When I think about what makes Sampson County special, it’s not just the miles of farmland, the Friday night lights, or the sound of a school bus pulling out at sunrise. It’s the people — the teachers, parents, support staff, and students — who show up every single day determined to make a difference.
As superintendent, I have the privilege of seeing those moments up close: the early mornings, the late nights, and the quiet victories that don’t always make headlines. Those moments remind me that in Sampson County Schools, every child, every school, and every community truly matters.
This school year, our message is simple — we are moving forward with optimism and purpose. Even as our community changes, our commitment to children remains the same. Over the last few years, the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch has grown from 36 percent in 2022 to 69 percent today — a 92 percent increase. That statistic doesn’t define us; it drives us. It reminds us that our schools are places where challenges become opportunities, and where the strength of this community shines the brightest.
And despite these shifts, our students are achieving at the highest levels in our history. This past year, Sampson County Schools reached a record graduation rate of 87 percent — the highest our district has ever achieved. That number represents far more than diplomas. It represents perseverance, partnership, and a belief that together we can prepare every student for a future filled with promise.
This progress doesn’t happen by chance. It happens because of people like Summerlyn Faircloth, our Sampson County Schools Teacher of the Year, whose passion for learning lights up every classroom she enters. It happens because of leaders like Gaynor Hammond, our Principal of the Year, who shows what it means to build schools grounded in care, consistency, and high expectations. And it happens because of dedicated innovators like Alicia Leach, assistant principal at Lakewood High School, who is leading our new Community Schools program and connecting families, resources, and opportunities in powerful ways.
They are just three examples of what makes our district special. There are hundreds more — bus drivers and transportation staff who greet every student with a smile, custodians and maintenance crews who quietly keep our schools safe and welcoming, child nutrition workers who make sure our students are fed and ready to learn, office staff who are the friendly first face families see each morning, and teachers and support staff who refuse to give up on a single child.
Progress is not always loud. Sometimes it’s the steady rhythm of people doing the right thing, over and over again. It reminds me of the story of the stonecutter, who chips away at a mountain one strike at a time, knowing that the final crack isn’t what made the difference — it was every swing before it. In Sampson County Schools, that’s how we build success: one student, one teacher, one day at a time.
Our story is one of growth, unity, and relentless belief in what’s possible for our students. I invite you — parents, business owners, alumni, and neighbors — to join us in this work. Because when we stand together, we don’t just educate students. We build futures.
It Takes All of Us.