Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) is celebrating the start of the 2025-2026 academic year with another historic milestone. The innovative Johnston County Teaching Educators and Coming Home (JoCo TEACH) program has come full circle, as the first JoCo TEACH scholarship recipient has returned to teach in the school district.
Established in 2019, JoCo TEACH is an exclusive program offered at Smithfield-Selma High (SSS) designed to invest in and recruit diverse students seeking a degree in education. It provides a seamless pathway for students to earn their Associate Degree in Science in Teacher Education through Johnston Community College (JCC) while attending high school. The JoCo TEACH program is designed to train future educators and have them return to teach for three years with JCPS. This ensures that JCPS brings the best and brightest educators back into the school district.
“Teacher programs are essential to the success of schools and the achievement of students. Programs like JoCo TEACH provide potential educators with continuous opportunities for professional growth, equipping them with the latest instructional strategies, classroom management skills, and content knowledge,” Smithfield-Selma High Principal Dr. Ryan Ewell said.
In addition to providing a pathway for students seeking a career in education, JoCo TEACH also offers five annual scholarships allocating $30,000 to each recipient. Distributed annually in the amount of $10,000 over three years, recipients can attend the college of their choice. One of the primary benefits of the scholarship is alleviating some of the financial burdens of college. Once scholarship recipients have received a Bachelor of Education degree, they agree to return to JCPS as teachers for three years.
Carter Clever, a 2023 Smithfield-High graduate, was awarded one of the inaugural JoCo TEACH scholarships, relieving some of the burden of college tuition and giving him the opportunity to focus on his two passions, education and engineering. Additionally, he received a high school diploma and earned an Associate in Science through the partnership with JCC, allowing him to enter North Carolina State University as a junior, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Technology, Engineering, and Design Education. Now, Clever has begun his first year as an Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Aerospace Engineering, and Engineering Design and Development teacher at his alma mater, a true success story of the program.
“It is truly inspirational to see the vision of the JoCo TEACH program come full circle,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. David Pearce. “Carter Clever’s return to Johnston County Public Schools affirms the success of this program and the district’s commitment to education in Johnston County. We are fortunate to provide this opportunity to passionate students who have dreams of making an impact in education close to home.”
JoCo TEACH Coordinator and program visionary Suzanne Sweat was instrumental in the establishment of the scholarship, as she learned that upcoming graduates were having difficulties in securing financial support as they journeyed towards a career in education. Through creative collaborative efforts, Sweat worked with district leadership to develop the JoCo TEACH Scholarship, which has provided financial assistance for JCPS students since, securing outstanding professionals for the future.
By strategically investing in its own students, JCPS is ensuring a strong pipeline of passionate educators ready to make a difference in Johnston County classrooms for years to come. “Ultimately, JoCo TEACH is a vital investment in both educators and the future success of every student they serve, and we are proud to be a part of such foundational work,” Ewell added.