001[music] Heat. Heat. N. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Hey, Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> And if we focus on what we can control while we have them here, we can make a difference in the lives of our students. So our purpose will be fulfilled if [music] we can remember that we can make a difference while we have them here. I am Tea Dunston, [music] uh, principal at Benson Elementary. I have been here for 11 years. When [music] I walk into Benson Elementary every day, what inspires me is knowing that I [music] have students, staff, and parents that are counting on me uh to make this the best place for learning, to make this the best place [music] to work, to make this the best place
002to send students uh while you're at work as a parent. This is uh it it's just [music] one of my passions to be here. Being named principal of the year personally means that I have set [music] uh the tone and provided an environment for staff [music] and students, parents, community to come in and feel that they have a place that they can call home. >> [music] >> Being named principal of the year allowed me to to recognize that what I'm [music] doing here at Vincent Elementary has been seen. It is seen and that [music] there a difference has been made in the environment. [music] It's it's hard when I see students that uh have a difficult time separating from their parents. I so understand that nobody wants to separate from that safe space, that safe
003person. And so that's why it's so important that I build an environment or establish [music] an environment that will allow students to see it as a home away from home and feel the joys of being here. It [music] is just always important for me to provide that place that they want to come to. My northstar is making sure that teachers and students [music] come to an environment that will support them in learning and in teaching. I I want students to [music] come and feel good about being at school, excited about learning. I want teachers to come in to feel the joys [music] of being a teacher and having the opportunity to work with students day in and day out, not thinking of it as a chore or even work, but something that's fun that they
004enjoy doing. And if the teachers come in with that passion, then that passion is then uh transferred to our students and our students come in with that same thrill of being at school and being excited about learning new things and showing what they are capable of doing. Our ultimate goal here at Benson Elementary is to be [music] the first Title One school in Johnston County to be an a performing school. It is our goal that we have set [music] and we are working hard to achieve. So, we haven't gotten there, but it's coming. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Welcome to Johnston County [music] Public Schools, where there's always something great happening. Today, we're taking you on a visual tour, [music] giving you a major update on our exciting construction and bond projects. Our first stop
005is Cooper Academy, a campus that's undergone [music] a massive renovation and revitalization. Thanks to the 2022 [music] bond, we added 20 classrooms, new offices, resource rooms, [music] staff workrooms, and muchneeded group restrooms. These additions have truly tied the [music] school together, and Cooper is already getting a boost from the 2024 bond. The entire [music] campus now features a brand new state-of-the-art fire alarm system. Next up is Swift Creek [music] Elementary, a truly exciting addition to our district. This marks our [music] 25th elementary school. A testament to Johnston County's vibrant growth. This stunning [music] over 900 capacity school showcases vibrant colors and brilliant [music] economic design. The construction of the new Wilson's Mills High School or WHS [music] is progressing rapidly and remains on schedule for its fall 2026 opening. Visit the site today and you'll
006see significant progress outside. All spectator [music] stands are in place and the athletic fields are either fully installed or well [music] underway. The exterior of the building is nearing completion, giving [music] a clear view of the finished structure. Inside, work is moving just as quickly. The first and [music] second levels are heavily sheetrocked. Framing is nearly complete, and crews have even begun priming the walls. We are so pleased with the speed [music] and quality of this construction and look forward to sharing more milestones as we head toward the 2026 school year. We had the opportunity, thanks to the [music] county commissioners, to go ahead and reduce overcrowding and remove mobiles [music] at Cleveland High School. This was a fast-paced project that was completed in time for students to come back to school. This addition [music]
007made it possible to remove all the mobiles on campus and make a secure [music] traversal between classes without the need to go outside or to mobiles. During the October [music] 28th, 2025 special session meeting, the Johnston County Board of Education voted unanimously to [music] approve the Clayton High rebuild project. This exciting, long-awaited project will [music] provide state-of-the-art facilities for Johnston County students, including 99 total teaching [music] spaces, 19 CTE classes/labs, 13 science labs, a main and auxiliary [music] gym, athletic fields and facilities, an extraordinary auditorium with a seating [music] capacity of 762, and so much more, providing the learning spaces Clayton [music] area families will be proud of for many years to come. The new [music] 278,000q ft facility will serve as a cornerstone for [music] 21st century learning, designed with a focus on safety
008and security, state-of-the-art learning environments, athletic and [music] fine arts spaces, and innovative technology and learning labs. While the design embraces modern educational needs, it also preserves elements of the school's [music] historic culture that have defined generations of Clayton Comets. The Johnston County [music] Board of Commissioners will vote on the project during their upcoming November 2025 regular scheduled [music] meeting. JCPS plans to begin construction soon. The 2024 bond is already putting [music] shovels in the ground across the county. Currently underway, we have the full buildout of [music] Thanksgiving Elementary, adding six classrooms. Cleveland Elementary and Four [music] Oaks Elementary are both receiving major muchneeded HVAC overhauls to bring [music] them up to today's standards. And finally, projects in the design phase include additions at McGee [music] Elementary to add two new four classroom wings, a new
009metal roof project over at East Clayton Elementary, [music] and an exciting track and tennis court upgrade starting at North Johnston High in May of 2026. North Johnston High will also be receiving a press box for their baseball/softball [music] field that will start in the next few weeks. Johnston County 8th. graders have a lot to think about after a two-day event aimed at helping them find the jobs of the future. The Jookco Works Career Fair introduced those students to major companies like Novo Nordisk. WRL's Grace Holland found out how we can prepare future workers when the job market is changing rapidly. >> What's your dream job? >> Uh being a medical surgeon. >> My dream job, it's actually quite complex. >> Astronaut. >> I do want to be like an instructor or something. A sports agent.
010These Johnston County middle schoolers are hoping to meet the right people to make their dreams happen. >> To be a farmer. Why? >> Uh just running big heavy machine and taking care of a field every day. >> The Jooko Works Career Expo. >> So you'd start out as an apprentice and then you just work your way up. >> Inviting about 3500 eighth graders to learn about the companies in their communities. >> We're really hoping that the kids can see themselves, you know, maybe working in Nova Nortis one Bioarma is a is a really big industry and it's growing rapidly in eastern North Carolina and uh from all walks of life. You you have an opportunity in bioform >> organizers work closely with the county school district. >> It's significantly important >> and host Johnston Community
011College. >> This is the best opportunity for us because we catch them just at such a young age >> to make sure students are ready for what comes after graduation. We've seen a couple of classes already who have who came through this as eighth graders, have graduated, and now they're into college or the workforce. >> They'll also have the option to do mock job interviews and internships through Jookco Works in high school. >> Learning about more things can really help my mind to grow and understand there's not just one choice out there, there's multiple of them >> in Johnston County. Grace Holland, Wal News. Welcome to Johnston County Public Schools, where [music] innovation meets excellence and every student is inspired to soar. With over 37,000 students and more [music] than 5,000 dedicated professionals, we are
012more than just a school district. We are a family, a vibrant, growing, diverse community with one clear goal, academic [music] excellence. Our northstar, student proficiency and academic [music] growth. And by staying true to this vision, Johnston County Public Schools has earned district-wide [music] recognition for excellence. As our population grows, so does [music] our commitment. With the help of our board of commissioners and dedicated stakeholders, we're building new [music] schools, modernizing facilities, and creating innovative learning environments designed for 21st [music] century success. This is a communitywide effort, a partnership [music] built on trust, collaboration, and a shared vision for the future. At Johnston County [music] Public Schools, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive in the classroom [music] and in life. And every educator and employee deserves a career where they can grow
013and make an impact. We are Johnston County Public Schools, united in purpose and committed to excellence. Join us as we build the future, one student at a time. We are getting our first look of renderings of the new Clayton High School. >> During its meeting last week, members voted to approve a project that would rebuild Clayton High School. >> We're also getting our first look at plans for the new Clayton High School. >> Clayton High School getting a major makeover. Clayton High School is now on the books for a rebuild. >> Johnston County Board of Education voted to approve that project last night. It will include a new 278 uh,000 square foot facility with state-of-the-art learning and athletic spaces, labs, as well. A full completion is expected to be uh in the fall of 2028,
014costing more than $134 million. Now, according to school leaders, this new campus will help meet the demand of their growing district. >> [music] >> We don't. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey, fam. >> [music] >> Heat. [music] Hey, Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. [music] Hey, Heat. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> And if we focus on what we can control, while we have them here. We can make a difference in the lives of our students. So, our purpose will be fulfilled if we can remember [music] that we can make a difference while we have them here. I am Tea Dunston, [music] uh, principal at Bitson Elementary. I have been here for 11 years. When [music] I walk into Vincent Elementary every day, what inspires me
015is knowing that I have students, staff, and [music] parents that are counting on me uh to make this the best place for learning, to [music] make this the best place to work, to make this the best place to send students uh while you're at work as a parent. This is uh it's just one of my passions to be here. Being named principal of the year personally means that I have set uh the [music] tone and provided an environment for staff and [music] students, parents, community to come in and feel that [music] they have a place that they can call home. Being named principal of the year allowed me to to recognize [music] that what I'm doing here at Vincent Elementary has been seen. It is seen and that there a difference has [music] been made
016in the environment. It's it's hard when I see students that uh have a difficult time separating from their parents. I so understand that nobody wants to separate from that safe space, that [music] safe person. And so that's why it's so important that I build an environment [music] or establish an environment that will allow students to see it as a home away from home and feel the joys of being here. It is just always important for me to provide that place [music] that they want to come to. My northstar is making sure that teachers and students [music] come to an environment that will support them in learning and [music] in teaching. I I want students to come and feel good about being at school, excited about learning. I want teachers to come in to feel the
017joys of being a teacher and having the opportunity to work with students day in and day out, not thinking of it as a chore or even work, but something that's fun that they enjoy doing. And if the teachers come in with that passion, then that passion is then uh transferred to our students. And our students come in with that [music] same thrill of being at school and being excited about learning new things and showing what they are capable of doing. Our ultimate goal here at Benson Elementary is to be the first title one school in Johnston County to be an a [music] performing school. It is our goal that we have set and we are working hard to achieve. So we haven't gotten there but it's coming. >> [music] [music] >> Welcome to Johnston County
018[music] Public schools where there's always something great happening. Today, we're taking you on a visual tour, giving you a major update on our exciting construction and bond projects. Our first stop is [music] Cooper Academy, a campus that's undergone a massive renovation and revitalization. Thanks to the 2022 bond, we added 20 classrooms, [music] new offices, resource rooms, staff workrooms, and muchneeded group restrooms. These additions have truly tied the school together, [music] and Cooper is already getting a boost from the 2024 bond. The entire campus now features a brand new state-of-the-art [music] fire alarm system. Next up is Swift Creek Elementary, a truly exciting addition to [music] our district. This marks our 25th elementary school. A testament to Johnston County's vibrant growth. This stunning [music] over 900 capacity school showcases vibrant colors and brilliant [music] economic design.
019The construction of the new Wilson's Mills High School or WHS [music] is progressing rapidly and remains on schedule for its fall 2026 opening. Visit the site today and you'll see [music] significant progress outside. All spectator stands are in place and the [music] athletic fields are either fully installed or well underway. The exterior of the building is nearing completion, giving a clear view of the finished structure. Inside, [music] work is moving just as quickly. The first and second levels are heavily sheetrocked, framing is nearly complete, and crews have even begun [music] priming the walls. We are so pleased with the speed and quality of this construction and look forward to sharing more milestones as [music] we head toward the 2026 school year. We had the opportunity, thanks to the county commissioners, to go ahead and reduce
020overcrowding and remove [music] mobiles at Cleveland High School. This was a fast-paced project that was completed in time for students [music] to come back to school. This addition made it possible to remove all the mobiles on campus and make a secure traversal between [music] classes without the need to go outside or to mobile. During the October 28th, [music] special session meeting, the Johnston [music] County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the Clayton High rebuild project. This [music] exciting, long- aaited project will provide state-of-the-art facilities for Johnston County students, including 99 total teaching. Welcome to Johnston County [music] Public Schools, where there's always something great happening. Today, we're taking you on a visual tour, giving you a major update on our exciting construction and bond projects. Our first stop [music] is Cooper Academy, a campus
021that's undergone a massive renovation and revitalization. Thanks to the 2022 bond, [music] we added 20 classrooms, new offices, resource rooms, staff workrooms, and muchneeded group restrooms. These additions have truly tied the school together, [music] and Cooper is already getting a boost from the 2024 bond. The entire campus [music] now features a brand new state-of-the-art fire alarm system. Next up is Swift [music] Creek Elementary, a truly exciting addition to our district. This marks our 25th elementary school. A testament to [music] Johnston County's vibrant growth. This stunning over 900 capacity school [music] showcases vibrant colors and brilliant economic design. The construction of the [music] new Wilson's Mills High School or WHS is progressing rapidly [music] and remains on schedule for its fall 2026 opening. Visit the site today and you'll see significant progress outside. All spectator stands
022are in place and the athletic fields are either fully installed or well underway. The exterior of the building is nearing completion, giving a [music] clear view of the finished structure. Inside, work is moving just as quickly. The first and second levels are heavily sheetrocked. [music] Framing is nearly complete, and crews have even begun priming the walls. We are so [music] pleased with the speed and quality of this construction and look forward to sharing more milestones as we head toward the 2026 school year. We had the [music] opportunity, thanks to the county commissioners, to go ahead and reduce overcrowding and remove mobiles at Cleveland High School. This was a fast-paced project that was completed in time for students to come back to school. This addition [music] made it possible to remove all the mobiles on campus
023and make a secure traversal between [music] classes without the need to go outside or to mobiles. During the October [music] 28th, 2025 special session meeting, the Johnston County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve [music] the Clayton High rebuild project. This exciting, long-awaited project will provide state-of-the-art facilities for Johnston County students, including 99 total teaching spaces, [music] 19 CTE classes/labs, 13 science labs, a main and auxiliary gym, [music] athletic fields and facilities, an extraordinary auditorium with a seating capacity of 762, and so much more, providing the learning spaces [music] Clayton area families will be proud of for many years to come. The new 278,000q [music] ft facility will serve as a cornerstone for 21st century learning, designed with a focus on safety and security, state-of-the-art learning environments, athletic and fine arts spaces, and innovative [music]
024technology and learning labs. While the design embraces modern educational [music] needs, it also preserves elements of the school's historic culture that have defined generations [music] of Clayton Comets. The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will vote on the project during their upcoming November regular scheduled meeting. JCPS plans to begin construction soon. The 2024 bond is already putting shovels in the ground across the county. [music] Currently underway, we have the full buildout of Thanksgiving Elementary, adding six [music] classrooms. Cleveland Elementary and Fork Oaks Elementary are both receiving major [music] muchneeded HVAC overhauls to bring them up to today's standards. And finally, projects in the design phase include additions at McGee Elementary [music] to add two new four classroom wings, a new metal roof project over at East Clayton Elementary, and an exciting [music] track and tennis court
025upgrade starting at North Johnston High in May of 2026. North Johnston High will also be receiving [music] a press box for their baseball/softball field that will start in the next few weeks. >> [music] [music] >> And if we focus on what we can control while we have them here, we can make a difference in the lives of our students. So our purpose will be fulfilled if we can remember that we can make a difference while we have them here. [music] >> [music] >> I am Tea Dunston, [music] uh, principal at Benson Elementary. I have been here for 11 years. When I [music] walk into Benson Elementary every day, what inspires me is knowing that I have [music] students, staff, and parents that are counting on me uh to make this the best place for learning,
026to make [music] this the best place to work, to make this the best place to send students uh while you're at work as a parent. This is uh [music] it it's just one of my passions to be here. Being named principal of the year personally means that I have set uh the tone and provided [music] an environment for staff and students, parents, community to come in and [music] feel that they have a place that they can call home. Being named principal of the year allowed me to to recognize that what I'm doing here at Vincent Elementary has been [music] seen. It is seen and that there a difference has been made in the environment. It's it's hard when I see students that uh have a difficult time separating from their parents. I so understand that
027nobody wants to separate from that safe space, that safe [music] person. And so that's why it's so important that I build an environment or establish [music] an environment that will allow students to see it as a home away from home and feel the [music] joys of being here. It is just always important for me to provide that place [music] that they want to come to. My northstar is making sure that teachers and students come to an environment that will support them in learning and in teaching. I I want students to come and feel good about being at school [music] excited about learning. I want teachers to come in to feel the joys of being a teacher and having the opportunity to work with students day in and day out, not thinking of it as a
028chore or even work, but something that's fun [music] that they enjoy doing. And if the teachers come in with that passion, then that passion is then uh transferred to our students and our students come in with that same thrill of being at school and being excited about learning new things and showing what they are capable of doing. Our ultimate goal here at Benson Elementary is to be the first title one school in Johnston County to be an a performing school. It is our goal that we have set [music] and we are working hard to achieve. So we haven't gotten there but it's coming. Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Welcome to Johnston County Public [music] Schools, where there's always something great happening. Today, we're taking you on a visual tour, [music] giving you a
029major update on our exciting construction and bond projects. Our first stop is Cooper Academy, a campus that's undergone [music] a massive renovation and revitalization. Thanks to the 2022 bond, [music] we added 20 classrooms, new offices, resource rooms, staff workrooms, and muchneeded group restrooms. These additions have truly tied the school [music] together, and Cooper is already getting a boost from the 2024 bond. The entire campus now [music] features a brand new state-of-the-art fire alarm system. Next up is Swift Creek Elementary, a truly exciting addition to our [music] district. This marks our 25th elementary school. A testament to Johnston County's vibrant growth. This stunning over 900 capacity [music] school showcases vibrant colors and brilliant economic design. The construction [music] of the new Wilson's Mills High School or WHS is progressing rapidly and remains on schedule for its
030fall 2026 opening. Visit [music] the site today and you'll see significant progress outside. All spectator stands are in place and the athletic fields are either fully [music] installed or well underway. The exterior of the building is nearing completion, [music] giving a clear view of the finished structure. Inside, work is moving just as quickly. The first and second levels are heavily sheetrocked. [music] Framing is nearly complete, and crews have even begun priming the walls. We are [music] so pleased with the speed and quality of this construction and look forward to sharing more milestones as we head [music] toward the 2026 school year. We had the opportunity, thanks to the [music] county commissioners, to go ahead and reduce Over.