Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1475157
10 UCW AUGUST 3 - 9, 2022 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Local women excel in public services, education a STAFF REPORT NEWS City names first woman to lead local public transit system Tyffany Neal, currently the assistant director of Fayetteville's public transit system, will become its first woman director in August. City leaders recently announced that Neal will be promoted to lead the Fayetteville Area System of Transit. "Fayetteville is experiencing exciting levels of development and growth, and I realize this is a great opportunity for FAST to transition from a need- based transit system to a choice mode of transporta- tion for every resident within our community," Neal said, according to the release. "I am excited for the opportunity to continue working toward ensuring the value of FAST perme- ates throughout our community." Neal has worked for public transit systems in Greensboro; Chapel Hill; Charleston, South Caro- lina; and Washington, D.C. She has been assistant director of FAST since 2017. Neal earned her master's degree in public admin- istration from Strayer University and a bachelor of arts degree from South Carolina State University, the release said. Neal was featured in Women's View Magazine's Women's Spotlight in 2021. She is on the board of directors of the N.C. Public Transit Association and a member of the Conference of Minority Transpor- tation Officials. "During her career with the city, Tyffany has prov- en to be a smart, attentive and passionate leader who will have the ability to continue our success in transit," City Manager Doug Hewett said in the news release. "She brings innovative solutions daily and has earned the respect of her peers." In recent years, FAST has received more than $20 million in federal and state grants and COVID relief funding to expand services and reach more resi- dents. FAST also is planning to begin transitioning to electric buses by 2024, the release said. With an annual budget of $13 million, FAST provides more than 1.6 million passenger trips each year. For more info about FAST visit www.fayettevil- lenc.gov/city-services/transit. Editor's Note: To read the Women's View Magazine spotlight on Neal, visit https://pubhtml5.com/twqv/ mlew/ and turn to page 4. Cumberland County teacher named to WGU Alumni Council Maureen Stover of Fayetteville has been ap- pointed to Western Governors University Southeast Region Distinguished Alumni Council and will provide insight for the needs of WGU students in North Carolina. Stover is a high school science teacher with Cumberland County Schools, a former Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year and finalist for National Teacher of the Year. Established in 2022, the WGU Southeast Region Distinguished Alumni Council will help chart the path of progress for WGU in North Carolina, Ala- bama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. e 11 members of the inaugural council will serve as ambassadors in their states and commu- nities as part of the council's broader outreach on behalf of WGU. Members serve a four-year term, providing strategic insights to WGU's Southeast Region leadership team. ey will advise and strategize ways to increase awareness, reputation, visibility, and the impact of WGU by networking and advocating for equitable access to higher education. "Maureen has been a leader in education for years," said Dr. Kimberly Estep, WGU Southeast Regional Vice President. "I look forward to working with her to build and maintain a strong connection between WGU and its students throughout North Carolina. Our alumni network is one of WGU's most important assets, both in North Carolina and throughout the country, and I cannot wait to see the incredible ways this council will come together and build a new foundation for WGU alumni every- where." Designed for working adults, WGU is an accredit- ed nonprofit online university that offers an asyn- chronous, competency-based model that allows students to log in and access coursework at a time convenient for them, and to accelerate at their own pace. WGU has more than 3,800 students currently enrolled in North Carolina and more than 6,300 graduates living across all 100 counties in the state. To learn more about WGU, visit www.wgu.edu. Gray's Creek Middle School teacher wins state title Amber House, a teacher at Gray's Creek Middle School, was recently named the North Carolina Association of Career and Technical Education's 2022 Teacher of the Year. e Teacher of the Year award is one of the NCACTE's five main awards and recognizes teach- ers who are providing outstanding CTE programs for youth and/or adults in their respective fields and communities. According to the NCACTE website, recipients must have made significant contribu- tions toward innovative, unique and novel programs that are serving to improve and promote career and technical education. House teaches multiple courses at GCMS includ- ing Computer Science, Discoveries and Introduc- tion to Office. During the 2021-2022 school year, she volunteered for the pilot program for the Minecraft Coding classes, and her students excelled. At the end of the course, 95% of her eighth-grade students earned the micro credentials for the eighth-grade Advanced Coding pilot class. House helps her students find creative ways to reach their maximum potential and helps her peers do the same. House is dedicated to continuous improvement, supporting fellow teacher and stu- dent success. A recently recognized National Board Certified Teacher, she is a district Canvas trainer and serves as the chair of GCMS' Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports committee. House's commitment to education doesn't stop at the GCMS door. She also serves as a system-wide professional development presenter for CTE and other departments. She recently served as the presi- dent of the Business Marketing Division of NCACTE. Many people in House's school, community and field respect her work ethic, influence and innova- tion. She is constantly looking for tools, equipment and opportunities to engage students in 21st century learning and technology. She has received many grants to purchase 3D printers and the material used for printing in the 3D printers. She worked collaboratively with two other teachers in the district to 3D print masks for first responders in the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community. Tyffany Neal is being promoted to take over as the Fayetteville Transit Director in September. Maureen Stover was appointed to the WGU Southeast Region Distinguished Alumni Council. Amber House, the NCACTE Teacher of the Year, poses for a pic- ture after receiving the award in Winston Salem in July.