The Rural Teacher Leader Network (RTLN) is designed to develop a sustainable network of Eastern NC rural educators who seek to improve their practice and foster community with teacher leaders from across districts. Participants will develop an equity and trauma-informed lens to guide their own advocacy efforts, strengthen their leadership skills, and build the capacity of other educators.
The RTLN was made possible through a generous grant made by the Anonymous Trust. That grant supported the inaugural cohort and will support a second cohort beginning in the Fall of 2022. The cohorts include educators from Duplin, Greene, Jones, Onslow, Sampson, Lenoir, Wayne, Robeson, Columbus, Scotland, Cumberland, Hoke and Bladen County schools.
Programming is facilitated by the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity in partnership with Leading EDge Learning. The plan is to expand the RTLN to other regions across the state in future years. Additional outreach and convening support is provided by the Southeast Education Alliance RESA, which includes several districts represented by educators in the Rural Teacher Leader Network.
Dudley Flood Center Launches Cohort 2
The 2022-2023 Cohort
April Modlin, Lenoir County
Shirley Renee Synan, Onslow County
Betty Smith, Onslow County
Michelle Warren, Sampson County
Nikki Thompson, Clinton City Schools
Patricia Velasco, Wayne County
Ashley Grant, Greene County
Maria Nancy Cloete Wayne County
Suzan DeNune Onslow County
Dana Oliver, Onslow County
Jesi Knowles-Brock, Wayne County
Leoni Anderson Whittaker, Sampson County
Amanda Robles, Lenoir County
Ashley Williams, Onslow County
Jamisha McClain-Raymond, Duplin County
Lisa Zeroske, Onslow County
Matthew Lococo, Greene County
Alexandra Cieckiewicz-Gray, Jones County
Megan Guitard, Onslow County
Tiffany Wardle, Onslow County
Angela Hair, Onslow County
Anna Gillespie, Sampson County
Anna Gurganus, Wayne County
Phillip Farney, Onslow County
Angela Williamson, Clinton City Schools
Jessie Van Cura, Lenoir County
Kaylah Blount, Lenoir County
Laura Parks, Jones County
Michael Giddens, Sampson County
Eunesia Taylor, Lenoir County
Katelyn “Elizabeth” Monroe, Sampson County
Samantha Johnson, Sampson County
Heather Watson, Wayne County
Jordan Nye Fekete, Onslow County
Tambrietta Williams-Baca, Wayne County
Adrienne Ringstaff, Jones County
The 2021-2022 Cohort
Dana Bergeron, Jones County
Christopher Brothers, Onslow County
Syrena Bryant, Wayne County
Arlisa Broadnax-Dail, Onslow County
Albertia Burgess, Onslow County
Mykkia Combs, Jones County
Kelly Dillman, Onslow County
Briana Edgerton, Wayne County
Kristen Ess, Sampson County
Kimberly Gagliano, Wayne County
Colleen Gallagher, Duplin County
Vanessa Garcia, Clinton City
Jane Greene, Duplin County
Alisha Gulick, Sampson County
Barbara Hayes, Jones County
Mercedes Hopkins, Wayne County
Jennifer Jackson, Sampson County
Kimberly Kammerer, Jones County
Kristen Kane, Duplin County
Emily Lahr, Greene County
Thomas Loftin, Greene County
Vevlyn Lowe, Clinton City
Arleta Maria Lupa, Onslow County
Chelsea McGraw, Sampson County
Anna Maxwell, Onslow County
Stephanie Orosco, Wayne County
Casie Penner, Wayne County
Catherine Ruiz, Sampson County
Meagan Stephens, Onslow
Sherida Suggs, Wayne County
Kimberly Sutton, Wayne County
Kristen G Taylor, Greene County
Kristine Travers, Sampson County
Carol Williams, Sampson County
Katelyn Williams, Onslow County
Johanna Wood, Wayne County
Rural Teacher Leader Network – West
In 2023, the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity (Flood Center) in partnership with LEADING Edge Learning, Participate Learning, the Center for Resilience & Learning launched a western RTLN cohort in collaboration with an additional partner, GEAR UP at Appalachian State University. The western cohort includes educators from Allegany, Ashe, Burke, Clay, Graham, Madison, Swain, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties. For more information on the launch of the western cohort of the Rural Teacher Leader Network read the full press release linked below.
2023 – 2024 Rural Teacher Leader West Network
Lucas Pasley, Alleghany County
Sarah Beckworth, Ashe County
Torrey Annas, Burke County
Angel Barnsback, Burke County
Tim Gallagher, Burke County
Heidi Galloway, Burke County
Kelly Del Gatto, Burke County
Eric Minetola, Burke County
Bridget Newman, Burke County
Amy Zittel, Burke County
Carla Beck, Clay County
Jill White, Clay County
Karla Jones, Graham County
Lisa Keener, Graham County
Karen Lail, Graham County
Josiah R Johnston, Madison County
Amelia Allman, Swain County
Romona Parsons, Swain County
Cori Braxton, Watauga County
Susan Irving, Watauga County
Blakely Lord, Watauga County
Sandra Ruppert, Watauga County
Danielle Stewart, Watauga County
Genal West, Watauga County
Jamie Miles, Wilkes County
Hannah Reece, Wilkes County
Amber Roark, Wilkes County
Brandy Sappington, Wilkes County
Heather Austin, Yancey County
Michelle Geouge, Yancey County
Leslie Hilliard, Yancy County
Sarah Laws, Yancey County
Sallie Senseney, Yancey County
Contact Us
For inquiries or further information, please email rtln@ncforum.org.