For Courtney Harris Currin, ’04, being named the Granville County Public Schools (GCPS) Principal of the Year was a surprising and humbling honor. “I was in a state of shock for at least three weeks,” she said. “It truly means more than I can even put into words.”

One of the parts Currin enjoyed most about being given the award was the platform it gave her to recognize the hard work and dedication of her school staff, who she says are doing great things in the realm of project-based and personalized learning for students.

Currin’s accolades in the education field go back to her time at Meredith, where she was an English major, N.C. Teaching Fellow, and member of the Honors Program. She also earned a Master of School Administration at NC State, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at UNC Wilmington.

“My purpose is to help every person I work with meet their highest potential,” said Currin. “Being an educator means having the opportunity to do that on a grand scale.”

Not only is she passionate about making an impact on students and other educators, Currin also believes in equipping others with the tools to create an impact of their own.

This passion for helping others succeed is why Currin became an educator in the first place. She can recall memories of herself as a child, pretending to teach a classroom of stuffed animals and dolls. But along the way, she discovered a new passion for helping other educators succeed, too. “Facilitating students’ abilities to fail forward, think critically, communicate well, and create new ideas is fulfilling,” she said. “And I became an administrator to support teachers in many of the same ways I supported students. My goal is always to see our staff and students thrive in a positive environment.”

Meredith provided a positive environment for Currin to thrive when she was learning many of the same principles she works to instill in her students and teachers today. “Between the content knowledge I gained through the English department and the pedagogical knowledge I gained through the Education and Teaching Fellows programs, my time at Meredith prepared me to lead in a classroom from the very first day,” she said. “As a school administrator, I have continued to see that Meredith produces high-quality candidates.”

Currin now serves as the director of federal compliance and personnel for GCPS, where she continues to serve in the field of education and make a county-wide impact. Her advice to students pursuing education at Meredith is to remain positive and forward-thinking.

“This job is hard,” she affirmed. “But don’t give up. The work you do in loving and facilitating learning for our children is worth every minute. Surround yourself with colleagues who truly believe that.”