The 2024 Doctoral Symposium was held on Friday November 10th via zoom. The theme was “Leading (In)Between” with keynote speaker Dr. Leslie Alexander, a graduate of our program and the Superintendent of Watauga County Schools.
As scholar practitioners, many of us inhabit middle and “between” spaces in our schools and colleges, in our careers, and in our communities. We find ourselves in the middle of organizational hierarchies, between familiar and emerging identities, between status quo and new possibilities. Many of us also find ourselves in the middle of research projects and leadership initiatives. In many ways, our work is always from the middle, always between what came before, and what might become. During this year’s doctoral symposium we invite you to reflect on the spaces we find ourselves leading (in)between.
Dr. Leslie Alexander has served as the Superintendent of Watauga County Schools since July 2023. Previously,
she served in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in various roles including Chief Human Resource Officer, Area Superintendent of Leadership Development, Principal at R.J. Reynolds High School, and Principal of J.F. Kennedy High School. She has been a literacy specialist and teacher, and she has mentored and coached many professionals.
Dr. Alexander has been instrumental in restructuring curriculum priorities, implementing innovative programs, building community relations, and ensuring academic excellence. She is respected for her firm, fair, and consistent approach to leadership. Her research interests involve feminist issues that affect women who serve as leaders in educational administration. She is a member of several professional memberships, and she has been recognized in various ways for her many accomplishments including:
- The Signature School Award (2015 and 2017)
- WS/FCS District Principal of the Year (2017)
- Magnet School Principal of the Year (2016)
- Winston-Salem Outstanding Women Leaders Award (2018)
- Williams School of Graduate Studies 2024 Outstanding Alumna Award