Two LCPS principals graduate from school leadership program

By Cailyn Kennedy
Lenoir County Public Schools

Two principals with Lenoir County Public Schools have graduated from a year-long program designed to bolster their leadership skills.

Elizabeth Pierce, South Lenoir High School Principal

Elizabeth Pierce, principal at South Lenoir High School, and Dr. Heather Walston, principal at Northwest Elementary, completed the Distinguished Leadership in Practice Program, which is provided by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principal’s Association (NCPAPA) and sponsored by the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCALSD). 

The program, conducted virtually last school year, serves principals in all eight regions of the state. A graduation ceremony was held last week. 

This year-long development program uses a non-traditional development model, designed to limit the amount of time principals spend away from their schools, according to the NCPAPA. With this program, participants are able to attend sessions once every other month as well as completing on-line assignments, materials and coaching. These principals took part in a series of activities throughout the experience with the goal of building the capacity of their schools and even their own personal capacity as distinguished school leaders. 

Dr. Heather Walston, Northwest Elementary School Principal

 “The modules we worked on were very current in the topics for what is going on right now in education,” Pierce said. “It wasn’t just Covid-19 related by any means but with regard to equity and education – the things we are dealing with right now as leaders in our buildings.”  

Pierce said the program was a “great experience.” Even having to go through it during the pandemic, the participating principals were still able to network and build relationships with other leaders, according to the principal.

Walston credited the resolve of the program’s sponsors.

“I appreciate the tremendous amount of effort NCPAPA made to give the 2020-2021 cohort an authentic experience given the circumstances of this year,” Walston said. 

“It has been ever so rewarding to be afforded the opportunity to learn and grow my own leadership skills during this unpreceded time. I gained valuable knowledge and established professional connections with other leaders across the state. It was an incredible opportunity that I thoroughly enjoyed.”