• The Public Information Office

    Pitt County Schools would like to introduce the reorganization of their District Communication Team. Each member has a unique skill set that will lead the district in effective communication strategies. The District Communication Team consists of: 

    • Beth Ulffers, Director of Outreach and Public Relations
    • Tom McClellan, Public Information/Media Relations Officer
    • Kate Kosolapova, Digital Media Communications Specialist


    "I am thrilled to introduce the reorganization of the district communication team," Superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker said. "Beth, Tom and Kate each bring unique skill sets that will enhance Pitt County Schools' ability to effectively communicate with our parents and students, staff and community. As we work to engage our community and school system through the Strategic Plan, this team will play a crucial role in its implementation over the coming years. We emphasize strong communication with our school community and I know this team will play an integral role in that.”


    Beth Ulffers

    Director of Outreach and Public Relations

    Beth Ulffers serves as Pitt County Schools Director of Outreach and Public Relations while also providing district leadership and advocacy as executive director for the Pitt County Educational Foundation and Partnership for Progress, holding the latter roles since 2020.

    An oft-recognized and long-time music educator, Ulffers spent 13 years in the classroom at Wintergreen Primary School where she was a two-time WPS Teacher of the Year selection. She also earned PCS (2012-13) and North Carolina Music Educators Association Elementary (2017) Teacher of the Year honors, and provided clinical instruction and was a lecturer at East Carolina University before moving into a full-time administrative capacity (with PCS).

    Ulffers' commitment to community and district stewardship includes engagement in the Pitt County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute and the PCS Teacher Leadership Institute (First Cohort). From 2007 to 2020, she served the North Carolina Music Educators Association as a co-chair, chair and mentor program chair for both its elementary honors chorus and elementary section.

    Additionally, Ulffers has spearheaded many other community endeavors such as co-founding Sound Adventure, organizing Drum Circles, co-creating and producing Arts Advocacy and collaborating with ECU's Coastal Winds Faculty Quintet on a performance of "Peter and the Wolf" in 16 PCS schools dating back to 2011.

    Ulffers earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in music from East Carolina University and added teacher certification in music education, also from ECU, in 2000. She is also national board certified in early/middle childhood music and holds professional affiliations with Alpha Delta Kappa, National Association for Music Educators, North Carolina Music Educators Association, North Carolina School Public Relation Association and Sigma Alpha Iota.


    Tom McClellan

    Public Information/Media Relations Officer

    Tom McClellan, who has over 30 years of service-oriented communications, public relations, crisis management and administrative experience, most recently served as assistant athletics director overseeing the media relations division at East Carolina University since 2004 before his appointment at PCS in May, 2022.

    His efforts at ECU were recognized nationally with multiple selections as a Super 11 Team Member (top 11 FBS sports information offices for outstanding services provided) by the Football Writers Association of America. During his tenure with the Pirates, McClellan also handled NCAA Media Coordinator duties for four baseball regional tournaments and directed communications operations for a department that featured 18 sport programs.

    Prior to his move to Greenville, McClellan spent a total of eight years at Georgia Southern University and four at Stetson (Fla.) University in similar roles. He was part of four FCS national championships while working with the Eagles and headed media operations for two NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Regionals during his stay with the Hatters.

    McClellan earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations from Sam Houston State (Texas) University and was the recipient of the school's Distinguished Journalism Alumni Award. As an undergraduate, he was a four-year member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and served as the chapter's president and treasurer.


    Kate Kosolapova

    Digital Media Communications Specialist

    Kate Kosolapova joined the Pitt County Schools Communications Team in September, 2022 as its digital media communications specialist.

    In her role, Kosolapova manages strategic content for all PCS social media accounts across various platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. In addition to coordinating, creating and delivering visual presentational aspects of the district's website which consists of photos, graphics and video, she monitors individual school social media efforts to collaboratively enhance messaging throughout the system's 38 campuses.

    Kosolapova also serves as a critical asset to not only the team's community outreach and public information areas, but to various administrative units such as the human resources division. She spearheads various special project initiatives to promote external and internal advertising campaigns aimed at employee recruitment and retainment, respectively.

    Before her appointment at PCS, she worked in a similar capacity as a digital communications specialist with the Vidant Health Foundation which followed a position as a media relations specialist at Pitt Community College. While at PCC, she provided media coverage by utilizing images, video and social media posts, which included planned weekly packages that were created, filmed and edited to promote the school by featuring its students, faculty, donors and staff. Kosolapova also gained experience through an internship with Greenville Utilities, working on a digital storytelling campaign while serving in its public information office.

    She earned a bachelor's degree with a concentration in journalism from Taurida 'V.I. Vernadskiy' National University (Ukraine) in 2010 before relocating to the United States and receiving an associates degree from PCC in 2018 and graduating Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in communication (PR emphasis) from East Carolina University in 2020.