News

NEUSE CHARTER SCHOOL WINS DISTRICT BATTLE OF THE BOOKS COMPETITION

On Friday March 24, the Elementary Battle of the Books team at Neuse Charter School of Johnston County won the district competition. Led by staff members Loraine Iaquinto and Tracy Narron, the team consisted of 12 students in 4th and 5th grades. There were 15 novels on the Battle of the Books reading list. While each team member was only required to read 5, many read all 15 books on the reading list.    “It was a special honor for this year’s team to win Battle of the Books,” said Lower Academy

Learn About JCPS Summer Camps

DISTRICT C TEAMSHIPAttention Rising Grades 10-12 Looking for a way to enhance your teamwork and leadership skills this summer? In the Leaders at Work District C Teamship experience, students work together to solve real world problems for a real local business. A final pitch event allows students to present their proposal to industry representatives & community members. Check out this video to see last year's JCPS students in action: https://youtu.be/m6PFZ3cb9Js Dates: June 19-22 and June 26-29 (must

All Girls Robotics Team Sparks Interest in STEM

G-Force Robotics, an all girl robotics team, recently came to Glendale-Kenly Elementary to show third, fourth, and fifth grade students the robot that they built, named Electra.    Helen Rouse, a 3rd grader at Glendale-Kenly Elementary, was amazed at the size of Electra. She thought all it was going to do was just drive around, but when the team members explained how it could shoot a ball, she was sold.   Even more amazing for Rouse was the fact that only girls built Electra. Before entering

CvHS teacher named finalist for NCCAT Empower Beginning Teacher of the Year

Johnston County Public Schools 2022 Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year Gabe Patton was one of 27 educators who were named a finalist for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2023 Empower NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award.   Patton, a CTE-Aviation teacher at Cleveland High, was named the JCPS Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year in April 2022. The title allowed Patton to move on to compete for the NCCAT Empower Beginning Teacher of the Year, which

JOCO WORKS 2022 Sparks Career Interests for Eighth-Grade Students

Launched in 2019, the event was virtual for the last two years, this being the first year since the pandemic it was held face-to-face again. More than 3,000 eighth-grade students of Johnston County Public Schools attended JOCO WORKS 2022. Students were taken to JCC in Smithfield where students had the opportunity to connect with more than 40 local industries, including Grifols, NC Department of Transportation, and Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk, one of the largest employers in Johnston County, was the

Neuse Charter School Senior Commended in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program

Amanda Thigpen, Principal at Neuse Charter School, announced today that Senior Megan Broadwell has been named a Commended Student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented to this scholastically talented senior. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will

Citizens of Johnston County to Vote on a $177 Million School Bond

The Citizens of Johnston County will have the opportunity to vote on a $177 million school bond on November 8. It is important that our community stakeholders understand Johnston County Public Schools' facility needs and the plan to address them with not only a 2022 Bond referendum, but future, anticipated bond and capital funding as well. Facilities are one of the most influential, and limiting factors in building a high-quality Career & Technical Education (CTE) program. There are four very real issues

Business Owners: Can You Benefit From a Business Coach?

Running a business can be tough! Steering a business successfully through the inevitable challenges and obstacles can feel overwhelming. If you're a business owner who's aware you're in need of some additional support, inspiration, or skills to make your life easier and your business better, have you considered a business coach? Business coaches are experts in the techniques needed to run a business successfully. Ideally, they have sector-specific experience as well as experience in managing significant

Neuse Charter Schools Installs RhinoWare Door Lockdown System

Smithfield K-12 Charter School chooses leading safe room technology in response to ongoing security threats at schools around the country. Neuse Charter School kicked off the 2022-2023 school year with a new line of defense for students and staff on Monday, August 8th. The only K-12 independently operated charter school in Johnston County is pleased to announce the installation of the RhinoWare® Door Lockdown System. The new security system will give Neuse Charter School students, educators, and staff the

Teacher Assistant of the Year rewarded for good works

Johnston County Public Schools Teacher Assistant Chellie Cherry from West Smithfield Elementary was named the 2022 Teacher Assistant of the Year.    The reason is crystal clear. A dedicated employee of Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) for nearly 30 years, she has spent twenty-two of those years as a teacher assistant, an amazing feat in and of itself. The cherry on top is that she is a teacher assistant of exceptional students.   A native of Johnston County and a graduate of

2022 Johnston County Teacher of the Year is Homegrown Success

Four Oaks Elementary third grade teacher Jennifer Beninate was named the 2022 Johnston County Teacher of the Year at the annual Flame for Learning Award banquet on April 26.  Beninate is the epitome of a teacher, which by definition is someone who imparts knowledge and enlightens. It’s immediately obvious that teaching is her calling. She draws inspiration from her idol Mary Poppins and speaks to her students lovingly and calmly. “Teaching is just a way I get to be Mary Poppins every day,” she

JCPS TA of the Year is Chellie Cherry, West Smithfield Elementary

Johnston County Public Schools teacher assistant Chellie Cherry from West Smithfield Elementary was named the 2022 Teacher Assistant of the Year at their organization's annual banquet.  Teacher Assistants work alongside teachers to give students additional attention and instruction. Darrick McNeill is the Principal of West Smithfield Elementary. Cherry’s coworkers said that she is beyond deserving of the Teacher Assistant of the Year award, and is an integral part of the West Smithfield Elementary

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88 donates 500 book bags to JCPS

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88 donates 500 book bags to JCPS Written By: Robin Koppen, JCPS Communication Specialist   SMITHFIELD, NC - The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #88 (FOP 88) bought and donated 500 backpacks to help children in Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS).  Members of the FOP 88 worked alongside JCPS school social workers, school counselors, student advocates, school nurses, assistant principals, and some central office staff to fill the bags on Thursday, Mar. 17, at the

Celebrating the Voices and Passions of Local FarmHers

Smithfield, N.C. --  The Junior Women's League of Smithfield, in partnership with the Johnston County Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher program and JoCo Grows Agriculture Committee will host Ask A Farm(HER), a local farmer Q&A panel featuring female farmers from Johnston County on Monday, February 7, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m at Johnston County Ag Center.     The purpose of the Q&A panel is to give Johnston County citizens an opportunity to hear farmers discuss the issues of importance to

LEADERSHIP JOHNSTON LAUNCHES CLASS OF 2022

SMITHFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA, January 15, 2022— A fully engaged Leadership Johnston program returns to Johnston County this year! The eleven-month program is designed for those who want to learn more about the county while developing and refining leadership skills. Through a variety of personal growth opportunities, individuals will gain a more in-depth understanding of the many facets of Johnston County, build crisis leadership and change management skills, and learn the skills necessary for effectively

JCC Offering Free Workshop for Underemployed and Unemployed

JCPS Utilizes App to Meet the Needs of Students

Johnston County Public Schools has partnered with Purposity, an app connecting users with one-to-one needs in their community.    The partnership aims to fulfill the essential needs of students and families in Johnston County that have fallen on hard times, allowing the community to demonstrate generosity with a purpose.    Britney Gibson, the district’s McKinney Vento and Foster Care Liaison, documented nearly 400 homeless students last school year. This year, due partially to the effects of

Johnston County Schools - Selma Middle welcomes 12 new educators

Selma Middle welcomes 12 new educators Selma Middle School has welcomed 12 new educators to its halls for the 2015-2016 school year. Joining the team are Tabitha Ammons, Alexander Burgess, Samantha Determan, Patricia Ann Leitner, Michael Llaury, Cynthia Markham, Shawna Marie Phillips, Emily Shelton, Brandon Sullivan, Aaron Tipping, Chrystal Trammell, and Kimberly Whipple. Kimberly Whipple will be joining the fifth grade team at Selma Middle. She is a graduate of California University and Edinboro University

Breeden and Sawrey join JCC trustees, Daniels is reappointed

Johnston Community College welcomed two new trustees and reappointed another at its July board meeting.  Jonathan Breeden of Clayton is an attorney in the Cleveland community and helps clients in the areas of family law, criminal defense, estate matters, and contracts.  Breeden earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from N.C. State University and his law degree from Campbell University.  He is also a member of the Greater Cleveland Athletic Association Board of Directors and Crossroads

Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce recognizes local SuperStar Teachers

The Education Committee of the Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce honored seven local elementary school teachers on November 3 at its semi-annual Semester SuperStars Luncheon at the Sleep Inn & Suites in Smithfield.  These teachers were nominated by their principals and recognized as outstanding educators in the Smithfield-Selma area. The teachers were given a plaque and a bag full of items from Chamber members. A similar luncheon will be held in the spring for outstanding middle and high

Johnston Community College Performing Arts announces 25th Anniversary Concert Series

The Performing Arts at Johnston Community College is proud to announce the 25th Anniversary Concert Series line-up.  Season tickets are currently on sale and individual tickets will go on sale August 5th.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the JCC Box Office at (919) 209-2099 or by visiting www.jccperformingarts.com<http://www.jccperformingarts.com>.  Patrons wishing to purchase 3 or more shows may do so as season ticket holders.  Discounts are offered for 3+ shows, military personnel, students, and

JCC Medical Office Student is Academic Excellence Winner

After 18 years of working in the airline industry, Margaret Raynor decided to retire in 2005. She tried several different jobs over the next six years, but she still wasn’t fully satisfied. “One day my husband and I were sitting around talking, and he suggested I go back to school and pursue a career in the medical field,” Raynor of Smithfield recalled. “At first, I didn’t think that was a good idea, because of my age. I was thinking someone my age would have a hard time focusing, concentrating on school