Fayetteville, NC – During Wednesday's leadership meeting, in front of a room full of principals and district leaders, Dr. Melody Chalmers-McClain, associate superintendent of CCS' Student Support Services, was announced as the recipient of the 2023 Dr. Joseph Locklear/Ricky Lopes Central Services Employee of the Year Award.
A veteran educator, Dr. Chalmers-McClain was named the associate superintendent of Student Support Services in June 2022. From 2018 until 2022, she served as assistant superintendent of District Transformation and Strategic Initiatives, fervently supporting the district's schools and administrators. Additionally, she has 14 years of experience as a school administrator.
Dr. Chalmers-McClain's commitment to advancing education is evident through her previous and current memberships in organizations such as the North Carolina Principal's Advisory Council, the North Carolina Association of Principals and Assistant Principals Board of Directors, and the Governor's Commission on Access to a Sound Basic Education.
This award was established in 2015 to honor the legacy of Dr. Joseph Locklear and Ricky Lopes. Both of these school administrators gave unselfishly to the Cumberland County Schools for many years. The school system created this award to honor their legacy and recognize deserving employees for their outstanding work. Each year, the district's Principal of the Year chairs a committee that selects the award winner. Principals are asked to nominate Central Services employees who they feel are deserving of this recognition. CCS' 2023 Principal of the Year, Gemette McEachern, served as the chair of the selection committee.
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