The Teacher Leadership Academy (TLA) is a year-long program that helps teachers grow as leaders while staying connected to their classrooms. Through hands-on learning and collaboration, participants explore how teaching, leadership, and community connections work together to support student success.
During the program, teachers spend full days visiting organizations across Alamance County to learn about local businesses, community needs, and the Alamance-Burlington School System’s priorities. These experiences help teachers strengthen their instruction, build partnerships, and expand their leadership skills. TLA prepares educators to take on new opportunities, stay engaged in their work, and make a greater impact in their schools and community.
The experiences in TLA helped me to realize that I don’t have to hold a certain title to generate change in my school and community. There are resources at my fingertips that can be utilized to support my students if I am willing to take advantage of them.”
A candidate for the Teacher Leadership Academy must be:
Teachers who are currently enrolled in the Teacher Leadership Academy and are committed to staying with the Alamance-Burlington School System for the following school year are eligible to submit proposals for funding for a school-based project up to $20,000.
The Teacher Leadership Academy runs from August through June and is held in person. Session dates are scheduled in advance to help participants plan ahead; a full calendar is provided below.
As a cohort-based experience, participants are expected to attend all sessions and actively engage to get the most out of the program. The academy includes full-day sessions from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM throughout the year, beginning with a two-day opening retreat in August.
August 19–20, 2026
October 14, 2026
November 18, 2026
December 9, 2026
February 17, 2027
March 17, 2027
April 21, 2027
June 9, 2027
To apply for the upcoming Teacher Leadership Academy, please submit the following application by May 8, 2026. All fields including applicant information, essay questions and resume must be completed before the application can be considered.
Each candidate must also have their principal submit an endorsement form to be considered for selection into the Teacher Leadership Academy. Endorsements are due on the same date as applications; we recommend allowing your principal time to complete your request.
Resources and information for the current cohort members can be accessed through the participant portal below.
| Name | School |
| Michael Acosta | Broadview Middle |
| Karen Allen | Hillcrest Elementary |
| Veronica Allen | Williams High |
| Hannah Anderson | Hillcrest Elementary |
| Melissa Border | Haw River Elementary |
| Kathleen Caldwell | Williams High |
| Daniel Flack | Alexander Wilson Elementary |
| Platt Foust | Ray Street Academy High |
| Mary Foutz | Newlin Elementary |
| Ashley Geise | Elon Elementary |
| Rachel Gibson | South Graham Elementary |
| Ellen Greeson | South Mebane Elementary |
| Carla Grissom | Eastlawn Elementary |
| Christina Gross | Hawfields Middle |
| Allison Hamlett | ABMC High |
| Lorraine Harris | Smith Elementary |
| Leslie Hatten | Andrews Elementary |
| Arielle Hogarth | Eastern High |
| Jen Keefe | EM Yoder Elementary |
| Barbara Kimber | Pleasant Grove Elementary |
| Linda Kroger | Graham Middle |
| Windy Lampson | Graham High |
| Christine Landess | B. Everett Jordan Elementary |
| Ashley Loftis | Cummings High |
| Kristen McDonald | Grove Park Elementary |
| Amanda Miller | Garrett Elementary |
| Elizabeth Mize | Smith Elementary |
| Kristin Osborne | Hawfields Middle |
| Dayson Pasion | Graham Middle |
| Jennifer Perkins | Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary |
| Brent Philipson | Hawfields Middle |
| Tara Raggtt | North Graham Elementary |
| Candace Reich | Alexander Wilson Elementary |
| Crystal Richmond | Eastlawn Elementary |
| Matt Ritter | Southern Middle |
| Bradyn Robinson | Turrentine Middle |
| Heather Rogers | Western Middle |
| Jennifer Russell | Andrews Elementary |
| Joy Rust | Graham Middle |
| Melissa Sams | Highland Elementary |
| Jason Scales | Broadview Middle |
| Shawn Shoptaw | CTEC High |
| Jana Tasich | Western High |
| Caitlyn Thornburg | Sylvan Elementary |
| Jessica Todd | EM Holt Elementary |
| Patrick Vernon | Western Middle |
| Debra Weigand | Highland Elementary |
| Rebecca Wilson | Woodlawn Middle |
| Allen Wolff | Turrentine Middle |
| Alyssa Womble | Southern High |
| Name | School |
| Amanda Mitchell | North Graham Elementary School |
| Angie Riffe | South Graham Elementary School |
| Aurora Espinosa | Pleasant Grove Elementary School |
| Elizabeth Curvin | Eastern Alamance High School |
| Elizabeth Warren | Alexander Wilson Elementary School |
| Brie Bolton | Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School |
| Jonathan Taylor | Career and Technical Education Center |
| Freebird McKinney | Walter M. Williams High School |
| Cara Hurdle | South Mebane Elementary School |
| Carmen White | Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary School |
| Charity Hawkins | South Mebane Elementary School |
| Christina Adkins | Western Alamance Middle School |
| Dannica Stewart | Southern Alamance Middle School |
| Darcy Smith | Hillcrest Elementary School |
| Elizabeth Estes | Graham Middle School |
| Elizabeth Oakley | Grove Park Elementary School |
| Emily Moore | Elon Elementary School |
| Erin Mercs | Eastern Alamance High School |
| Gregory Erickson | Western Alamance High School |
| Heather Beg | Ray Street Academy |
| Heather Holt | Southern Alamance High School |
| Heather Leonard | Broadview Middle School |
| Jamie Day | E.M. Holt Elementary School |
| Jason Slagle | Graham Middle School |
| Jena Hazelwood | South Graham Elementary School |
| Jennifer Wells | Graham High School |
| J.D. Swajkoski, Jr. | Turrentine Middle School |
| Jordan Hohm | Broadview Middle School |
| J’Taime Lyons | Eastlawn Elementary School |
| Kathleen Eaton | Grove Park Elementary School |
| Katie Wood | B. Everett Jordan Elementary School |
| Kayleigh Ohrin | Sylvan Elementary School |
| Kevin Scharen | Alamance-Burlington Early / Middle College |
| Kimberly DeCoteau | Alexander Wilson Elementary School |
| Laurin Rose | Audrey W. Garrett Elementary School |
| Lillian Danieley | Western Alamance High School |
| Melaine Rickard | Western Alamance Middle School |
| Nate Bourne | Broadview Middle School |
| Neil Schledorn | Walter M. Williams High School |
| Rachel Clark | Hawfields Middle School |
| Robert Vellani, Ph.D. | Hugh M. Cummings High School |
| Rodric Livingston | R. Homer Andrews Elementary School |
| Sarah Waddell | Eastlawn Elementary School |
| Sarah West | Western Alamance Middle School |
| Sasha Denham | Highland Elementary School |
| Shana Harris | Haw River Elementary School |
| Shanise Goldsby | Broadview Middle School |
| Stephanie Charpia | Graham High School |
| Beth Courtney | E.M. Yoder Elementary School |
| Name | School |
| Amanda Aguayo Adams | Hawfields Middle School |
| Jalanda Allen | R. Homer Andrews Elementary School |
| Lydia Allen | Western Alamance High School |
| Betsy Baranik | Eastlawn Elementary School |
| Christine Bertson | Pleasant Grove Elementary School |
| Melissa Blum | Highland Elementary School |
| April Burko | Graham Middle School |
| Emilie Cahill | Southern Alamance Middle School |
| Karen Carotta | Graham High School |
| Jess Cheap | Sylvan Elementary School |
| Meredit Citty | Hillcrest Elementary School |
| Michele Cochran | Broadview Middle School |
| Kelly Compton | Haw River Elementary School |
| Chad Cook | Hugh M. Cummings High School |
| Brooks Cornatzer | Hugh M. Cummings High School |
| Alicia Curtis | Walter M. Williams High School |
| Jamie Cutler | South Mebane Elementary School |
| Hannah Demirdogen | North Graham Elementary School |
| Molly Ellington | Alexander Wilson Elementary School |
| Isaac Fahnrich | Grove Park Elementary School |
| Melissa Germann | South Mebane Elementary School |
| Danielle Gibbs | Hawfields Middle School |
| Lorraine Hall | Western Alamance Middle School |
| Christine Harris | Sylvan Elementary School |
| William Hatten | Ray Street Academy |
| Jordan Hope | Woodlawn Middle School |
| Crystal Johnson | Elon Elementary School |
| Tiffany Jones | Southern Alamance High School |
| Elizabeth Layman | B. Everett Jordan Elementary School |
| Meredith Leib | B. Everett Jordan Elementary School |
| Sandy Leon | E.M. Holt Elementary School |
| Amanda Light | Highland Elementary School |
| Rickeya Logan | Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School |
| Jessica Martin | Grove Park Elementary School |
| Christina McLaughlin | Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary School |
| Marie Meade | CTEC |
| Kaitlyn Mincey | Marvin B. Smith Elementary School |
| Tori Neal | Southern Alamance Middle School |
| Angela Nofsinger | Eastern Alamance High School |
| Susan Park | E.M. Holt Elementary School |
| Shelly Pilversack | Western Alamance High School |
| Meagan Scott | E.M. Yoder Elementary School |
| Kelly Sherrill | Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School |
| Kimberly Sholler | Graham Middle School |
| Ashley Silva | Alexander Wilson Elementary School |
| Christine Sisco | South Graham Elementary School |
| Carrie Sockwell | Eastlawn Elementary School |
| Eva Sodano | B. Everett Jordan Elementary School |
| Clara Stanfield | R. Homer Andrews Elementary School |
| Heather Stephan | Western Alamance Middle School |
| Manda Stiegel | Elon Elementary School |
| Stephen Stiegel | Western Alamance High School |
| Natasha Watson | Hawfields Middle School |
| Melanie Winstead | Eastern Alamance High School |
| Jayne Woodruff | Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary School |
| Carole Workman | Walter M. Williams High School |
| Name | School |
| Sandra Burns | Hugh M. Cummings High School |
| Jessica Crites | Walter M. Williams High School |
| Tammy Ford | Turrentine Middle School |
| Tiffany Handy | B. Everett Jordan Elementary School |
| Kristin Henson | South Graham Elementary School |
| Lisa Hiatt | Elon Elementary School |
| Kellie Jackson | Turrentine Middle School |
| Sugelema Lynch | Haw River Elementary School |
| Jenny Pickard | EM Holt Elementary School |
| Cassandra Slagle | Southern Alamance Middle School |
| Melodie Allshouse | South Graham Elementary School |
| Caitlin Ambrose | South Mebane Elementary School |
| Holly Biswurm | Western Alamance High School |
| Ashley Brandt | B. Everett Jordan Elementary School |
| Keisha Butler | Grove Park Elementary School |
| Aubrie Cifelli | R. Homer Andrews Elementary School |
| Amie Clark | Eastern Alamance High School |
| Jenna Clark | Aelxander Wilson Elementary School |
| Amy Collman | R. Homer Andrews Elementary School |
| Linnea Coon | Woodlawn Middle School |
| Caroline Crow | Walter M. Williams High School |
| Dale-Anna Cryan | Western Alamance Middle School |
| Torie Fields | Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary School |
| William Flow | Southern Alamance High School |
| Erika Gallagher | North Graham Elementary School |
| Mark Gerringer | Broadview Middle School |
| Brooke Hayward | South Mebane Elementary School |
| Mallory Heffelfinger | Sylvan Elementary School |
| Sarah Height | South Mebane Elementary School |
| Will Hemminger | Western Alamance High School |
| Julie Kuczkowski | Highland Elementary School |
| Kristin Martinez | R. Homer Andrews Elementary School |
| Sarah Mayle | Pleasant Grove Elementary School |
| Connor McDade | Eastern Alamance High School |
| JaTara McIntyre | Broadview Middle School |
| Sean Monahan | Southern Alamance High School |
| Brittany Pate | Eastlawn Elementary School |
| Hali Pyles | Hawfields Middle School |
| Emily Quadrio | Career and Technical Education Center |
| Stuart Ringwalt | Walter M. Williams High School |
| Juanita Rose | Broadview Middle School |
| Shannon Sams | Alamance-Burlington Early/ Middle College |
| Alison Scarlett | Southern Alamance Middle School |
| Morgan Shearon | Graham High School |
| Abigail Shoe | Marvin B. Smith Elementary School |
| Aeron Sizemore | Hugh M. Cummings High School |
| Bethany Slagle | E.M. Yoder Elementary School |
| Christine Sudzina | Graham High School |
| Alex Swerbinsky | Highland Elementary School |
| Josh Trotter | Highland Elementary School |
| Elizabetha Walker | Haw River Elementary School |
| April Williams | Western Alamance High School |
| Angela Windley | South Graham Elementary School |
| Rhonda Wood | Audrey W. Garrett Elementary School |
| Name | School |
| Tyffany Alexander | Eastlawn Elementary School |
| Robert Alvis | Walter M. Williams High School |
| James Athas | Walter M. Williams High School |
| Leah Bass | Western Alamance High School |
| Sandra Bays | Elon Elementary School |
| Laura Bivins | Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary School |
| January Bowles | Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School |
| Elizabeth Bradley | Hillcrest Elementary School |
| Erica Bower | Southern alamance Middle School |
| Paul Calannio | Western Alamance High School |
| Sabrina Chatman | Turrentine Middle School |
| Kalyn Cobb | Hugh M. Cummings High School |
| John Dodson | Eastern Alamance High School |
| Shanna Dowd | Turrentine Middle School |
| Amanda Downs | Southern Alamance Middle School |
| April Drake | Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School |
| Erika Dye | Turrentine Middle School |
| Joyce East | Southern Alamance High School |
| Meredith Ewbank | South Graham Elementary School |
| Paula Fields | Hugh M. Cummings High School |
| Jennifer Frank | North Graham Elementary School |
| Margaret Glahn | Grove Park Elementary School |
| Kimberly Griffis | Eastlawn Elementary School |
| Jillian Harper | Walter M. Williams High School |
| Rachael Harper | South Mebane Elementary School |
| Katie Haynes | Graham Middle School |
| Meagan Hummel | Haw River Elementary School |
| Katy Hurn | Southern Alamance Middle School |
| Fiona King | E.M Yoder Elementary School |
| Stacey Johnson | Elon Elementary School |
| Chanel Jones | Broadview Middle School |
| Heidi Jorgenson | Alexander Wilson Elementary School |
| Heather Lakey | Western Alamance Middle School |
| Teena Lesso | R. Homer Andrews Elementary School |
| Jamie Luciano | R. Homer Andrews Elementary School |
| Paul Michaelson | Graham High School |
| LeAnna Myers | Pleasant Grove Elementary School |
| Christine Nassens | Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary School |
| Aoife O’Neill | Eastern Alamance High School |
| Katie Perry | Western Alamance High School |
| Karla Robbins | Hawfields Middle School |
| Ashley Rocha | South Graham Elementary School |
| Rebecca Sharpe | Marvin B. Smith Elementary School |
| Jennifer Story | Audrey W. Garrett Elementary School |
| Lindy Teachey | Hillcrest Elementary School |
| Jennifer Tripp | Audrey W. Garett Elementary School |
| Shea Turney | Sylvan Elementary School |
| David Ward | Western Alamance High School |
| Aria Westbrook | Hawfields Middle School |
| Laura Williams | Highlands Elementary School |
Name | School |
Jolene Alley | Southern Alamance High School |
Mercadez Beasley | Graham Middle School |
Ava-Gaye Kibibi Blackford-Webb | North Graham Elementary School |
Brandy Jo Brehm | Elon Elementary School |
Sarah Brown | Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School |
Amy Burgess | South Graham Elementary School |
Carol Cabe | Sylvan Elementary School |
Waylon Cameron | Hawfields Middle School |
Ashley Cook | R. Homer Andrews Elementary School |
Alison Crosby | South Graham Elementary School |
Deborah Dailey | Alexander Wilson Elementary School |
Summer Dimmock | Broadview Middle School |
Cassie Dodson | Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary School |
Stephanie Ector | Elon Elementary School |
April Ferguson | Southern Alamance Middle School |
Rachael Fowler | Highland Elementary School |
Lori Gilliam | Hawfields Middle School |
Maria Gordillo-Davis | Audrey W. Garrett Elementary School |
Angel Grayson | Graham Middle School |
Racheal Oxendine Harder | Grove Park Elementary School |
Kaitlyn Herbin | Walter M. Williams High School |
Amber Honeycutt | Elon Elementary School |
Paula Hornaday | E.M. Holt Elementary School |
Becky Johannesen | Graham High School |
Jason Jones | Western Alamance High School |
Lacey Karboski | E.M. Yoder Elementary School |
Taylor King | E.M. Yoder Elementary School |
Kelsey Lamanna | Alexander Wilson Elementary School |
Eric Lawhorn | Hugh M. Cummings High School |
Nicole Lester | Southeast Alamance High School |
Jennifer Lineberry | North Graham Elementary School |
Candice Long | South Graham Elementary School |
Joshua Lopez | Ray Street Academy |
Samuel Martin | Highland Elementary School |
Sara Mason | Eastern Alamance High School |
Ashley McCann | Audrey W. Garrett Elementary School |
Heather McMahan | Turrentine Middle School |
Ryan Miller | Southern Alamance Middle School |
Isha Milton | Hugh M. Cummings High School |
Elizabeth Mitchener | Alamance Virtual School |
Elizabeth Moize | Sylvan Elementary School |
Mary Moorhouse | Ray Street Academy |
Lindsey Murphy | B. Everett Jordan Elementary School |
Marcia Parker | South Mebane Elementary |
Jennifer Payne | Hawfields Middle School |
Kimberly Pittman | Pleasant Grove Elementary School |
Sara Realini | Haw River Elementary School |
Kimberly Richardson | Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School |
Dominique Russell | Alexander Wilson Elementary School |
Allison Russell | Southeast Alamance High School |
Shara Shipmon | Hillcrest Elementary School |
Amber Smith | Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School |
De’ana Tyson | Western Alamance Middle School |
Nicole Valenti | Audrey W. Garrett Elementary School |
Shavon Via | E.M. Holt Elementary School |
Molly Walsh | Graham High School |
Ashley West | Hillcrest Elementary School |
Stephanie Yarboro | Grove Park Elementary School |
The Teacher Leadership Academy is offered through partnerships with the Alamance-Burlington School System (ABSS), Alamance County Chamber of Commerce, Elon University, and Alamance Community College.