Following a student holiday orchestra performance in the Douglas Byrd Middle School gym, Social Studies teacher Manzell Spencer, Jr. was surprised with the announcement that he has been named the 2026 Sandhills Regional Teacher of the Year.
The news was met with cheers from students, teachers, staff, district leaders, representatives from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Spencer’s relatives, who gathered to celebrate the momentous achievement.
The reigning North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Rachel Candaso of Pitt County Schools, delivered the official announcement and shared her congratulations and well-wishes with Spencer. As the Sandhills Regional winner, Spencer will now advance to represent the region in the competition for the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year title.
On Monday, June 1, 2026, Tribe members from District 2 and District 15, the districts surrounding the area currently planned for the casino, met for a community meeting.Amidst the glitz and glamour of the idea of a new casino coming to the Lumbee Tri
This is the fourth year that ETI has hosted the event, and in years past Freeman has seen a host of innovative technology, including various drone types and programming, robotic dogs, 3D printed houses, and airspace scanners. Photo provided by USSOCO
Crystal McLean (left) with Scott Embry (right). Money Box Academy received a $10,000 grant from United Way of Cumberland County’s Youth Growth Stock Trust. Photos provided by Crystal McLean.The Youth Growth Stock Trust Committee, administered by the
