Pitt County Schools announced Dr. Michael Casey of Aiden Elementary as the district’s 2026 Principal of the Year and Mandy Rochester of Chaccade School as the 2026 Assistant Principal of the Year at an awards event at Rock Springs Center on Oct. 1, hosted by the district’s human resources office.

The awards ceremony recognized three principal nominees and six assistant principal nominees and included presentations by the district’s outgoing 2025 winners, district leaders and community partners. The district and event organizers thanked sponsors and donors who provided gifts for winners and nominees.

Dr. Michael Casey, named 2026 Principal of the Year, accepted the honor and thanked family members, district mentors and colleagues. “It is my privilege to serve alongside you,” Casey said, reflecting on the demands of school leadership and the support he received within Pitt County Schools.

Mandy Rochester, announced as the 2026 Assistant Principal of the Year, said she was “so grateful and honored” and described her decision to work in schools as a calling rooted in her own childhood. Rochester urged colleagues to support a district initiative she singled out, saying, “We have to see every kid, all kids,” and encouraged staff to “champion” the DESA program this year as a safety net for students. The transcript does not specify the program’s full name or funding details.

The event opened with remarks from Tara Patterson, assistant superintendent for human resources, who introduced district leaders and asked board members, nominees and sponsors to stand for recognition. The district acknowledged a range of partners and donors present or contributing gifts, including Pitt County Farm Bureau (event sponsor); Pitt County Schools Educational Foundation; ECU Athletics (game tickets); Grady White (donation/check); Mark 3 Employee Benefits (gift cards); The Fresh Market (gift baskets); Walmart (TV and laptop); and Nothing Bundt Cakes (bundtlet coupons). Patterson also thanked Mary Margaret Wiggins, employee relations coordinator, for organizing the event.

Presenters included the district’s 2025 winners — Katie Swain (2025 Assistant Principal of the Year) and Megan Newman (2025 Principal of the Year) — who each delivered remarks about the role and responsibilities of school leaders. Swain said assistant principals are “the steady hands that help guide schools forward,” and Newman emphasized the unseen work of school leaders and the importance of community support.

Nominees for assistant principal of the year named in the program were Patrick Egan (Aden Middle School); Lashonda May (Elmhurst Elementary School); Marcus Pate (J.H. Rose High School); Lisa Robbins (H.B. Suggs School); Mandy Rochester (Chaccade School); and Lisonbee Taylor (South Central High School). Principal nominees listed were Dr. Paul Briney (Wintergreen Intermediate and Wintergreen Primary Schools); Dr. Michael Casey (Aiden Elementary); and Jeremiah Miller (Farmville Middle School). The program also recognized Emily Sims as the district’s 2025 Teacher of the Year and mentioned a Parents for Public Schools representative, Joshua Brazil, among attendees.

Event organizers asked winners, nominees, their families, district administrators, Farm Bureau representatives and board members to remain after the program for photographs, followed by any media interviews. Patterson and other district staff reminded attendees to stop by tables in the lobby to collect gifts provided for principals and assistant principals.

No formal district policy changes, votes or budget decisions were made during the event; the program was ceremonial and focused on recognition and brief remarks by winners and nominees.