Guilford County Schools Employees Receive Statewide Awards

Three District Employees Recognized by the North Carolina Association of Educators

Contact: Laurie Hogan (336) 370-8307
Created: 3/30/2009 10:40:45 AM

Three Guilford County Schools (GCS) employees recently received statewide recognition from the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE).

Dr. Benita Lawrence, principal of Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary, was honored as the 2009 NCAE Principal of the Year. Martha Snavely, the district’s executive director of induction and professional development, received the 2009 NCAE Central Office Administrator of the Year Award. Also, Lena Murrill-Chapman, a media/technology specialist at Hairston Middle, received the 2009 NCAE Student Services Division Outstanding Leadership Award.

Lawrence, a veteran educator, began her career as a first-grade substitute. Later, she taught kindergarten, third grade and sixth grade. As her career progressed, she became a certified TEACHSTAT educator, was selected as one of the first participants of the N.C. Principal Fellows Program and served as an adjunct professor at Greensboro College.

Snavely, who first dreamed of becoming an educator as a child, has been an education advocate for almost 30 years. Throughout her career, she has served as a role model for teachers and students alike. Presently, Snavely works with newly appointed principals, providing them the support, information and feedback they need to be successful. She also assists the district’s Induction Support Coaches, who work with new teachers.

Murrill-Chapman received the NCAE Student Services Division Outstanding Leadership Award for her clear dedication to students and teachers at Hairston. In 2007, she started non-profit Handicapable's Mouse in Every House program at Hairston, where she sought funding to provide free computers to each seventh-grade student. She also provided free computers to colleagues who did not have a computer at home.

NCAE presented the awards on March 26 at its state convention in Raleigh, N.C.

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About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 71,000 students at 120 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. 

Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship.  For more information, visit the district’s Web site at www.gcsnc.com.