The North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA) has named Dr. Matthew
Lutz, superintendent of the Currituck County Schools, as the recipient of the Dr. Dwayne Stallings Leadership Award, according to a recent press release.
The award is given every year to a North Carolina superintendent who has “demonstrated a strong dedication to public education, commitment to academic excellence, and a continual focus on professional growth and student learning” and is a member of the Northeast Regional Education Service Alliance (NERSA).
“I am humbled and grateful to receive this prestigious award, which celebrates the legacy of Dr. Stallings,” Lutz said. “There’s no greater honor than receiving recognition from your peers; but I am only as good as my team, and it’s been special.”
The award is in honor of Dr. Stallings, who was serving as the executive director of the NERESA when he passed away at the age of 63 in 2020. Stallings served in numerous roles in public education throughout his career, starting as a teacher in the Chowan, Gates, and Pasquotank school districts. He later transitioned into administrative positions, working as assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent in the Perquimans County School System. He received numerous awards for leadership through his career.
This award is given to NERSA superintendents with regard to the following criteria:
- Dedication to public educational leadership resulting in innovative programs for student success
- Commitment to academic excellence through collaboration with local and state educational leaders
- Continual focus on professional growth through personal learning and providing continuous learning opportunities for school district leaders
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Lutz has served in public education for more than 30 years, according to the press release, with 23 of those years being in administrative leadership. He was named superintendent of Currituck County Schools in 2020. Under his leadership, the district has “expanded key programs and initiatives, including preschool opportunities and mental health supports.”
“He proudly leads the growing district with a continued focus on inspiring excellence in every student,” the press release said.
The release notes Lutz’s “continued focus on inspiring excellence in every student.” While he served as superintendent, his district has “successfully implemented comprehensive Curricular and District Strategic Plans, achieved significant gains in student performance, completed two school expansion projects, and the construction of a new elementary school.”
The district has also won multiple honors under his leadership, earning its first district-wide accreditation in 2024 and being named one of 13 Purple Star Award Districts across North Carolina in 2026, which recognizes schools for policies that support military families.
“Dr. Lutz has served as superintendent of the Currituck County Schools for six years and he exemplifies the traits that guided Dr. Dwayne Stallings’ career in educational leadership,” NCSSA Executive Director Jack Hoke said in the release. “He has demonstrated a strong dedication to public education, commitment to academic excellence, and a continual focus on professional growth and student learning for the Currituck County Schools. He is very deserving of the leadership award honoring Dr. Stallings.”
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