If authentic enthusiasm and a few common-sense strategies are the secrets to closing achievement gaps, the 2018-19 North Carolina Principal of the Year Tabari Wallace has the answers. 

Wallace recently spoke to the current class of principal interns as part of UNC Pembroke Master of School Administration (MSA) March Seminar. Wallace is the principal of West Craven High School in New Bern. Recently invited by Dr. Olivia Oxendine, MSA program director, Wallace underscored the importance of building collective confidence through relationships.

Supporting his philosophy with hard data, Wallace repeated the statement, “They said we couldn’t do it, but we did it.”

In addition to excellent mentors in education, Wallace credits his football career at East Carolina University for teaching him the skills that he practices today. The Wells Fargo competition is both lengthy and rigorous. As part of holding the title, the Principal of the Year advises the state superintendent and the state Board of Education.