WCPS names Beginning Teacher and Instructional Assistant of the Year

GOLDSBORO — On Tuesday, May 9, Wayne County Public Schools named its Beginning Teacher of the Year and its Instructional Assistant of the Year.

Northwest Elementary School first grade teacher Abbie Walton was named the 2023-2024 WCPS Beginning Teacher of the Year.

“Ms. Walton has a calling upon her life to be a teacher and has accepted this call with enthusiasm, innovation and passion,” said Northwest Elementary Principal Sheila Wolfe. “Ms. Walton is firm and fair with classroom management while being structured yet creative. She engages and captivates her students daily. She also embraces new challenges with ease and has an unrelenting courage to seize opportunities to advocate the best for their students while aspiring to increase parent involvement.”

Walton has taught for the past three years.

Meadow Lane Elementary School instructional assistant Eliza Gregory was named the 2023-2024 WCPS Instructional Assistant of the Year. “Mrs. Gregory works hard to maintain professional relationships with students’ families and the community,” said Meadow Lane Elementary Principal Ashley Radford. “Mrs. Gregory assists all of our staff with teaching strategies and helps colleagues with ensuring licensure guidelines/protocols are being implemented. She advocate for her students. She also has a passion for early intervention and has assisted greatly in creating a safe, inviting, and social emotional learning focused classroom.”

Mrs. Gregory has served as an instructional assistant for the past five years. She currently works in a Pre-Kindergarten classroom.

During the recognition program, 34 teachers were honored with a certificate for completing the district’s three-year beginning teacher program. Nine school-level Beginning Teachers of the Year nominees were recognized, as well as Spring Creek Middle School teacher Jason Sampson, who was named a finalist for the district award. Additionally, 28 school-level Instructional Assistants of the Year were recognized with a certificate for their achievement.

The celebration and recognition ceremony was held at the WCPS Professional Development and Family Engagement Center.

— From the Wayne County Public Schools website