May 8, 2026
Breanna Morris / Transylvania County Schools
Rosman Elementary School art teacher Breanna Morris has been selected to represent Transylvania County Schools in the 2026-27 Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership.
Morris is one of only 36 educators chosen across North Carolina and Virginia for the highly competitive, year-long professional development program operated at N.C. State University.
Her fellowship project, titled “Strengthening the STEM Pipeline,” will be completed in partnership with The Science House at NC State University and reflects a growing recognition that art educators play a vital role in building well-rounded, creative STEM thinkers and that connections between the arts and STEM fields open new doors for students.
As part of the fellowship, Morris will complete a summer immersion of at least three weeks with The Science House to gain first-hand workforce experience she will bring directly back to her students. She will also complete a capstone project connecting classroom learning to real-world career pathways, receive 80 hours of professional leadership development and membership in a statewide network of more than 680 current and former Fellows.
Selection for the program involved a written application, professional recommendations, and interviews with program staff and industry mentors. Candidates were evaluated on their demonstrated leadership potential, adaptability to evolving educational needs, and ability to collaborate with community partners.
The Kenan Fellows Program was founded in 2000 and is based at the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science at N.C. State University.