Kathryn Farrior has been named Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) 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.
Her introduction into the classroom was as a CTE business education teacher at Clayton High. Farrior transferred to Princeton High, where she served the school community for 24 years. For the last six of those 24 years, Farrior was the school’s CTE Career Development Coordinator.
Farrior’s goal has always been to grow professionally and step into a leadership role, so she pursued and received a Master of School Administration from North Carolina State University. Then, in 2021, she became JCPS’ CTE Workforce Development Specialist.
The CTE curriculum is powered by passionate educators, like Farrior, who specialize in career field program areas, facilitate career development, and support students with unique needs. The department’s focus is on expanding students’ career and college options, and making the transition from high school to adulthood easier. CTE’s mission is for every Johnston County Public Schools graduate to have a plan for their future and the skills, knowledge, and aptitudes to make it a reality.
“That’s what I love about CTE.
You’re helping them find their passion and build their future around it.”
As the CTE Workforce Development Specialist, Farrior’s primary role is to oversee K-12 career development planning, which begins in kindergarten by presenting the youngest student population to a variety of careers. One might wonder why kindergarteners should be thinking about a career when they have just started learning their ABCs. Studies show that at an early age, children have already begun to eliminate careers based on several different factors, including gender and prestige bias.
Once in middle school, JCPS students continue investigating careers that align with their interests. Farrior has established strong partnerships with local employers to provide the students with industry tours, guest speakers, and other work-based learning experiences such as job shadowing, internships, and apprenticeships.
One of Farrior’s responsibilities is coordinating district-wide career development events. For example, she plays a pivotal role in planning JOCO WORKS World of Work (WOW), a two-day industry-led, hands-on collaborative event supported by education, business, civic, and government partners. In an effort to grow Johnston County’s future workforce, every JCPS eighth-grade student attends the renowned event on the Johnston Community College campus.
Additionally, she assists with coordinating Discover Construction Day in partnership with the Johnston County Building Industry Association. This event allows students to explore careers in the construction trades.
Once students enter high school, career preparation is more in-depth, including interview expertise, refining skills, and becoming job-ready. Students hone their technical skills, earning industry-recognized certifications, some of which are stepping stones for further academic training or for beginning a career directly out of high school. “That’s what I love about CTE. You’re helping them find their passion and build their future around it,” she said.
Farrior gets the most satisfaction from hearing success stories, especially when they involve students who have overcome extreme challenges and barriers, yet still took advantage of the community and employer partnerships. “It’s very rewarding and satisfying to hear those stories,” she remarked. Farrior keeps in touch with some of those students to this day.
Humbled at being named Employee of the Year, the recognition reminds Farrior of her “why”, and will continue to motivate her. Although she is no longer in the classroom, Farrior is a behind-the-scenes advocate. “Knowing that what I do opens doors to students motivates me to keep growing professionally, and to keep making connections with community and employer partners who help students with their futures,” she remarked.