Johnston County Public Schools

We are ecstatic to announce that Dr. Takicey M. Dunston, Principal of Benson Elementary and Mrs. Lauren Strickland, newly appointed Assistant Principal of Polenta Elementary (formerly Assistant Principal of Pine Level Elementary) have been recognized as the JCPS 2025-2026 Principal and Assistant Principal of the year, respectively. 🎉

JCPS is grateful that you have chosen to bring your passion for education to the students and staff in our school district!

Congratulations to both of these forward-focused leaders on this honorable recognition! 👏

#ForwardConference2025

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Day Two of the 2025 Leadership Conference was a resounding success! 👏

Continuing with this year’s theme “Forward”, today’s focus was on building high-impact Professional Learning Communities (PLC). PLCs allow space for educators to collaborate, discuss new and innovative ideas to enhance learning, while building each other up.

Looking “Forward” to Day Three tomorrow! ➡️

#ForwardConference2025

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Big strides, bold visions.

This 2022 bond projects update reflects our commitment to every student, every campus, and every future.

See the progress across our district, and the momentum building for what’s next: https://bit.ly/4kAwgWI

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JCPS’ 2025 Leadership Conference is underway!

Central Office staff, principals, and assistant principals from every school gathered at Corinth Holders High for the first day of the three-day annual conference.

To kick-start the event, Dr. Pearce and JCPS senior leadership shared the vision for the 2025-2026 school year, reviewing data from the previous academic year, collectively examining the school district’s successes and opportunities for growth. ➡️

#ForwardCoference2025

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Corinth-Holders Elementary's Melissa Waring has been named the Johnston County Public Schools 2025 Media Specialist Employee of the Year. 🎉 Waring’s initiatives and fresh ideas have been instrumental in the success of the media center at CHES. One of Waring’s initiatives was to offer open circulation time each morning, where students may visit the media center before the final bell rings. The initiative has been an incredible success, and now, on any given day, between 40 and 50 students stop in before going to class. Read more about Waring's dedication here: http://bit.ly/4ltKVUV Congratulations, Melissa Waring! 🥳 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Corinth Holders High graduate, Briggs McKenzie, has been drafted as the 127th pick overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2025 MLB Draft. ⚾🧢 So proud of Briggs! We know he will excel as a professional athlete! #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Johnston County Public Schools is one of the best public education systems in the nation, with more than 37,000 students and 5,000+ dedicated professionals. We are more than just a school district; we are a family, surrounded by a community that cares passionately about education! Watch here: https://bit.ly/3IeIXcu #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Reminder: The 2025–2026 student and staff calendars are available on our website! https://bit.ly/3IkNfyQ

Lots of preparation is taking place as JCPS Data Review and Continuous School Improvement Planning Sessions are currently underway! 📈 During these sessions, all 49 school administrators and school improvement teams review their most recent data. Using the data and collaborative conversations with peers and central office leaders, they develop 3 leading goals for the upcoming school year, addressing the following areas: Overall Achievement, Subgroup Performance, & School Climate for Teaching and Learning. #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Corinth Holder High baseball phenom Briggs McKenzie has been a standout for many years and plans to ride his signature fastball into the next phase of his career. ⚾ Whether he continues his journey in Louisiana or elsewhere after being called up in the upcoming MLB draft, we know he will thrive at the next level! Check out McKenzie’s highlight video here: https://bit.ly/bmckenzie #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Big-time dreams meet big-time baseball! ⚾️ Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Corinth Holders High graduate and LSU commit Briggs McKenzie, along with JCPS Director of Athletics Josh Plisko, to highlight Mr. McKenzie and some of his notable accomplishments. McKenzie’s highlight video drops tomorrow! Stay tuned! #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Drive the future! 🚌

Looking for a rewarding career that makes a difference in your community? Join the JCPS Transportation Services team as a bus driver! Enjoy bi-weekly pay, bonuses, paid training, and more.

Visit our website to learn more information and apply today: http://bit.ly/4ewjIhz

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The Johnston County Board of Education will convene for its next regularly scheduled meeting today at 5 PM. The meeting will be livestreamed via the JCPS YouTube page, here: http://bit.ly/44kXYC7

Congratulations, Ernie Woodard! 👏 Woodard has been named the Johnston County Public Schools 2025 Facilities and Construction Employee of the Year. He has been employed with JCPS since 2019, beginning his tenure in the Carpenter III position, and in 2024 was promoted to Carpenter Foreman. Born and raised in Princeton, both of Woodard’s parents were JCPS educators. His mother taught at Princeton, and his father was the principal of Glendale-Kenly Elementary before the family moved to Goldsboro, where Woodard’s parents continued their careers as educators with Wayne County Public Schools. What they taught Woodard from an early age was the value of hard work. Children whose parents are educators often spend a lot of time in the schools with their parents while they work, and Woodard was no exception. He watched his mom and dad model a work ethic that inspired him to give 100%, a trait that he exemplifies to this day. Read more about Woodard's award-winnning work ethic: http://bit.ly/40uagpx #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Wishing you a safe and happy 4th of July! 🎆

A 2025 graduate from Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy, Nour Issa, will be attending Johns Hopkins University as a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship.

The Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's best four-year colleges and universities.

During his time at JCCTLA, Nour took an EMT class that set him on his path towards wanting to help others in times of emergency. Attending Johns Hopkins University on a pre-med track will provide him with the foundation and opportunities needed to pursue his dream.

Good luck Nour! https://bit.ly/4eRC7pD
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Johnston County Public Schools is proud to share that Dr. David Pearce was sworn in as Superintendent this morning as he was surrounded by family, colleagues, and community stakeholders. Dr. Pearce is a product of Johnston County and has spent many years serving the district that he now has the opportunity to lead. “I am both humbled and honored to serve in a district that has given so much to me.” Dr. David Pearce Congratulations Dr. Pearce! 👏 Read more about the swearing-in event here: http://bit.ly/3TOW6v9 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Congratulations to Kathryn Farrior on being named Johnston County Public Schools 2025 Employee of the Year for Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability. Farrior is the Workforce Development Specialist for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department! 🥳 Farrior began her career as a real estate paralegal, but education beckoned. Her father was a CTE agriculture teacher, and Farrior had a strong understanding of the program, what it offered students, and the impact it could have on them. So, she shifted her focus from legal work to education. “I did what Daddy always said I should do, and moved into the classroom,” she commented. Learn more about Farrior's award-winning career with JCPS: http://bit.ly/44r1Xvs #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Cleveland High School 2025 graduate, Aayuska Luitel, will be attending Duke University as a recipient of the QuestBridge National Match Scholarship. The QuestBridge National Match Scholarship awards high school seniors a full four-year scholarship to one of fifty-five different college partners. The application process allows students to showcase not only their high academic success but also their unique talents, potential, and story. Aayuska is excited to begin her studies at Duke, as a pre-law student with a double major in Economics and Public Policy. She is also looking forward to giving back to those around her, including her native country of Nepal. From seeing the impact Aayuska has had at Cleveland High School, we know that she will be successful at achieving her goals. Best of luck, Aayuska! http://bit.ly/4nkDHE8 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS