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Teacher Quality

For a student to be successful in our schools, the single most important factor is a quality teacher. Wake County has launched a bold effort to recruit the world's best teachers and ensure that they remain in Wake schools. Our community expects it, and our children deserve it.

Teacher of the Year - Cecilie Lewis

Cecilie Lewis

Cecilie Lewis, a sixth-grade language arts and science teacher at Centennial Campus Middle School, was named Wake County's 2001 Teacher of the Year.

A teacher for 12 years, Lewis tries to help students reach their true potential by connecting with them and showing them that she cares. Serving as their guide, she leads her students on an educational journey where they are encouraged to think for themselves and develop their own conclusions.

Principal of the Year - Sue Sisson

Sue Sisson

Kingswood Elementary School Principal Sue Sisson, was named Wake County's 2000 Principal of the Year.

Under her leadership, Kingswood earned School of Distinction honors in 1997 under the State ABCs of Public Education program, School of Excellence honors in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and was among the Top 25 Most Improved Schools in the state in 1999 and 2000.

National Board Certification

Ninety-three teachers in the Wake County Public School System earned certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. That brings the total of Wake County teachers who are nationally certified to 215, making WCPSS a national leader in the number of certified teachers. For a list of the 93 Wake County teachers who earned certification in 2000, please visit www.wcpss.net/news/2000-nb-cert-teachers.html.

Wake County also recognizes outstanding employees in other job categories. For a listing of other awards bestowed upon Wake County's educators, visit www.wcpss.net/news/poston/honors/.

Wake County Schools Launch Teacher Quality Initiative

Wake County School Superintendent Bill McNeal announced a new four-point action plan designed to give teachers the respect they deserve, while taking steps to ensure teacher quality and improve teacher recruitment and retention.

The plan will

The plan was developed after Superintendent McNeal held a series of teacher forums where he and the cabinet listened to teachers' concerns. The plan incorporates recommendations from the Wake Education Partnership's Task Force on Teacher Excellence study, All for All:Teacher Excellence for Every Child.

Centura Bank Chairman Michael Patterson and UNC-CH School of Education Dean William Burke co-chaired the task force, which included representatives from Triangle-area universities and businesses, as well as teachers and parents. The report offers 24 recommendations to improve teacher quality, teacher recruitment and retention, and teacher professional development.

Average Salaries

Average salary for teachers:


Monthly $3,992
10-month $39,920
11-month $43,912
12-month $47,904

Salaries range from $27,750 to $64,068

Number of teachers

There were 6,358 teachers during the 2000-2001 school year.