RALEIGH — Person County Schools Superintendent Rodney Peterson was named the Burroughs Wellcome Fund A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year for 2026 at an awards ceremony at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro last Thursday.
The award ceremony was organized by the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA) and NCASA’s core affiliate, the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA).
NCSSA President and Superintendent of Caldwell County Schools Don Phipps brought the nominees to the stage, introducing and playing a short video of each one. Following the conclusion of the nominee videos and other remarks, Peterson was named the winner.
“Lord have mercy,” Peterson said after receiving the award. “I can think of 114 other people that need to be here other than me.”
Peterson challenged others to keep their focus on the students and gave thanks for being selected as the winner, which includes a $5,000 award.
Before the award was given out, attendees watched a video message from Gov. Josh Stein, who thanked the superintendents, telling them that they “set the tone” to make sure all students get a high-quality education.
State Superintendent Mo Green also gave remarks, expressing his gratitude to the organizers of the award ceremony for “honoring leaders in education” and telling education leaders that “we appreciate you.”
Peterson, from Region 3 – Central, was one of eight regional superintendent finalists:
- Otis Smallwood, Bertie County Public Schools (Region 1 – Northeast)
- Matthew Cheeseman, Beaufort County Schools (Region 2 – Southeast)
- Tim Locklair, Moore County Schools (Region 4 – Sandhills)
- Brad Rice, Stokes County Schools (Region 5 – Piedmont-Triad)
- Andrew Houlihan, Union County Public Schools (Region 6 – Southwest)
- Eisa Cox, Ashe County Schools (Region 7 – Northwest)
- Kathy Amos, Yancey County Schools (Region 8 – Western)
The 2025 recipient of the award was Freddie Williamson, superintendent of Robeson County Public Schools.
Peterson will compete for the 2026 National Superintendent of the Year Award, to be given at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tennessee, on Feb. 12-14.
Two North Carolina superintendents have gone on to win the AASA National Superintendent of the Year award: Mark A. Edwards of Mooresville Graded School District (2013) and William R. McNeal Jr. of Wake County School District (2004)
Marvin Connelly Jr., superintendent of the Cumberland County Schools, won the AASA’s state-level award in 2024.
The 2026 award ceremony is available on the North Carolina Association of School Administrators’ YouTube channel.
