PLA Team
Hal Holloman grew up in rural eastern North Carolina in Aulander, NC. He graduated from Bertie High School and earned his BA in English from Wake Forest University, his Master of Arts in Educational Administration from East Carolina University, and his PhD in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina.
He has experience in elementary, middle, and high school settings as a former teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal. He is a Professor of Educational Leadership at East Carolina University where he teaches in the Masters of School Administration program and coaches new school leaders in eastern North Carolina.
His areas of research include promoting vitality and preventing burnout throughout school communities, examining best practices in principal preparation, and uncovering the Best Practice Language within organizations. Dr. Holloman has been published in journals such as the International Journal of Leadership Preparation, Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, International Journal of Leadership in Education, School Leadership Review, and the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership.
Karen D. Jones, PhD has worked in public education for more than 20 years. Dr. Jones earned her undergraduate degree in communications from the University of Texas at Austin. She earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and her doctorate in school improvement from Texas State University. She has worked as an elementary teacher, special education teacher, and English as a Second Language teacher. Dr. Jones also worked as a both a curriculum and behavior specialist before becoming a campus administrator. Her experiences include rural, suburban and urban school districts.
Currently Dr. Jones is an assistant professor and coordinator of the masters of school administration program at East Carolina University. Her scholarship includes publications in national and international journals as well as book chapters. She has presented at local, national and international educational leadership conferences. Dr. Jones’ research focuses on preparing school leaders to be successful in diverse school communities. She demonstrates an emphasis on social justice and equity in her teaching, research, and service.
Travis Lewis is a native of rural eastern North Carolina, growing up in Pamlico County. He graduated from Pamlico County High School and earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology with a minor in Coaching, as well as his Master of Counselor Education (MEd), from UNC-Chapel Hill. He subsequently completed his Master of School Administration (MSA) and Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD) from East Carolina University.
His experience in both PK-12 and higher education includes serving as a school counselor, a district and university administrator, and currently as a faculty member in the Department of Educational Leadership at ECU. His responsibilities include coordinating the EdD program. His areas of research interest include educational leadership pedagogy, the development of trauma-informed schools, the effective utilization of student services and staffing for positive student outcomes, and school safety through the use of behavioral threat assessment practices. He has presented his research at state, national, and international conferences and has published in journals such as the Journal of School Leadership, the International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, the Journal of Trauma Studies in Education, the Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership, and Theory and Practice in Rural Education.
His wife, Jenn, is a K-8 school counselor. They share two sons, Gabe and Liam.
Joseph A. Nelson, Ed.D. is a native of Eastern North Carolina, and is originally from Bethel, NC. He graduated from North Pitt High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, M.A.Ed. in Educational Administration, and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University.
Dr. Nelson has been in education for over 40 years and has public and parochial school experience in pre-K, elementary, middle, and high school teaching, and administration. More specifically, he has served as a math, science, social studies, and physical education teacher, a football and track coach, assistant principal, principal, central office administrator, taught and supervised adult education classes, served as the chair of a parochial school board, and has served as a university teaching assistant professor, and MSA Internship Supervisor at East Carolina University. He currently serves as the Northeast Principal Fellows’ Coach in the Pirate Leadership Academy.
His academic areas of interest are brain-based research, data analysis research utilizing triangulation methodology integrating quantitative and qualitative data, and teaching and coaching aspiring school administrators.
Susan Carson Peele grew up in Bethel, North Carolina. After graduating from North Pitt High School, she earned an Associate of Arts from Peace College, a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Masters in Elementary Education and Certification in Administration and Supervision from East Carolina University. Susan is an experienced educator with over 35 years of experience. She has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and Director of Elementary Education and Federal Programs. Her success as an administrator has included diverse leadership opportunities, many of which were as a school principal. She is committed to helping create supportive school environments for both students and staff and has a special interest in mentoring new principals.
Over the years, Susan’s contributions have been recognized through many awards and grants. The largest, a 1.3 million Impact Model School of Technology Grant (IMPACT), resulted in increased technology innovation and integration within her school and beyond. Additionally, she has presented professional development at local, state, and national levels.
Susan’s dedication and effective leadership is evidenced through her work in empowering educators and fostering nurturing environments for all stakeholders.
Selina Riley-Gurganus has worked in public schools for over 30 years. She served as a Career and Technical Education Teacher in Business and Information Technology at the middle and high school, earning National Board Certification. She later worked in leadership roles as a district-level achievement coach, college and career liaison/curriculum specialist, and high school assistant principal and principal.
During her career, she served on multiple curriculum/standards development committees with the NC Department of Public Instruction, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and Educators Rising. She has been a part-time instructor at James Sprunt Community College and Coastal Carolina Community College and a university supervisor for field experience students and teacher interns at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Campbell University.
She is an eastern North Carolina native and grew up in Beulaville, NC. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education and a Master of Science in Vocational Education from East Carolina University and professional licenses in School Administration and Curriculum, Instruction, and Supervision from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Her professional interests include educational coaching in leadership, curriculum, and instructional design and delivery. She is currently serving as a leadership coach in the Southeast Region for the ECU PIRATE Leadership Academy.
She is a Western North Carolina native, growing up in Shelby, NC. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BS), Master of Arts in Elementary Education (MAEd), and Masters in School Administration (MSA) from East Carolina University. She was a North Carolina Principal Fellow, Cohort 22. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD) at East Carolina University. She is a Pirate through and through.
Her experience includes serving as a classroom teacher, school administrator, district office personnel, and currently as program coordinator for the Pirate Leadership Academy Principal Fellows Program.
Her professional interests include data analysis of educational trends, the impacts of educational coaching on school administrators, and building effective partnerships to support school districts in Eastern North Carolina.
After serving over 25 years in the United States Marine Corps, Cassandra Burns White retired as a Chief Warrant Officer-4 and decided to enter the education arena through the Troops to Teacher organization in 2002 with Pamlico County Schools in Bayboro, N.C. She has been an elementary and middle school counselor, an elementary and middle school assistant principal and an elementary and alternative school principal, all of which were rewarding and fulfilling opportunities.
Mrs. White joined the Department of Defense Schools in November 2007 and served military connected children and their families as principal of several primary and elementary schools aboard Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg, N.C. until July 2016.
As an instructional leader, Mrs. White committed herself to creating a school atmosphere where students, faculty members, parents and community stakeholders felt connected, welcome, and an intricate part of students’ learning experiences. Her open-door policy, coupled with effective communication skills fostered partnerships with and among students, parents and educators, thus leading to high student engagement and achievement.
Mrs. White is a New Jersey native. After attending public schools in Florida and New Jersey, she graduated with honors from Park College with a Bachelor of Science degree in social psychology. In 2005 Mrs. White obtained her Masters in School Administration from East Carolina University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership through Liberty University while simultaneously supporting the East Carolina University Pirate Leadership Academy faculty and Principal Fellows as a leadership coach.