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Johnston County Manager Presents Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget Summary
Johnston County Manager Rick Hester presented the following budget summary to the Board of Commissioners during the May 19, 2025 Board meeting: Johnston County's proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 General Fund budget is presented at $402 million with a three cent property tax rate reduction from 67 cents per $100 value to 64 cents. Since Fiscal Year 2019-2020, the property tax rate has been reduced 11 cents (78 cents to 67 cents). This proposed budget reflects the Board of Commissioners' six priorities,
Perdue Named JCPS CTE Teacher of the Year
Ms. Susan Perdue, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher at Clayton High, has been selected as the Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) 2025 Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year. Ms. Perdue has been teaching at Clayton High for eight years and is a CTE Business and Marketing teacher. She teaches entrepreneurship and business management career pathways, and is also the school’s Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) Adviser...For more information and to continue reading
JCPS hosts Spring 2025 Special Recognition Celebration
Smithfield, NC - On Monday, May 5, 2025, Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) proudly hosted its Spring Special Recognition Celebration at Corinth Holders High. JCPS parents, families, JCPS leadership, and Johnston County Board of Education members attended the celebration that recognized more than 400 students and staff members for academic, athletic, extracurricular, and professional achievements. The event highlighted outstanding accomplishments in various categories, including: Battle of the Books,
Ms. Susan Perdue Named JCPS 2025 Career & Technical Education Teacher of the Year
SMITHFIELD, NC – Ms. Susan Perdue, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher at Clayton High, has been selected as the Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) 2025 Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year. Ms. Perdue has been teaching at Clayton High for eight years and is a CTE Business and Marketing teacher. She teaches entrepreneurship and business management career pathways, and is also the school’s Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) Adviser. She began her
PHS Students Experience Reality of Money
Through the State Employees Credit Union’s (SECU) Reality of Money Simulation, Princeton High School students were exposed to important financial learning points. This interactive, hands-on simulation transformed students into young adults by assigning them careers, salaries, and family scenarios that were used to make critical financial decisions about housing, meals, transportation, insurance, entertainment, and other common monthly expenses. Continue reading here...
Johnston County Public Schools Class of 2025 Graduation Dates
Johnston County Public Schools is pleased to announce graduation ceremony dates for our high schools for the 2024-2025 school year. For questions regarding a specific ceremony, please contact the specific school. Choice Plus Academy - May 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM West Campus Conference Center I 211 East Rose St., Smithfield, NC 27577 Clayton High School- May 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM Nixon-Fowler Stadium I 600 S. Fayetteville St., Clayton, NC 27520 Cleveland High School - May 23,
Melissa Pearce named JCPS 2023 Teacher of the Year
Cleveland High English teacher Melissa Pearce was named the Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) 2023 Teacher of the Year. With the naming Pearce made history, as she is the first person to ever receive the award twice. Pearce received the award for the first time 2007 and was named a finalist for the award in 2022. Pearce has been an educator with JCPS for the past 19 years. She has been teaching for 20 years, spending her first year teaching in Pamlico County. “It wasn’t quite home,” she said.
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 Athletic Hall of Fame Recipients Named at Annual Banquet
Johnston County Public Schools inducted six new members to the Johnston County Athletic Hall of Fame on May 7, during the annual Hall of Fame Banquet held at Princeton High. In the fall of 2005, the high school athletic directors and principals met with JCPS administrators and presented the need to preserve the accomplishments and memories of the men and women who established athletic history in Johnston County. A Hall of Fame committee consisting of JCPS personnel was encouraged to
Junior Women’s League of Smithfield Provisional Members Exceed Goal in Peanut Butter Collection for Children and Add Blessing Boxes
Smithfield, N.C. – The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield’s Spring Provisional class set a goal to collect 3,300 jars of peanut butter for Johnston County Public Schools’ students in the local BackPack Buddies program. This program provides children from low-income households with nutritious, kid-friendly groceries for the weekend when free school lunches and breakfasts are not provided. An astounding 4,932 jars of peanut butter of every size were collected through 14 Official Peanut Butter Buddies
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
SelmaWorks! Resource Fair Brings Workforce and Community Services to Selma Residents
SelmaWorks! Resource Fair Brings Workforce and Community Services to Selma ResidentsFree event targets residents most in need. April 4, 2022 – The SelmaWorks! Resource Fair will take place at the Richard B. Harrison Gymnasium from 10am-2pm on Friday, April 22. The event is a partnership between Capital Area Workforce Development (CAWD), NCWorks, Johnston Community College and Johnston County Public Schools. The resource fair will feature several organizations that provide services to help individuals in
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
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
