Eddie Davis Sally Stqrrfield Carolyn Pugh Alan Teasley
Panel of Former DPS Teachers & Administrators
Carolyn Pugh
Carolyn Pugh has been in education for 30 + years. She has served as classroom teacher, assistant principal and retired as principal of R. N. Harris Integrated Arts/Core Knowledge Magnet School.
Ms. Pugh attended North Carolina Central University receiving her Undergraduate Degree in Elementary Education and later her Masters in School Administration. Although she entered NCCU as a business major, one morning she observed the interaction between teacher and child at the Child Development Center and it was at that moment her passion awakened and she knew she was destined to help mold the minds of our future.
She believes that all children can be successful regardless of their socio-economic status. As educators we must have the ability and creativity to spark a child’s imagination, build trusting and positive relationships. It is our responsibility as teachers to lead the students toward success and as administrators to lead teachers toward success. We must keep a positive mindset and always work toward breaking barriers that impeded the learning of our future. Exposure is the key. We may not have the ability to remove children from their environment but it is our responsibility to expose them to what is beyond their environments so they will be able to make the necessary decisions to be successful in life.
R. N. Harris Integrated Arts/Core Knowledge Magnet School under her leadership has received state and national recognition for moving student achievement for all children.
Ms. Pugh is the mother of two children (LaSheika and David) and proud grandmother of three (Malik, Kiera, Ayla).
Carolyn Pugh has been in education for 30 + years. She has served as classroom teacher, assistant principal and retired as principal of R. N. Harris Integrated Arts/Core Knowledge Magnet School.
Ms. Pugh attended North Carolina Central University receiving her Undergraduate Degree in Elementary Education and later her Masters in School Administration. Although she entered NCCU as a business major, one morning she observed the interaction between teacher and child at the Child Development Center and it was at that moment her passion awakened and she knew she was destined to help mold the minds of our future.
She believes that all children can be successful regardless of their socio-economic status. As educators we must have the ability and creativity to spark a child’s imagination, build trusting and positive relationships. It is our responsibility as teachers to lead the students toward success and as administrators to lead teachers toward success. We must keep a positive mindset and always work toward breaking barriers that impeded the learning of our future. Exposure is the key. We may not have the ability to remove children from their environment but it is our responsibility to expose them to what is beyond their environments so they will be able to make the necessary decisions to be successful in life.
R. N. Harris Integrated Arts/Core Knowledge Magnet School under her leadership has received state and national recognition for moving student achievement for all children.
Ms. Pugh is the mother of two children (LaSheika and David) and proud grandmother of three (Malik, Kiera, Ayla).
Eddie Davis
Eddie Davis was born and raised in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. He is a 1971 graduate of Elizabeth City State University.
Davis was a public school teacher in North Carolina for almost 40 years. During that time, he served on the State Board of Education for eight years. In addition, he served as the president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Education Association, and as a board member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Since retiring from the public schools in 2008, Davis has worked on historical projects for an organization called Inclusive North Carolina. In that capacity, he has developed a keen interest in the early 20th Century education of African Americans, including Rosenwald Schools. Davis has served on the Board of Directors for the Russell School, the only standing Rosenwald building in Durham.
In 2013, Davis was elected and served a four-year term on the Durham City Council.
Davis was a public school teacher in North Carolina for almost 40 years. During that time, he served on the State Board of Education for eight years. In addition, he served as the president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Education Association, and as a board member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Since retiring from the public schools in 2008, Davis has worked on historical projects for an organization called Inclusive North Carolina. In that capacity, he has developed a keen interest in the early 20th Century education of African Americans, including Rosenwald Schools. Davis has served on the Board of Directors for the Russell School, the only standing Rosenwald building in Durham.
In 2013, Davis was elected and served a four-year term on the Durham City Council.
Alan B. Teasley, PhD
Alan Teasley is a native of Durham. He was involved with the public school systems of Durham from the time he enrolled in first grade in 1954 until he retired from the central office staff in 2006. After attending all white schools through eleventh grade, he graduated from Northern High School in 1966 in the earliest days of school desegregation.
He taught English and drama at Southern High School from 1971 to 1980. After further graduate study at UNC-Chapel Hill, he joined the central office staff of the Durham County Schools in 1984. In 1990, he participated in planning the merger of the Durham City and County Schools by co-chairing the High School Merger Issues Task Force. After the two systems merged into the Durham Public Schools in 1992, he was named the Director of Instructional Programs and served on the Superintendent Search Committee. In 1993 he became the Executive Director for Professional Growth and Training, leading the effort to provide diversity training to all 4000 of the district’s employees.
From 1996-2006 he served primarily in two roles—as the Executive Director of Grants Administration, helping to secure $37 million in grants from various government and private sources, and as the Coordinator of the Program for Academically/Intellectually Gifted Students.
Alan also worked with Duke University’s Program in Education from 1990 to 2016, teaching a variety of courses and serving as the Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program from 2012-1015.
He taught English and drama at Southern High School from 1971 to 1980. After further graduate study at UNC-Chapel Hill, he joined the central office staff of the Durham County Schools in 1984. In 1990, he participated in planning the merger of the Durham City and County Schools by co-chairing the High School Merger Issues Task Force. After the two systems merged into the Durham Public Schools in 1992, he was named the Director of Instructional Programs and served on the Superintendent Search Committee. In 1993 he became the Executive Director for Professional Growth and Training, leading the effort to provide diversity training to all 4000 of the district’s employees.
From 1996-2006 he served primarily in two roles—as the Executive Director of Grants Administration, helping to secure $37 million in grants from various government and private sources, and as the Coordinator of the Program for Academically/Intellectually Gifted Students.
Alan also worked with Duke University’s Program in Education from 1990 to 2016, teaching a variety of courses and serving as the Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program from 2012-1015.
Sally Starrfield
Sally Starrfield is the Interim Director for Duke University Pre-College, which offers online and residential academically rigorous courses for high school students from around the world. For ten years, she served as the Assistant Director for Academic Affairs at Duke University’s Talent Identification Program, providing summer academic programs for intellectually gifted middle and high school students at Duke as well as college campuses throughout the country.
Prior to working at Duke she served as an Assistant Principal at a Title I middle in Greensboro, NC. From 2005-2007 she was an assistant principal at Brogden and Chewning Middle Schools in Durham Public Schools. At Chewning she worked with the DPS Schoolboard and district leaders to convert the traditional and year-round calendar tracks into one year-round school that was racially and socioeconomically integrated.
Sally served as a Literacy Specialist for 6-12th grade for the district from 2001-2005, which allowed her to see a cross section of DPS schools. In this role, she mainly worked with teachers and school staff to provide professional development and coaching in reading across the curriculum.
Sally has earned her Masters in School Administration from NC State University, Bachelors in English Education and Anthropology from Florida State University, NC K-12 Principal License, Senior Professional Human Resources Certification, and Duke University Excellence in Leadership Certificate.
Sally Starrfield is the Interim Director for Duke University Pre-College, which offers online and residential academically rigorous courses for high school students from around the world. For ten years, she served as the Assistant Director for Academic Affairs at Duke University’s Talent Identification Program, providing summer academic programs for intellectually gifted middle and high school students at Duke as well as college campuses throughout the country.
Prior to working at Duke she served as an Assistant Principal at a Title I middle in Greensboro, NC. From 2005-2007 she was an assistant principal at Brogden and Chewning Middle Schools in Durham Public Schools. At Chewning she worked with the DPS Schoolboard and district leaders to convert the traditional and year-round calendar tracks into one year-round school that was racially and socioeconomically integrated.
Sally served as a Literacy Specialist for 6-12th grade for the district from 2001-2005, which allowed her to see a cross section of DPS schools. In this role, she mainly worked with teachers and school staff to provide professional development and coaching in reading across the curriculum.
Sally has earned her Masters in School Administration from NC State University, Bachelors in English Education and Anthropology from Florida State University, NC K-12 Principal License, Senior Professional Human Resources Certification, and Duke University Excellence in Leadership Certificate.