By Miles Layton

SWAN QUARTER — Dr. Melanie Shaver, Superintendent of Hyde County Schools, has been named the 2026 North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) Division of Principals and Administrators Superintendent of the Year, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the state’s public education landscape.

I know Dr. Shaver — congratulations! She is a kind, forward-thinking educator and administrator. And I’ll say the students, staff and teachers in Hyde County are lucky to have leadership like her.

Anyway, the NCAE, one of the largest public education organizations in North Carolina, presents the award annually to honor extraordinary leadership, advocacy for public education, and commitment to student success. Dr. Shaver received the honor during the Hyde County Schools Board of Education May Regular Meeting.

NCAE Regional Director Rita Jackson-Gilbert presented the award, calling Dr. Shaver a transformational leader whose work has “elevated student achievement, empowered educators, and strengthened the entire Hyde County community.”

Jackson-Gilbert pointed to Shaver’s hands-on approach to instruction as a defining feature of her tenure, noting that her leadership goes well beyond the administrative office.

“Dr. Shaver understands that every child, regardless of zip code, socioeconomic status or circumstance, deserves access to rigorous and meaningful learning experiences,” Jackson-Gilbert said. “Her leadership reflects not only excellence in administration, but excellence in instructional expertise, innovation, advocacy, and high quality service to children and families.”

As we all know, Hyde County Schools serves a small, rural student population in a county bordered by the Pamlico Sound and the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge — a setting that presents unique logistical and resource challenges. Supporters say Dr. Shaver has used that distinctiveness as a strength rather than a limitation, positioning the district as a model for rural education across the state.

Since taking the helm of the rural eastern North Carolina district in July of 2022, Dr. Shaver has built a leadership style centered on equity, innovation, and community relationships — working directly alongside teachers to strengthen classroom instruction and expand opportunities for students in one of the state’s most geographically isolated school systems.

Jackson-Gilbert was careful to frame the recognition as a collective achievement rather than an individual one.

“This recognition is not just about one person,” she said. “It reflects the incredible students, educators, staff, families, and communities that make Hyde County Schools so special. Dr. Shaver leads with humility, integrity, and purpose, and this award is a testament to the impact she has made across our district and beyond.”

The NCAE also highlighted Dr. Shaver’s advocacy efforts and commitment to professional collaboration, noting that her approach exemplifies the organization’s core values of strong public schools, professional respect for educators, and equitable opportunities for all students.

And don’t forget that Shaver has been spearheading the construction of the new school.

The 2026 honor is the latest in a long line of accolades for Shaver, whose career in public education has drawn recognition at the local, state, national, and international levels. Earlier in her career, she earned both Principal of the Year and Teacher of the Year honors in McDowell County, and was later named a Distinguished Service Award Recipient for Administration and Supervision. She was also selected for the prestigious Phi Delta Kappa Emerging Leaders Program and the North Carolina Leadership in Personalized and Digital Learning Program.

Her reach has extended well beyond North Carolina’s borders. Dr. Shaver was chosen to serve on the Smithsonian Education Center International Faculty for Strategic Planning, and received state and national recognition for writing and implementing an internationally award-winning STEM program at the middle school level. She also developed a vocational STEM careers program for McDowell High School, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to expanding career pathways for students across grade levels.

Shaver’s academic credentials are equally extensive. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University, a Master’s in Science Education and a Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from East Carolina University, a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and an Associate’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Management from Haywood Community College.

Photo — Left to Right: Hyde County Schools Board Member Dustin Nails; Hyde County Schools Board Chair Chanta Rickard; Superintendent – Dr. Melanie Shaver; Rita Jackson Gilbert – North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) – Director for Region 7B; Hyde County Schools Board Member – Phillip Holloway; Hyde County Schools Board Member – Edward Torres; On the TV Monitor Hyde County Schools Board Member Rachael Chestnut

Last thing — Julio — I need a list of the graduating seniors from Ocracoke and Mattamuskeet, along with their headshots. Please send to mileslayton1969@gmail.com

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