Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) is proud to announce that Darrick McNeill, principal of West Smithfield Elementary, has completed the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals Association Distinguished Leadership in Practice program (DLP) and was recognized by the organization on May 8, 2025.
The DLP is a year-long leadership development program aligned to the North Carolina School Executive standards and competencies that focuses on the professional development and growth of principals within the program. It also offers various key components, including: Strategic Leadership for High Performing Schools, Improving Teaching and Learning for High Performing Schools, Building a Collaborative Culture with Distributed Leadership, Maximizing Human Resources for Goal Accomplishment, Creating a Strong Student and External Stakeholder Focus, and Leading Change to Drive Continuous Improvement.
The DLP offers an innovative, non-traditional professional development model tailored to the performance evaluation standards set by the North Carolina State Board of Education for school leaders. This distinctive, cohort-based program minimizes time principals spend away from their schools by scheduling in-person sessions every other month, supplemented by online assignments, resources, and coaching in between.
“It means stepping forward not just with new skills, but with a renewed sense of responsibility to inspire and influence positive change.”
Darrick McNeil
During the year-long course, McNeill and his cohorts participated in meaningful, real-world activities aimed at enhancing leadership skills, improving their capacity to lead their schools, all while developing them into distinguished school leaders. This is time that Mr. McNeill has determined to be well spent and essential for his professional development.
“The Distinguished Leadership in Practice program has empowered me to recognize leadership as a shared responsibility and inspired the confidence to drive meaningful change within my team and beyond," noted McNeill.
Under McNeill’s leadership, positive change has been a common theme for West Smithfield Elementary, a Title 1 school that had previously been designated as a Restart School. The school has shown academic improvement over the past few years, improving from a performance grade of 41 in 2019 to 55 in 2024, achieving a school letter grade of C for two consecutive years.
“Completing the DLP signifies a commitment to growth, collaboration, and the courage to lead with purpose,” stated McNeill. “It means stepping forward not just with new skills, but with a renewed sense of responsibility to inspire and influence positive change.”
Congratulations to Mr. McNeill on this prestigious recognition.