#LeadForward
They participated in training sessions designed with the tools they will need to move their schools forward on the path to student success and academic achievement.
The afternoon sessions will also be filled with essential district elements including “Why Do We Exist: Principal Essentials” and “Why Do We Exist: Thriving as a New Assistant Principal”.
#LeadForward
Leadership 2026 has begun!
New principals and assistant principals are engaging in 7 sessions of informative and instructive leadership training.
The passionate group of 26 administrators will receive presentations on curriculum and instruction, relationship development, accountability, effective hiring practices, district practices and standards, and much, much more.
This group of strong leaders are proof that the future is bright for JCPS!
#LeadForward
JCPS celebrates the 250th anniversary of our great nation!
Here's to wishing everyone a happy 4th of July!
During the June 2 work session and June 9 regular session meetings, the Johnston County Board of Education made the following principal appointments effective July 1, 2026:
West Smithfield Elementary School - Carmen Barnes
Selma Middle School - LaTia Deravil
McGee’s Crossroads Elementary School - Ashley Foisy
Corinth-Holders Elementary School - Dr. Lauren Hayes
East Clayton Elementary School - Tiffany Long
We are extremely excited about the new appointments and certainly look forward to the success that is sure to come.
#JCPSforward
JCPS is committed to ensuring that its leaders are prepared to lead students forward in the classrooms and in life.
#JCPSForward
#LEADForward
Happy Friday, Explorer Families! This is Mrs. Sabo with an announcement. Please join me in welcoming Ms.Tiffany Long to East Clayton as your new Principal. Ms. Long is a current Assistant Principal at Smithfield Selma High School. She will bring valuable experience and a strong commitment to supporting students, staff, and families. We are excited to have her join the Explorer team and look forward to the contributions she will make to the East Clayton school community.
Also, we welcome Katie Olmstead who will be transitioning to our school as the new Assistant Principal. Ms. Olmstead is the current Assistant Principal at Wilson's Mills Elementary School.
At the same time, I would like to congratulate Ms. Mellette, who will be transitioning to West Johnston High School next school year. We are grateful for the leadership, dedication, and positive impact she has had on the East Clayton Elementary school. We know she will be missed at East Clayton, but we are excited for this new opportunity and wish her continued success.
On behalf of both Mrs. Mellette and myself, thank you for the wonderful years at East Clayton. We have absolutely loved working with your children, and leaving them is the hardest part of this transition. East Clayton will always have our hearts, and we will miss you all terribly. Please look for information from Ms. Long moving forward. Have a great summer!
Another great year is in the books, and another great graduating class is ready to conquer the world and fulfill their dreams!
#JCPSForward
#JCPSProud
I am calling to share an announcement with you. On July 1st, I will be transitioning to a new role as Principal at Riverwood Middle School.
Serving as your principal has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Over the past 4 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside incredible students, dedicated staff, and supportive families. Together, we have celebrated successes, overcome challenges, and built a strong school community focused on helping every child grow and thrive.
While I am excited for this next chapter, leaving East Clayton is not easy. This school and its people will always hold a special place in my heart. I am deeply grateful for the trust, partnership, and support you have shown me throughout my time here.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your children's educational journey. I will always be proud to be an Explorer, and I look forward to seeing all the amazing things East Clayton will continue to accomplish in the future.
Thank you, and best wishes to you and your family.
Please refer to the NC DHHS Sun Bucks Website for more information on how to qualify or enroll, here: https://bit.ly/3S7izpz
Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms in our Explorer Community! We hope you were loved and spoiled today. We have a lot of events in the upcoming weeks, so please listen closely. We will also post all of this information on the Explorer News via Dojo. This week is EOG spirit week! We will have a different theme each day to celebrate our learning this year. Check out the image on Dojo for more information.
On Monday, we invite all of our grades 3-5 families to our EOG Lunch and Learn Event and Prep Rally. You will have the opportunity to lunch with your child while we review the timeline of events for our next two weeks of testing. We will also be pepping students up to get them prepared for the big days ahead! We will cover topics such as communication of testing results, retesting, and Summer Reading Camp for 3rd graders. You don't want to miss this informative session.
Because of the Lunch & Learn event, students in grades K-2 will eat lunch in the classroom at a different time. Check with your child's teacher if you have any questions.
On Wednesday and Friday of this week, students in grades 3-5 will take their EOG tests. No student in that grade level will be able to be checked out of school earlier than 2pm on those days. Testing starts promptly at 9:30am, so please be sure your students are rested and at school on time. As always, we offer a free breakfast for all students.
We have very busy days ahead, so be sure to check our Calendar Events for everything happening as we end the year STRONG.
See you all tomorrow!
Happy Friday, Explorer Families! This is Mrs. Sabo with some updates for the week ahead. Next week is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week and we sure hope you will show our hardworking and dedicated staff some love. Please visit our Explorer News, linked here, with some ways that you can support our staff, including volunteering to cover duty free lunch in our cafeteria. On Friday, we also have Naha Brews back for both the morning and afternoon carpool. Don't forget that our end of the year testing is in full swing. We have linked our EOY dates as well so that you can mark your calendars for what's ahead. Have a great weekend!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lr6B2-9H4lXIhWamTPzdHu4VCLz5i1CBtp9bAuStKoU/edit?tab=t.0
We had an unforgettable night celebrating 20 exceptional JCPS educators at the 32nd annual Flame For Learning Award Ceremony in the presence of friends, family, colleagues, and more!
There were 218 nominations for this year’s title, representing 15 schools across the school district. Nearly all semifinalists were first-time nominees, underscoring the depth of outstanding educators across the JCPS team. Nominated by colleagues and administrators, the semifinalists advanced through a judging process that included interviews and submitting their classroom best practices for review.
On behalf of Johnston County Public Schools, the Johnston County Board of Education, and the Johnston County Coalition of Chambers, congratulations to all of the semifinalists, finalists, and James Johnson, the 2026 Teacher of the Year. 👏
Read more about the 2026 Flame For Learning Award Ceremony here: https://bit.ly/3QpEnMz
Our cap and gown pictures scheduled today with Legacy Studios had to be rescheduled due to an issue from Legacy. For your inconvenience, they have agreed to provide a digital copy of the photo to every family. Once they are processed, we will send these out to you. These are rescheduled for next Thursday, April 30th. Let us know if you have any questions, and we apologize for the chance.
There was so much excitement from the start! Before the games began, the teams paraded around the track to the cheers of the families and friends gathered in the stands.
From 100-meter races and running jump, to tennis ball throw, and bowling, our elementary Special Olympics athletes showed incredible athleticism, determination, and sportsmanship.
Huge thanks to Special Olympics Johnston County for partnering with JCPS to put together this great event at Smithfield-Selma High.
Stay tuned for day two!
Congratulations to Natalia Jaramillo from Cooper Academy, Darby High from Clayton High, Tracy Mitchell from East Clayton Elementary, and Meagan Leas from Archer Lodge Middle for being named a semifinalist for the 2026 Flame For Learning Award! 🎉
This recognition highlights the meaningful impact that these individuals make in their classrooms each and every day, and we are so proud to celebrate them at the annual Flame For Learning Awards on April 21st!
✨ Click here to see their Best Practice that set them apart: www.johnston.k12.nc.us/flameforlearning
Special Olympics Johnston County Spring Games start TOMORROW, and we are so excited!
Come out and support our Special Olympics athletes loud and proud on April 16th, 17th, and 24th at Smithfield-Selma High as they inspire us all! 💪
