty-one schools met or exceeded growth, the highest number ever for the district.

• The ribbon cutting was held for the brand new, state-of-the-art Wilson Academy of Applied Technology building, and the students transitioned to the building in March 2023.

• Lucama Elementary was named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School - one of only 353 schools in the nation, and one of eight schools in the state. This prestigious recognition is the highest honor awarded to schools by the US Department of Education. Governor Cooper visited Lucama Elementary in November to celebrate.

• The district provided new classroom furniture to EVERY SINGLE classroom across the district and also provided playground equipment at several schools.

• All students are currently receiving breakfast and lunch at no cost through CEP or Universal Meals

• The Board submitted several nominations to the NC Schools Boards Association and Communicating with Confidence, a collaboration between the Wilson Education Partnership and WCS, was recognized with the Innovation and Excellence in Public Education Award. The district also had a large number of elementary students earn Honorable Mention for their artwork in the association’s poster contest.

 

Two exciting projects on the horizon are the...

• construction of a new Frederick Douglass Elementary

• the opening of our fifth WASH Center, which will be located at Darden Middle

 

WCS also has staff members who have been recognized at the state or national level - all of whom are encouraged and supported by the Board’s leadership. To name a few, the district is currently home to…

• the top School Nutrition Manager in the state (Natashia McKeel)

• a national Rising Star in Student Transportation (Danny Williams, Jr.)

• the NC Science Teacher Association’s pick for Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year (Olivia Huneycutt)

• a regional finalist for Beginning Teacher of the Year who is still in the running at the state level (Holly Johnston)

• And the Board’s very own Mr. Mercer just completed his reign as the top Board member in the state as the Raleigh Dingman Award winner. Along with the title, Mr. Mercer also served as an advisor to the State Board of Education.

 

We appreciate the hard work, commitment and dedication of our Board of Education! #WCSistheBEST