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Person County Schools Superintendent Dr. Rodney Peterson — who has served in public education for more than two decades — was named the Burroughs Wellcome Fund 2026 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year at a ceremony in Greensboro on Thursday.
The annual honor is presented jointly by the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA) and the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA), according to a press release, and the award ceremony and selections process is sponsored by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
“Dr. Peterson has been a champion for children throughout his career as an educator and as a district leader,” said NCSSA Executive Director Jack Hoke. “He is a great professional and is held in high regard by those in his community and statewide by his peers.”
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Since becoming superintendent in Person County in 2017, Peterson has worked to address systemic inequities, the release says, “with a particular focus on improving outcomes for Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students who were underperforming in reading proficiency compared to their peers.”
In response, Peterson helped launch Person County School’s dual language immersion program, which has since expanded into a K-8 bilingual pathway. According to the release, the district is working to extend it into STEM programming and “continue building systemic solutions that transform student achievement across the district.”
In accepting his award, Peterson said he was grateful for both the recognition and for the dedication of his colleagues across the state. He said there is “a lot of noise out there” that leaders deal with, and he challenged his peers to be team leaders and keep their focus on the students.
“There’s 114 people more deserving of this,” he said in the release. “Every day they sacrifice family, and they sacrifice time. And to be recognized amongst them, to be able to represent them, is an honor.”
Peterson succeeds the 2025 Superintendent of the Year, Public Schools of Robeson County’s Dr. Freddie Williamson, who has worked in public education for more than 40 years.
As Superintendent of the Year, Peterson will serve as an advisor to the State Board of Education, and he will represent the state for the National Superintendent of the Year Award, to be given at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education in February. The honor also includes a $5,000 award.
“The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is pleased to sponsor the NC Superintendent of the Year Award and banquet to celebrate the commitment to excellence in education that shapes the future of our students,” said Dr. Louis Muglia, president and CEO of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. “The unwavering passion and innovative leadership of the honoree and their colleagues in school districts across North Carolina inspires us all to strive for a brighter tomorrow in our state’s public schools.”
NCSSA has recognized Superintendents of the Year since 1988, according to its website. On Thursday, Peterson was recognized along with the other regional superintendents of the year:
- Northeast: Dr. Otis Smallwood, Bertie County Public Schools,
- Southeast: Dr. Matthew Cheeseman, Beaufort County Schools,
- Sandhills: Dr. Tim Locklair, Moore County Schools,
- Piedmont-Triad: Dr. Brad Rice, Stokes County Schools,
- Southwest: Dr. Andrew Houlihan, Union County Public Schools,
- Northwest: Dr. Eisa Cox, Ashe County Schools, and
- Western: Kathy Amos, Yancey County Schools.
In a video message shared at the ceremony, Gov. Josh Stein thanked all the winners for their leadership across the state and its schools.
“The work that you do each day is critical for students, teachers, and all the other folks who keep our public schools running day in and day out,” Stein said. “…Thank you for your service, your vision, and your steadfast commitment to North Carolina students. Each of this year’s finalists is an exceptional superintendent and leader who has made a huge difference in the lives of so many students, teachers, and staff. I’m incredibly grateful for your service.”
You can watch the ceremony in the video below. You can watch a video about Peterson’s leadership at the 47-minute mark.
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