Johnston County Public Schools

Andrea Clark is the April Character Ed Student for Smithfield Middle!🌟 Her countless acts of service are strongly admired and greatly appreciated by her peers and teachers. She invests in her own personal growth as well as the academic achievement of her peers. She is a model student who graciously shares her enthusiasm and positive mindset, which has shaped her overall approach to learning, as she conveys her vibrant energy with others around her. 🎉Congratulations Andrea, for being recognized as the April Character Ed Student for Smithfield Middle!🎉 #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.

Congratulations to Mr. Brian Jones, Band Director at Smithfield-Selma High!🎶 He is our Certified Employee of the Month for April!👏 Mr. Jones has been an educator for 28 years, and has been making music and memories at SSS for the last 22 years. Read why Mr. Jones is passionate about making a life-long impact on his students, not only musically, but personally: https://bit.ly/3GdBU2H #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Preschool is an essential part of beginning an excellent educational journey! 🏫🎒 Johnston County Public Schools is currently accepting preschool enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year for the Title I and Fee for Service programs. For more information about these programs, program overview, age requirements, and other pertinent information, please visit the JCPS Preschool webpage at https://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/preschool. We hope to see your precious child(ren) begin their journey soon! REGISTER TODAY!!!

JCPS is proud to announce that Larkeysha M. Sheppard, principal of McGee's Crossroads Middle, received the 2025 Administrator to Watch Award by the North Carolina Association for Middle-Level Education (NCMLE) at its annual conference on March 24, 2025. The Administrator to Watch award, given by the North Carolina Association for Middle-Level Education (NCMLE), recognizes a school-based administrator who demonstrates outstanding dedication to middle school concepts and positively impacts students and the school community. The award aims to highlight and celebrate the work of school-based administrators who are passionate about middle school education and actively involved in improving students' learning experiences. Sheppard and her staff have led McGee's Crossroads Middle to great success in recent years, garnering the recognition the students and staff of the school so richly deserve. Congratulations Mrs. Sheppard on this prestigious recognition! Read the full press release here: https://bit.ly/43TOv4N

William Dearhamer, III has earned an April Character Education Award for RESPECT!👏👏👏 A fifth-grade student at Princeton Elementary, he consistently goes above and beyond to create a welcoming and kind environment. His kindness extends beyond words, and he takes pride in working with students with unique needs, often assisting them by pushing their wheelchairs to class, offering high-fives in the hallway, and even sharing a comforting hug when needed. Dearhamer ensures students feel safe and supported by walking them to class, and always checking in on teachers and staff with thoughtful words and well wishes! Congratulations William, for being recognized as the April Character Ed Student for Princeton Elementary!🥳 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

The 2nd Annual Early Contract Signing Celebration was a huge success, with nearly 60 guests present to witness 19 early contracts signed! 📝 During the event, the signees received words of wisdom and inspiration from award-winning educators prior to participating in individual contract signing sessions with JCPS Superintendent Dr. Eric C. Bracy, making their future certain and bright! The event is one of many JCPS initiatives to ensure that top-notch and passionate professionals are entering the teaching profession here in Johnston County Public Schools. Join us in celebrating the many new educators who will be making an immediate impact in the lives of students each and every day! Welcome to the team!🥳👏 Read the press release: https://bit.ly/4ighRxN #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

The Wilson's Mills High Topping Out Ceremony and Beam Signing event was a historic moment as citizens, community members, government officials, and JCPS staff gathered for the occasion.🏫 The event was hosted by Barnhill Contracting Company, and consisted of a tour of the building and an official ceremony before the beam was lifted into place. Attendees included alumni of the original Wilson’s Mills High, community members, Town of Wilson’s Mills employees, Johnston County Board of Education members, JCPS leadership, and Johnston County Commissioners and government officials, who were all excited about the project and what it represents for the county. We are excited about Wilson's Mills High and cannot wait for our students to flood the hallways! Until then, enjoy this update video!🎥: https://bit.ly/42saD3O Learn more about the event: https://bit.ly/3RdxdrP #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

👏 Mr. Johnnie Stott is our final Hall of Fame class of 2025 inductee !👏 Coach Stott excelled in youth athletics before playing college baseball at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and professionally for the Minnesota Twins. Stott then spent many years coaching and officiating in various Johnston County leagues and associations.⚾🧢 Read Mr. Stott's full bio: https://bit.ly/3E5x1YS Watch his highlight video: https://bit.ly/43PQMxV #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Mr. Samuel Richard “Rooster” Narron is our next 2025 Hall of Fame inductee highlight!⚾🧢 Known by family and friends as "Rooster", he is a part of the rich baseball traditions of Eastern North Carolina. A native of Johnston County, he grew up in the Corinth Holders area in Emit, NC. Mr. Narron played baseball at Corinth Holders High in his freshman and sophomore years. His high school accolades include two-time All-State honors during his junior & senior years. Congratulations to Mr. "Rooster" Narron for being named to the JCPS 2025 Hall of Fame's 16th class of inductees!👏👏 Read his full bio here: https://bit.ly/4liCT1H Watch his highlight video here: https://bit.ly/4igffA7

Spring Break is Monday, April 14 through Friday, April 18 for students on the traditional calendar. We wish all of our students a safe and fun-filled week!😎🏖🌞

JCPS is proud to celebrate Purple Up Day, recognizing and supporting military children and their families. The observance is part of the Month of the Military Child, which honors the sacrifices and challenges military children face. The color purple symbolizes all military branches, combining Army green, Marine red, Air Force blue, Coast Guard, and Navy blue. Join us on Friday, April 11 by wearing Purple, as we honor our military families!

🍎🌟Meet Krystal Glover, a very passionate principal intern at Cooper Academy: A College Prep Elementary School! Krystal is destined for greatness and is making an immediate impact in the Clayton community. Krystal is one of the shining stars in the JCPS Principal Intern Program, which provides those who aspire to be school-based administrators an opportunity to receive principalship experience, equipping them to one day become the school leaders JCPS is proud to have. Watch Krystal share why she loves education, the Principal Intern Program, and everything about Johnston County Public Schools! https://bit.ly/3Rcuv5U #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Preschool is an essential part of beginning an excellent educational journey! 🏫🎒 Johnston County Public Schools is currently accepting preschool enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year for the Title I and Fee for Service programs. For more information about these programs, program overview, age requirements, and other pertinent information, please visit the JCPS Preschool webpage at https://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/preschool. We hope to see your precious child(ren) begin their journey soon! REGISTER TODAY!!!

✨We continue to celebrate the 16th class of JCPS 2025 Hall of Fame inductees! Today we honor the late, great Mr. John Jacobs.✨ Mr. Jacobs grew up in the Cleveland community, where he played Little League baseball before playing junior high and high school football, basketball, and baseball. He was also a member of the golf team. Jacobs was a standout player in each sport before becoming an equally successful coach. His memory and legacy are carried on through his family. Read Mr. Jacobs's full bio : https://bit.ly/3RF8FIl Watch his Hall of Fame video: https://bit.ly/4lnt9Tw

On National School Librarian Day, we recognize and celebrate the bright 🌟STARS🌟who work in our school libraries! Today is the perfect time to highlight the vital contributions of school librarians who foster a love of reading, promote literacy, and create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment. They also help students and teachers access information, teach research skills, and support technology use. JCPS is thankful for every school librarian!!!👏👏👏 #NationalSchoolLibrarianDay

Let's hear it for our 2025 JCPS Elementary Science Olympiad participants!!!🧪🥼 Fourteen elementary school teams battled head-to-head in 15 events, including Backyard Biologist, Chew the Fat, Codebusters, and the always popular Pasta Tower competition. Congratulations to Polenta Elementary for winning 1st place in the Junior Varsity and Varsity divisions. Pine Level Elementary took home the 3rd place Varsity trophy, and 4th place Varsity went to Corinth-Holders Elementary School! 🏆🏆🏆 👏Make some noise for all 14 teams and their hard work leading up to the event!👏 Read more about this exciting event: https://bit.ly/4ctq9Bk #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

✨On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the 16th class of JCPS Hall of Fame honorees was inducted with a special celebration ceremony at Smithfield-Selma High.✨ Four exceptional honorees, consisting of dedicated educators, athletes, and coaches, were recognized. This week, we are sharing the story of each inductee. Today we honor Mr. Nathan Alford, Jr. Mr. Alford dedicated more than 40 years, serving in various roles as an exceptional educator in the Benson community, a passionate basketball and football coach, and athletic director. Alford’s impact on the fundamental athletic programming values continues to make an impact. Watch a video highlighting Mr. Alford here: https://bit.ly/4llmObi Read Mr. Alford's full bio at the🔗 : https://bit.ly/JCPSHOF_NA #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Assistant Principals, it's your week!!!🥳🥳 Today begins National Assistant Principals Week! JCPS is happy to celebrate all of the assistant principals within our schools. They have a direct impact on the amazing work being done district-wide. This week is a time to recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of assistant principals who play a crucial role in supporting schools, students, and teachers. Help us celebrate your assistant principal(s) by putting their names in the comments. If you really feel good about it, include a picture as well! #APweek

“It's amazing the difference A bit of sky can make.” -Shel Silverstein Organized by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month is a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. It is 30 days of celebrating the joy, expressiveness, and pure delight of poetry!🖋 #NationalPoetryMonth