The Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools (PPEERS) leadership team proudly celebrates the dedication, growth, and contributions of the PPEERS 5 cohort. As the largest cohort in the program’s history, with 28 members, this group of graduate students has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community, resilience, adaptability, and leadership. Their ability to support one another while applying program principles in real-world contexts distinguishes them as a truly exemplary cohort.
Set to graduate in May of 2026, the cohort has engaged in a comprehensive range of learning experiences throughout their two-year journey in the PPEERS program, including participating in the Truist Leadership Institute and our Fall Study Tour for PPEERS. Most recently, cohort members participated in Performance Learning Days, where they explored a day in the life of a new principal, attended a Thursday Seminar in a partner district (Montgomery County Schools), engaged in a mock interview, and participated in the 2026 Brock’s Critical Conversations Conference.
Brock’s Critical Conversations Conference also served as one of the program’s Saturday Seminars. Guided by the 2026 theme, “The Urgency of Now: Leading and Learning in Uncertain Times,” the conference provided a meaningful platform for engagement and reflection. The PPEERS leadership team, in collaboration with Department of Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations graduate research and doctoral students Shavonne Oliver, Kelly Bradford, and Kelvon Barkley, facilitated a session titled “Reflective Dialogue and Inquiry as Praxis: Catalyzing Transformational Change in Rural Schools, Districts, and Communities.” This session highlighted the intentional inclusion of stakeholders in reflective inquiry and dialogue as a transformative pedagogical approach to fostering continuous improvement in rural schools, school districts, and communities.
In tribute, the PPEERS leadership team honors not only the accomplishments of PPEERS 5 cohort but also their lasting impact on the program. This cohort leaves a legacy of engagement and leadership that will continue to inspire future participants. As PPEERS continues to grow at UNC Greensboro, the success of this cohort serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of leadership development for archetypal principal preparation, while cultivating strong, authentic relationships and fostering a thriving community of care.
The PPEERS leadership team consists of Ms. Onna Jordan, Program Manager; Dr. Annie P. Wimbish, Program Coordinator; Dr. Mark A. Rumley, Assistant Director; Dr. Christopher Kelly, Program Director and PI.
