NC Superintendent of the Year to Speak at ECC Graduation

Dr. Valerie Bridges, superintendent for Edgecombe County Public Schools and NC Superintendent of the Year, will give the keynote address during graduation exercises at Edgecombe Community College on Friday, May 13.

Dr. Valerie Bridges, superintendent for Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS), will give the keynote address during Commencement at Edgecombe Community College on Friday, May 13.

Commencement will be an outdoor seated event on the Tarboro campus greenway. The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m.

Dr. Bridges is the 2022 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year.

She has served as superintendent for ECPS since 2017. Prior to this appointment, she served as associate superintendent for more than four years.

Dr. Bridges has worked in public education for more than 30 years, serving in all levels from teacher to administrator. After being named superintendent, she quickly implemented changes to foster an environment of inclusion and positivity, inspiring students in her district to achieve. Her efforts have led to a 70 percent increase in district schools meeting or exceeding growth requirements in the region.

Under Dr. Bridges’ leadership, ECPS has seen marked improvement in overall learning through the creation of the Micro School concept – a holistic approach tailored for the individual student to receive constant oversight and support, while also inspiring them to excel.

Since the micro schools were implemented in 2018, participating students have continued to outscore their non-micro school peers significantly on every state assessment. In addition, student discipline referrals have also decreased by approximately 50 percent.

For more information on ECC’s Commencement, please call (252) 618-6526 or email graduation@edgecombe.edu.