Johnston County Public Schools

Say hello to one of our amazing dual language teachers from Selma Elementary School, Micaela Acosta! Micaela says, "What I love most about being a part of JCPS is the strong sense of community and collaboration." It is those kinds of beliefs that make her such an impactful part of the Yellow Jacket team and why she was nominated as a Flame for Learning honoree this year. We are beyond proud of the continued success Micaela shows in the classroom and throughout the community. Micaela is one of nearly 5,000 current employees who have found rewarding career paths in JCPS! You could be next! https://bit.ly/M_Acosta #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

JCPS high school graduation livestream links and event details are available on the JCPS website, here: https://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/graduation

JCPS is proud to recognize Nathan Emerick as the 2024-2025 Outstanding First Year Teacher!👏👏👏 With the same enthusiasm we announce that Kenia Perez-Melchor and Ralph Vitale were recognized as award finalists! Emerick is an Exceptional Children Resource & Inclusion teacher at West View Elementary and a graduate of East Carolina University. Kenia Perez-Melchor is a first-grade teacher at Four Oaks Elementary, a 2019 graduate of Smithfield-Selma High, and a University of North Carolina at Greensboro alumna. Ralph Vitale is a Fire Science Academy Instructor at Smithfield-Selma High and a Wilson Community College graduate. Learn more about these exceptional educators here: https://bit.ly/3SfTplG

Johnston County Career & Technical Leadership Academy 2025 graduates and their families were all smiles at the ceremony ! Congratulations and we wish you the best in the future!

We are excited that Corinth Holders High School senior Briggs McKenzie has been recognized as the 2025 Sam Narron Award recipient! The Sam Narron Award is presented annually to a Johnston County high school senior baseball player who has demonstrated a love for the game through determination, dedication, and sacrifice. Briggs is a stellar student-athlete who has made his way into the history books for his outstanding performance in the classroom and on the baseball diamond. Briggs has committed to LSU Baseball and intends to make an impact there and beyond! Congratulations Briggs on receiving this outstanding recognition! Learn more about the Sam Narron Award presentation, as well as more information about Briggs, here: https://bit.ly/4jd6NSI

Congratulations to Mrs. Shelby Lane, our May 2025 Classified Employee of the Month! Mrs. Lane is the Secretary/Data Manager at Johnston County Virtual Academy (JCVA) and is a dedicated employee who loves with her whole heart. In everything she does, the students' success is at the forefront of her mind. Mrs. Lane is a product of Johnston County Public Schools, and proudly supports and fosters the flame for learning for all future generations. She has worked with all grade levels over the past 11 years, and looks forward to continuing her journey with the school district as the county continues to grow. "I would not be where I am today without the support of family, friends, and all the teachers and administrators who poured compassion and the love of learning into me as a student," Mrs. Lane said. Learn more about Mrs. Lane in her Spotlight Q&A: https://bit.ly/3ZrOjqh

Sarah Beth Williamson is our final and fabulous Character Education Award recipient for May! 🌟 She is a Super Senior at Johnston County Early College Academy and earned the award for dependability - keeping your promises. Sarah Beth can always be counted on to follow through on her commitments, and she truly shines when she encourages others to do the same. She sets high goals for herself and then works diligently to achieve them, while simultaneously pushing her peers to work to their full potential. A student who naturally elevates those around her, Sarah Beth fosters an environment of encouragement and accountability. She is truly a role model by action and not choice. Congratulations Sarah Beth Williamson for being recognized as the May Character Ed student for Johnston County Early College Academy!🥳

Another year is over and another great graduating class has made history! Congratulations to the dynamic Johnston County Early College Academy class of 2025! 🎓

Congratulations to the Johnston County Early College Academy graduating class of 2025!!! 🎓👏 JCPS wishes you the best of luck in your future endeavors! #Graduation2025

Congratulations to the Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy graduating class of 2025!!! 🎓👏 JCPS wishes you the best of luck in your future endeavors! #Graduation2025

Margarita Gomez Valle has received the prestigious Character Education Award for dependability - keeping your promises!🎇 As a senior at Johnston County Career & Technical Leadership Academy, she stands out as a remarkable leader, particularly in her role as the Student Government Association (SGA) president. Her dependability is unmatched, as Margarita attends every district meeting without fail and ensures that necessary meetings are called promptly. Margarita's leadership at CTLA is also characterized by her reliability, compassion, and dedication to promoting a positive school culture. Her commitment to her responsibilities sets a strong example for her peers and underscores her dedication to her role. Congratulations Margarita Gomez Valle for being recognized as the May Character Education Award student for Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy!🎆 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Meet Austin Denning, who is a JCPS Alumnus and NC State University graduate! Denning is completing his first year as an educator in Southern Johnston County at South Johnston High. He has made a tremendous impact in his first year. His hard work and phenomenal teaching style have gained him district-wide recognition as one of JCPS's Outstanding First Year Teachers. According to Denning, it was a no-brainer as to where he would begin his professional career. He loved everything about the community feel of the district and its collaborative approach to education. Like many others, he believes that JCPS is the best place to be! We are fortunate to have Denning provide instruction to math students of JCPS! https://bit.ly/HR_Denning

Federico Bautista Velasco has been proudly named a Character Education Award recipient for May! 😎 Federico is an 8th-grade student at Innovation Academy- Johnston County Public Schools where he demonstrates self-discipline, doing you best in all situations, in every aspect of his school life. He has a strong internal drive to succeed, going above and beyond to produce high-quality work and ensuring that each assignment is completed thoughtfully and thoroughly. His commitment to doing his best is evident, even when tasks are challenging or time-consuming. Federico manages his responsibilities with focus and care, never needing reminders to stay on task or meet deadlines. Congratulations Federico Bautista Velasco for being recognized as the May Character Education Award student for Innovation Academy!👏 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

May is here and we get to celebrate our extraordinary Character Education Award recipients!🌟 Alivia Wilson, a third-grader at JCPS Virtual Academy, she is recognized for her compassion. She is a kind student who does very well collaborating with her peers. Alivia gives positive, encouraging feedback to her peers when they participate in class. Additionally, she perseveres in learning new, challenging third-grade material. Congratulations Alivia for being recognized as the May Character Ed student for Johnston County Public Schools Virtual Academy!👏 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

🎺Let's hear it for Luna Colón, our next Character Education Award for May!🎺 Colón was recognized for self-discipline, doing your best in all situations. As a junior at Smithfield-Selma High, she brings a unique and vibrant energy wherever she goes, whether it's through the bustling hallways of the school, the focused atmosphere of her classroom, or the competitive environment of the softball field. Luna has a natural ability to light up every space she enters, and her energy and positivity are contagious to everyone around her. She doesn’t just passively occupy space—she actively engages with her surroundings and makes them better. Congratulations, Luna Colón, for being recognized as the April Character Ed Student for Smithfield-Selma High!✨ #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

With summer right around the corner, we are looking for Summer Reading Buddies!😎 Make a difference this summer by helping our students start their mornings with a good book.📖📚 Please see the attached flyer for more information.

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING UPDATE: Due to audio equipment failure, the May 13, 2025, Board of Education meeting will not be livestreamed. Minutes will be made available online once approved by the Board of Education. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Recently, NC State University's Kenan Fellows Program announced its newest Kenan Fellows. We were proud to see that Grant Shoaf, a teacher at Johnston County Early College Academy, has been selected as one of 30 Kenan Fellows statewide for the 2025-26 cohort. As part of Grant's fellowship, he will be immersed with Dr. Alexander Nevzorov at the NC State Department of Chemistry, where he will learn Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy. He will contribute to three distinct projects: developing magnetically aligned lipid nanodiscs for membrane protein structure determination, creating automated computational algorithms for NMR pulse sequence development, and advancing microwave instrumentation for pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Dynamic Nuclear Polarization. Congratulations Grant! #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Miss Parker's EC classroom at Polenta Elementary was filled with love, laughter, and the sweet smell of brunch!💕 The students celebrated Mother’s Day a little early by hosting a heartwarming Mommy & Me Brunch, where they proudly presented handmade gifts created just for their amazing moms. 🥰 It was a moment filled with smiles, hugs, and unforgettable memories. Thank you to all the wonderful mothers and grandmothers of these amazing children. You are truly cherished! 💐💖 Thank you to Ms. Kenyatta Echard and Ms. Erica Manley for the beautiful decorations and delicious food.

If you were in the Smithfield area on Monday and maybe experienced traffic detours, please do not worry! All is well...the community just showed up in big numbers to walk to school! Whether by foot, bike, or scooter, getting to South Smithfield Elementary was fun as the school celebrated its annual Walk to School Day earlier this week! Students, parents, community members, and school officials flooded the streets to observe the event, reiterating the importance of school attendance while emphasizing strong community relationships. Great job South Smithfield Elementary!!!