North Carolina Public Schools
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 11:12 am

Nine public school leaders from across the state have been recognized as regional Principals of the Year.

On May 15, one will be named the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year at a ceremony hosted at The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary.

"Being a principal is a unique role that combines leadership, management and people skills, pedagogical knowledge and a lot of hard work," said North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice "Mo" Green. "These finalists are skilled professionals who help others succeed. They create programs to meet the needs of students and their families, deliver professional development and support to teachers and other educators and establish community partnerships that bring real-world learning to students."

The Wells Fargo Principal of the Year is an ambassador for the state's approximately 2,700 principals. The individual selected for this honor serves in an advisory capacity to the State Board of Education for a two-year term and on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Public School Forum.

"At Wells Fargo, we are proud to celebrate the outstanding principals who lead with passion, vision and dedication across North Carolina," said Suzie Koonce, Vice President for Philanthropy and Community Impact for Wells Fargo. "Their commitment to excellence inspires us, and we are honored to support their efforts in building stronger schools and communities. Together, we can empower the next generation of leaders and contribute to the continued growth and success of our great state."

The Wells Fargo Principal of the Year Award was introduced in 1984 to recognize the critical role of the principal in establishing a culture that supports the pursuit and achievement of academic excellence in North Carolina schools.

This year's ceremony will be livestreamed on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook. Follow along on social media at #NCTOYPOY.

To learn more about the program, visit https://www.dpi.nc.gov/educators/educator-recognition-programs/wells-fargo-north-carolina-principal-year-program.

Representing the North Carolina Western region is Jennifer McBrayer of Chase Middle School.

Jennifer McBrayer doesn't feed the social media trolls - but she does combat their rumors with facts.

She uses her social media platforms to promote understanding about complicated topics like school funding, engaging directly with parents and community members. She also meets with state legislators, county commissioners and other public officials to advocate for policies that support students and teachers.

"I strive to be someone stakeholders can trust to listen, respond fairly and act with integrity," McBrayer said. "Even when difficult conversations are necessary, I approach them in ways that I hope preserve relationships and allow the school community to move forward together in the best interest of students."

When McBrayer became the Chase Middle School principal in 2023, student conduct was a significant concern among teachers and parents. By setting and enforcing consistent expectations for discipline, referrals have gone down by more than 37%, reducing lost instructional time.

In addition, the school's results from the bi-annual Teacher Working Conditions Survey show increased educator satisfaction with both student conduct and the overall school culture.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Chase sheltered medically fragile patients and housed supplies, with McBrayer leading logistics and communication with the various relief agencies and local government entities. She continues to coordinate a variety of community partnerships to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students.