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Wake County Board presents Order of the Longleaf Pine to Jacqueline B. Ellis and Dr. Tammy Sexton
Summary
At its July 15, 2025 meeting, the Wake County Board of Education recognized two longtime district leaders — Jacqueline B. Ellis and Dr. Tammy Sexton — with nominations and presentations for North Carolina's Order of the Longleaf Pine.
The Wake County Board of Education on July 15, 2025 presented nominations for the Order of the Longleaf Pine to Jacqueline B. Ellis and Dr. Tammy Sexton, honoring their multi‑decade careers in Wake County Public Schools.
The Order of the Longleaf Pine is one of North Carolina's highest civilian honors. The board said it nominated Ellis and Sexton in recognition of long careers that included school‑level leadership, district administration and mentoring of other educators.
Jacqueline B. Ellis, identified by the board as a 30‑year education veteran and the district's former chief of schools, was recognized for roles that the board summarized as teacher in Greenville, principal in Chapel Hill‑Carrboro City Schools, district‑level work in Durham County and multiple leadership positions in Wake County, including middle school director, Western Wake area superintendent and assistant superintendent of human resources. Ellis accepted the recognition and told the board she continues to coach first‑year principals and assistant principals. “Every student matters, every family matters,” Ellis said, describing her continuing commitment after retirement.
The board also presented the honor to Dr. Tammy Sexton, whom the board described as having 34½ years of service with Wake County Public Schools. The board noted Sexton was the founding principal of Rand Road Elementary and has served as Western Wake area superintendent, among other roles. Sexton thanked colleagues and families for their support and said she was “honored and... forever grateful for Wake County.”
Vice Chair Lester Swanson and other board members spoke in support of both nominations. The board also acknowledged Representative Johnson Hosler for assisting with the nomination process.
The board recessed after the presentations to allow photos and further recognition.
Both nominations were presented at the meeting; the board announced the governor had accepted the nominations but did not specify dates for formal investiture or related events.
