RALEIGH, N.C. — The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) announced its Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year for 2024-2025 on Thursday, recognizing the outstanding contributions of educators in the district.
Principal of the Year:
Shejuanna Jacobs, the Principal of Leesville Road High School, has been awarded the title for the upcoming school year. With nearly two decades of experience in the WCPSS, Jacobs has been at Leesville since July of last year. Prior to this role, she served as principal at Rolesville Elementary, Dillard Drive Magnet Middle, and Apex Friendship Middle, along with experience at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Jacobs emphasizes the importance of trust and mutual respect in her leadership approach. “Recognizing the value of institutional knowledge, I learned from staff who have been part of the school for many years,” she stated. “Their guidance helped me avoid potential missteps and allowed me to honor the school’s history while working toward positive change.”
For her achievement, Jacobs received $1,000 for her school, an engraved award, a check for $1,000, a $100 gift card to Angus Barn, and several additional gifts.
Assistant Principal of the Year:
Sebastian Shipp has been named the Assistant Principal of the Year for 2024-2025. With 21 years of experience in the district, Shipp has served as the Assistant Principal at Millbrook Magnet High School since 2015. He began his career as a math teacher at Garner High School and previously held the assistant principal role at East Wake Magnet High School.
Shipp aims to foster transformational leadership within his school. “Feedback, both informal and formal, is the cornerstone of the school environment I strive to create,” he noted. “I view meetings not just as spaces to deliver information, but as opportunities to dialogue, where staff suggestions are not only encouraged but acted upon.”
Shipp received an engraved award, a check for $500, a $100 gift card to Angus Barn, a signed Carolina Hurricanes hockey stick and t-shirt, and a gift bag from Crossroads Chick-fil-A.
Both Jacobs and Shipp exemplify the dedication and leadership that contribute to the success of the Wake County Public School System.
