HONORS, GRANTS, PUBLICATIONS, & RECOGNITION

2025 District Named Cognia District of Distinction (only 35 in the world)

2025 Named the NCASA Administrator of the Year.

2024 Received National Recognition for NAAM Foundation Best Communities in the Arts

2024 Received National Recognition for NAAM Foundation Best Communities in the Arts 

2023 Received National Recognition for NAAM Foundation Best Communities in the Arts 

2022 Received National Recognition for NAAM Foundation Best Communities in the Arts

2022 Achieved the NCASA District Scholastic Cup Award for Scholastic Achievement

2021 Received National Recognition for NAAM Foundation Best Communities in the Arts 

2021 Achieved the NCASA District Scholastic Cup Award for Scholastic Achievement

2021 Named the NCMEA Honor Administrator of the Year

2020 Received National Recognition for NAAM Foundation Best Communities in the Arts 

2019 Received National Recognition for NAAM Foundation Best Communities in the Arts 

2018 Nominated for the ASCD Trailblazer Award

2018 Selected to facilitate and host the NCASCD Twitter chat on Equity and Social Justice

2017 Achieved the NCASA District Scholastic Cup Award for Scholastic Achievement

2017 Duke Energy Foundation Grant for $35,000

2017 Selected and completed the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium- Aspiring Superintendent Program

2017 Recognized as Top 100 Educator to Follow on Twitter

2017 Selected to facilitate and host the NCASCD Twitter chat on Equity and Social Justice

2016 Co-Recipient of Chatham Reads Grant for $250,000

2016 Duke Energy Foundation Grant Recipient for $65,000

2015 Duke Energy Foundation Grant Co-Recipient for $70,000

2012 Village Pride Town Hero Award Recipient, Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools

2011 Selected as Principal of the Year – Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools

2011 Selected as Bronze Recipient of the Healthy Schools Award; recognized by President Clinton

2011 Feature Article with ASCD SmartBrief: “Forget the Plate … What About the Full Platter Issue?”

2011 Published Leadership Article in Wesleyan Life Publications: “I Dream of a School Called New Hope”

2010 Selected as an exemplary Finalist for the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award 

2010 Selected to serve as an education expert in the field editor for Corwin Press Publisher

2009 Selected by Superintendent to present at the CHCCS Back to School Convocation

2008 Selected for Triangle Leadership Doctoral Cohort 

2006 Awarded Golden Leaf Connectivity Grant ($1 million+ in funding)

2004 Dean’s List Lincoln Memorial University

2003 MFD Fire Prevention Teacher of The Year

2001 Best Presentation Award NCETC conference

2001Alamance Burlington schools ABCD (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) Award

2001 Winner of Schools to Career Grant Project 

2000 Awarded NC Best Website Award 

2000 Awarded Golden Globe Web Award

1999 Newlin Elementary Crystal Apple Award

1998 Newlin Elementary Crystal Apple Award

1997 Awarded Greensboro Green Teaching Award for Sustainability Activities

1997 Newlin Elementary Crystal Apple Award

1997 Alamance-Burlington Schools ABCD (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) Award

1997 North Carolina Student Teacher of the Year Award 

1995-1997 Dean’s List, UNC-Greensboro

1997 Published Article in Educational Leadership Journal on Gender Equity (listed as Amanda Crisp): “Challenging Gender Bias in Fifth Grade”

1997 Chosen for UNC-Greensboro research education team for gender equity project

1993-1997 Awarded Murphy Baptist Professional Women’s Association  4 year Scholarship