Meredith alumna Carrie Swart Tulbert, ’01, principal of Mooresville Middle School, was named the 2014 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year during a luncheon ceremony held on May 1, 2014. She was selected from among eight regional finalists following interviews and on-site visits by a statewide selection committee.
Carrie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (with grades 6-12 licensure). Meredith’s teacher education program is unique in that students choose a content area as a major and also seek licensure in a field or grade level. As a result, graduates are experts in both a content area and in the tools of teaching.
Carrie led Mooresville Middle through one of the state’s first schoolwide 1:1 Digital Conversions. Today her school is a national model for using technology to support instruction. “Carrie is a pioneer who believes in the power of shifting school culture, thoughtful planning, and cultivating meaningful and productive relationships among teachers and student,” said State Superintendent June Atkinson.
She credits some of the successes at Mooresville Middle to a focus on school climate and culture. “School culture is a powerful component of education that is often overlooked. Many educational initiatives become pointless because there is a failure to evaluate and proactively develop school culture. As we implemented our 1:1 technology initiative, this became reality for Mooresville Middle School. We have now seen what a difference this intentional plan has made,” Carrie said.
In addition to her Meredith degree, Carrie holds a master’s degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Wingate University. She is a 2013 alumni of the Distinguished Leadership in Practice (DLP) program, a program sponsored by N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and developed and provided by the N.C. Principals & Assistant Principals’ Association (NCPAPA.) She also serves as a developer and facilitator of the Distinguished Leadership in Practice for Digital Learning program, a program currently being developed through a partnership between NCPAPA, the NCSU Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, and DPI.
“Carrie has proven herself to be an exceptional leader, distinguished in every way,” said Dr. Shirley Prince, NCPAPA Executive Director. “She is a true role model for all principals.”
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