• The DEEL Team

    The Division of Educator Effectiveness and Leadership (DEEL) consist of 9 Pitt County Schools employees charged with facilitating the R3 (Recruit, Retain, Reward) Program to recruit, retain, and reward excellent educators to ensure success for every child every day. 

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Courtney Adkins

Courtney Adkins, Beginning Teacher Support Coordinator
Over the last 18 years Courtney has served in many different facets in the education system. She began her career as a 4th grade lateral entry teacher. During the next 3 years she was able to complete her requirements for her elementary teaching license. Courtney served the next 10 years teaching various grade levels and subjects. She returned to ECU and earned a Masters Degree in elementary education and later a Supervision and Curriculum licensure add-on. With the addition of Instructional Coaches to Pitt County, Courtney applied and was offered the position at Ridgewood Elementary. She has maintained this position over the last 8 years. Courtney has worked closely with educators and administration to meet the ever changing needs and requirements for today’s classrooms. Courtney is truly excited to start this next chapter in her career as a Lateral Entry Specialist and is looking forward to this new position.

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Lauren Bowers

Lauren Bowers, Professional Learning Coordinator

Having grown up in a family full of educators, Lauren Bowers always knew that her future career would be in education. In high school, a Teaching Fellows Scholarship to East Carolina University solidified her plan to become a teacher. Lauren graduated in 2003 from ECU and began teaching middle school in Wilson County. It wasn’t long before Lauren longed to teach in her hometown of Greenville, and she luckily got a job teaching at C.M. Eppes Middle School. CME afforded her the opportunity to work with many excellent educators and take on a variety of leadership roles. After 9.5 years in classroom, Lauren decided to further her opportunities and attend Graduate School at ECU for School Administration. As a NC Principal Fellows, Lauren was able to complete a full-time Assistant Principal internship at Bethel Elementary School. After graduation, Lauren got a job as the Assistant Principal at Lakeforest Elementary School. For the past two years, Lauren has worked diligently with the staff, students, and parents of Lakeforest to create a positive and effective learning environment for all stakeholders. In her newest role, Lauren will serve Pitt County Schools as the Teacher Leadership Coordinator.

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Lori Collins

Lori Collins, Director of Access and Opportunity

Lori Collins came to Pitt County Schools in 2013 as a teacher at AG Cox Middle School and later became an assistant principal during the school year. Lori is a graduate of North Carolina State University obtaining dual degrees, Bachelor of Science  in Biochemistry and Bachelor of Art in Chemistry. After spending seven years in the pharmaceutical industry, Lori followed her passion for education and obtained her teaching certificate through NC Teach and East Carolina University. And went on to be a Teacher of the Year Finalist for the Johnston County Schools. While employed with the district, Lori assumed roles as grade level chair, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) advisor, lead mentor, and department chair. In 2009 she graduated from ECU with a Master’s of School Administration and Curriculum Instructional. Lori led initiatives related to Science and STEM education including facilitating professional development for Science teachers throughout North Carolina as part of the North Carolina Inquiry Collaboration Network, Site Coordinator for Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) funded by the Smithsonian Institute to improve STEM learning in K-12 classrooms and training at WestEd in California. She has also written curriculum for middle schoolers through the Math Science Education Network, a STEM (Science Technology Education and Math) program at North Carolina State University, and worked in partnership with NASA to create a three-year summer space camp for students who may be first-generation college students. In 2023, Lori graduated from ECU with her Educational Doctorate Degree after successfully defending her dissertation title "Mentoring Minds and Building Support". While in Pitt County, Lori has worked with both Beginning Teachers, Mentors, and Students to provide equitable resources. Currently, she facilitates the Equity Advisory Council and the Alliance Group for BIPOC educators.

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Elizabeth Myers

Elizabeth Myers, Career Pathway Specialist

Elizabeth Myers graduated as an NC Teaching Fellow from UNC-Asheville in 1999 and taught middle school in Buncombe County from 2000-2004. After teaching a year in Japan, she and her husband moved back home to Greenville, NC in 2006, and she has been employed with Pitt County Schools ever since. Elizabeth taught 6-8 ELA and Social Studies at both Ayden Middle and Wellcome Middle and was the Instructional Coach at Ayden Middle School from 2014-2017. Elizabeth was a member of the Teacher Leader Cohort from 2011-2013. She is a trainer for Thinking Maps, Write from the Beginning, and Learning Focused, and is proud to have been Slide Certified at the Ron Clark Academy! When not at work, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her husband, Jason, and two daughters, Lucy and Ellie.

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Elizabeth Simmons

Elizabeth Simmons, Career Pathway Specialist

Elizabeth Simmons has been a part of the North Carolina educational system for 18 years. She graduated from the University of NC at Wilmington with a M.A.Ed. (2009) and B.A. (2004) degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Psychology. Her teaching career began in Onslow County, where she taught elementary school for 10 years. She continued teaching elementary school after moving to Pitt County in 2013. Since relocating, Elizabeth has held Advanced Teaching Roles in Pitt County, serving as a Facilitating and Collaborating Teacher. Her passion for science led to collaborative opportunities with Lead Science Teachers in Pitt County.  She also worked with the PCS STEM Coordinator as a part of the SSEC Strategic Planning Committee, with the goal to positively impact science and STEM instruction in the county.  Elizabeth believes that every teacher has a unique purpose that can be realized and obtained through a supportive educational system.

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Ashley Smith

Ashley Smith, Career Pathway Specialist

Ashley Smith comes to us with 25 years of experience in Pitt County Schools.  She has served as a teacher in kindergarten, first, and second grade classes, Reading Recovery, and worked as an Instructional Coach at Wintergreen Primary School.  Ashley worked with the North Carolina Teacher Academy on the Reading First Module which afforded her with opportunities to train with teachers all over the state.  She served as adjunct faculty at East Carolina University teaching courses to prospective teachers and with lateral entry programs.  Ashley conducted action research for the North Carolina Department of Instruction through the Governor’s Teacher Network and her results are published on NCDPI’s wiki page.  She also served as a Coach and facilitator for teachers conducting research with the North Carolina Action Research Network.  Ashley has three children who attended Pitt County Schools kindergarten through their graduation and she is honored to be working with the amazing educators in this community! 

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Kim Smith

Kim Smith, Career Pathway Specialist

Kim Smith graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in Child Development and Family Relations.  She began her teaching career in Johnston County as a lateral entry 4th grade teacher.  After three years in Johnston County, she joined Pitt County Schools where she served as a fifth grade teacher at Eastern Elementary and then went on to continue 16 more years of her career at Creekside Elementary. Kim is beginning her 20th year in the field of education with the bulk of her experience as a classroom teacher in grades 3rd - 5th.  She achieved her National Board Certification in 2010 and renewed in 2019. She enjoys supporting teachers on this same NBCT journey and was the South Central Attendance Area Leader.  She was afforded the opportunity to work with teacher leaders across the county as a Teacher Leadership Institute candidate in 2018.  Kim continued her experience as a leader of teachers by serving as a Facilitating Teacher and as an Instructional Coach at Creekside Elementary over the past five years.  She has two children who attended Pitt County Schools and her daughter is following in her footsteps and working on her degree in education at East Carolina University.  Kim is super excited about her new role at DEEL and wants to provide support for the amazing educators in this county.

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Shani Smith-Ampley

Shani Smith-Ampley, Career Pathway Specialist

Shani Smith-Ampley, proud New Yorker, graduated from East Carolina University in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Communication Arts and Art Education. Shani completed the National Board Certification process in 2008 and renewed in 2017 in Art Education. She taught Visual Arts to 6-8th grade students for 19 years at C.M. Eppes Middle School in Greenville, North Carolina. Working at C.M.E granted her the opportunity to serve in various leadership roles including as a School Improvement Team member, Restorative Discipline Co-Coordinator and Elective Team Chair. Shani’s true passion for working with teachers began in 2018 when she stepped into the collaborative role as Facilitating Teacher focused on the problems surrounding transitioning middle school students to high school and Equity through Culturally Responsive Teaching.  Shani is super excited to start this next chapter in her career as a Career Pathway Specialist who supports Pitt County School’s teacher leaders and adult learners.

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Tarisha Wade

Tarisha Wade, Office & Payroll Manager

Tarisha has been with Pitt County Schools since April 2024, having worked with Maryland Schools in a long career before moving to North Carolina. Tarisha can help support Principals and Directors reserve rooms at the Kathy Taft Center and is the first person visitors see when they come through the door.