Dr. Valerie Bridges has more than 30 years of experience as a North Carolina educator and school leader. She is currently the Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools in Tarboro, NC and has served in this role for the past four years. Before becoming superintendent, she served as Associate and Assistant Superintendent in both Edgecombe and Washington County Schools. Prior to her transition to the eastern region of North Carolina, she worked in Guilford and Wake County Public Schools as a high school teacher, middle school Assistant Principal, and Elementary Principal.
Dr. Bridges holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Meredith College, teacher certification from St. Augustine’s College, a Master’s degree in School Administration and a Doctorate in Educational Research and Leadership from North Carolina State University
She has served on numerous state and national boards including North Carolina Virtual Public Schools, Down East Partnership for Children, North Carolina School Superintendents Association, The Innovation Project and Boys & Girls Club. In 2021, she was featured as EdWeek’s Leaders to Learn From. In addition, she has been honored with being named the Regional Superintendent of the Year (2021), the 2021 recipient of the Dr. Brad Sneeden Leadership Award, named Distinguished Citizen of the Year for the City of Rocky Mount (2020), and awarded the 2021 North Carolina State University Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for the College of Education.
Past AASA North Carolina Superintendent of the Year Winners:
2021 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year: Brent Williams
2020 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year: Anthony Jackson
About the Superintendent of the Year:
As a sponsor of the superintendent of the Year program, First Student wants to recognize these leaders in a special way this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the disruption that has affected all education systems but also the innovative approaches that the superintendents and school districts addressed through radio, television, zoom and take-home packages. These superintendents are the very best in public education and are needed more than ever during this crisis.
About the Award:
The superintendent of the Year program, sponsored by First Student and AASA, The School superintendents Association, pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation’s public schools.
State level winners are selected on the following criteria:
- Leadership for Learning
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Community Involvement