School system makes two administrative hires
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 6, 2017 9:24 PM
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Full SizeWayne County Public Schools announced two new administrative hires this week, both approved at an earlier special called meeting of the Board of Education.
Felicia Brown was named human resources director and Steve Smith is the district's new part-time video and digital marketing specialist.
Ms. Brown, a veteran educator and administration, was previous assistant superintendent for human resources and leadership and development with Duplin County Public Schools. Her career in education started in 1997, as a communications teacher at Burgaw Middle School.
She joined WCPS as a language arts teacher/curriculum facilitator at Dillard Middle School in 2000. She left the classroom after being named a Principal Fellow, going on to earn a master's degree in school administration from N.C. State University.
In 2007, she was named assistant principal of Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary School in Duplin County, becoming principal there in 2009. In 2011, she became principal at Duplin Early College High School. The following year, she was promoted to executive director of human services for that district. From 2014 until 2016, she was chief officer for human resources and leadership development, becoming assistant superintendent in 2016.
She holds a bachelor's degree in middle grades education and a master's degree in school administration.
"We are especially pleased to welcome Ms. Brown back to WCPS," said Dr. Yvette Smith Mason, assistant superintendent of human resources and professional development. "Ms. Brown brings with her a strong background in the area of human resources and school administration. As director, she will have a valuable role in helping our department enhance various programs and strengthen our efforts to better support, retain and cultivate a rich workforce made up of high quality teachers and staff."
Smith has a 30-year background in advertising, marketing, cable access and community service, said Ken Derksen, district's communications and public relations officer.
He was owner and operator of Coastal Plain Cable Advertising/DIRECT Videoworks in Goldsboro, from 1986 until 2000. In 2000, he transitioned to corporate marketing as the foodservice brand manager for Carolina Turkey. In 2004, he became the co-owner and chief operating officer of Market Connection, managing operations of food service sales and marketing accounts. From 2010-2015, he was the programming coordinator for the Smithfield-Johnston Community College education and governmental access channel.
In 2015, he became morning radio host with WKJO-FM in Smithfield, retiring the following year.
"We appreciate Mr. Smith's willingness to come out of retirement to lend his talents, passion and experience to support the district's ongoing strategic communication efforts," Derksen said. "He will be instrumental in helping launch new programming on the district's education access channel [WCEA Channel 18 on Spectrum Cable], as well as create digital video resources that can be integrated into the district's social media and/or other web-based communications tools."