News

Lenoir County Public Schools proudly hosted its annual Special Olympics event on Wednesday, bringing together more than 100 student-athletes and dozens of dedicated volunteers for a day centered on inclusion, perseverance, and celebration.

Lenoir County Public Schools students recently took part in two exciting Battle of the Books competitions, showcasing their passion for reading, academic excellence, and teamwork across elementary, middle, and high school levels. From nail-biting finishes to standout performances, this year’s events highlighted both the depth of student preparation and the growing competitiveness of the program across the district.

Last year at Moss Hill Elementary School, a small group of students began meeting with a simple purpose: learn the tools on their iPads well enough to help others use them better. What started as the Moss Hill Tech Team has now grown into Student Innovation Teams in every school across Lenoir County Public Schools.

The idea is straightforward, but the impact is anything but small. Students are not just completing assignments on a device. They are building presentations from the ground up, animating ideas, troubleshooting problems, and walking into classrooms ready to support both peers and teachers.

Lenoir County Public Schools hosted a memorable evening of celebration and recognition during its Exceptional Children (EC) Awards Night, honoring students with disabilities from across the district for their achievements, growth, and determination throughout the school year.

Education leaders from across southeastern North Carolina gathered at Lenoir County Public Schools Wednesday for a regional meeting focused on collaboration, innovation and advancing student success.

The meeting brought together superintendents from North Carolina’s Southeast Region, along with Southeast Education Alliance Executive Director Kathy Spencer, to discuss shared priorities, regional initiatives and strategies to strengthen public education across the region.

Inside classrooms, gyms and media centers across Lenoir County Public Schools, science is not just a subject. It is a hands-on journey fueled by curiosity, experimentation and discovery.

That journey was on full display during the district’s annual Celebration of Science, where 82 students presented 53 projects that advanced from individual school science fairs. The projects reflected weeks of research, testing and data analysis, showcasing the depth of scientific  thinking taking place across the district.

More than $40,000 in grant awards will allow Lenoir County Public School educators to provide special learning opportunities for thousands of students this school year, all thanks to the community’s support of annual fundraising events championed by the Lenoir County Education Foundation and its parent organization, the Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce.

Career Development Month is a time when schools across the nation celebrate the importance of helping students explore their interests, build practical skills, and imagine the future that fits them best. In Lenoir County Public Schools, that commitment extends far beyond a single month. It is built into the daily work of helping students discover what is possible through hands-on learning, exploration, and strong partnerships with local industries.

The day before Halloween at Northwest Elementary School, the reading lesson for Leah Jones’ kindergarten class centered on “Pumpkin Jack,” a story about children who carved a jack-o-lantern, set it outside to melt into the ground and, when the time came, saw its leftover seeds grow into vines, flowers and little Pumpkin Jacks. But in this teacher’s telling, there was much more to the story.

Lenoir County Public Schools educators have once again proven that innovation thrives in their classrooms, and this year their bright ideas are shining brighter than ever.

For the 2025-2026 school year, 65 LCPS teachers have been selected to receive Bright Ideas Grants from Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation, earning a combined $51,602.16 to bring creative, hands-on learning projects to life. This marks a new high for LCPS, surpassing last year’s record of 62 winners and $47,685.41 in grant funding.

When the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education added to the roster of STEM Schools of Distinction with a high-profile announcement last month, no school district in the state added more names to that list than Lenoir County Public Schools.

The recognition of Northwest Elementary School, EB Frink Middle School and Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School made LCPS one of only two districts with multiple honorees this year and, on the list of 63 STEM Schools of Distinction accumulating since 2014, one of only four districts with three or more recognized schools.

With local employers hungry for qualified workers and more students anxious to go to work, Lenoir County Public Schools has stepped up with instructional programs and personalized assistance that high school graduates can literally take to the bank.

When it came time to name a new director of facilities maintenance, Lenoir County Public Schools had to look no farther than a middle school principal prized for his experience with LCPS, appreciated for his nuts-and-bolts knowledge of school operations and renowned for his get-it-done attitude.

Dr. Stephanie Harrell, the STEM Coordinator for Lenoir County Public Schools, is one of only 15 educators
statewide selected for the 2025–26 NC Space Education Ambassadors program, a NASA-affiliated
initiative housed at NC State University through the NC Space Grant.

On Thursday, at its annual Retirement Luncheon, Lenoir County Public Schools celebrated the people and the process by honoring 36 individuals, including Hunter, who – at least for now – are calling the 2024-2025 school year their last. The retirees, in aggregate, represent 952 years of service. They wrapped up their careers at 21 different LCPS schools and departments, completing tenures that ranged in length from 16 to 45 years.