Pitt County Principal named Principal of the Year

State Superintendent June Atkinson commended Lassiter on his selection. “Strong principals support their staff and students, and build successful school environments,” she said. “Steve makes a special effort to celebrate all of his teachers’ accomplishments and consistently provides positive affirmation to students so that they make good choices and work hard toward academic success. As a result, students and teachers look forward to coming to school each day.”

State Board of Education Chairman Bill Cobey also commended Lassiter on his selection as the state’s principal of the year saying, “The common thread that runs through excellent public schools is strong leadership. Steve is a wonderful example of the quality principals leading our public schools. Thank you to Wells Fargo for its long-standing partnership that enables us to publicly recognize these outstanding men and women.”

In naming Lassiter the 2015 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, Juan Austin, Wells Fargo Carolinas Community Affairs Manager, said, “Through Steve Lassiter’s leadership, he has created a stellar example of what public education can achieve by involving parents, teaching strong character, providing a safe and loving environment for learning and, most of all, placing students’ needs above all else. Our support of this program allows us to honor exceptional school leaders like Steve for the work they do to prepare young people for successful futures in a growing global economy.”

Creating an environment that supports high standards for professional practices is a top priority for Lassiter. “It’s important to offer teachers the opportunity to reflect on their practices and collaborate with their peers in a non-evaluative way. Professional Learning Communities and Instructional Rounds encourage adult learning and growth, which leads to increased student achievement,” he said. Lassiter added that he also found these opportunities stimulate excitement and energy among faculty participants.