Eastern North Carolina
About Us
“Throughout ENC you will find some of the most hardworking people pushing towards progress and innovation and creativity. We are not little towns stuck in the past. We are small but mighty communities striving for what’s next and what’s absolutely possible. The pride and love in the community is infectious.”
Our Impact
After 30+ years of working in Eastern North Carolina, we have more opportunities than ever to make a real difference. Today, hundreds of our corps members and alumni work in public schools and charter schools across rural communities in the region. Many of them now serve as school and district leaders. Inspired by their classroom experiences, our alumni are leading transformational change in multiple sectors. They serve as school leaders, shape education policy, found advocacy organizations, and develop innovative businesses. With our corps members and alumni working together across multiple counties, our network members build strong relationships as they work to improve education.
Alumni Innovators
Lemondrè Watson
Lemondrè Watson
Lemondrè Watson (ENC ’13) is the award-winning principal of Pittsboro Elementary School in Pittsboro, NC. He is committed to fostering a school culture where both students and teachers love coming to school.
Vichi Jagannathan and Seth Saeugling
Vichi Jagannathan and Seth Saeugling
Vichi Jagannathan (ENC ‘11) and Seth Saeugling (ENC ’12), co-founded the Rural Opportunity Institute, which supports youth, organizations, and communities to interrupt the cycle of generational trauma and design innovative solutions for healing and resilience.
Dr. Steve North
Dr. Steve North
Dr. Steve North (ENC '93) founded the Center for Rural Health Innovation to improve access to healthcare in rural North Carolina.
Innovators wanted.
Living Here
Living Here
Many of our corps members choose to live in or close to the community where they teach. This might be the city of Greenville, the town of Tarboro, or one of the many other communities across Eastern North Carolina.
Southern hospitality is a way of life here.
Eastern North Carolina has a rich history, culture and longstanding commitment to civil rights and social justice. Living costs are lower here than in big cities, but you still have access to universities and city amenities. Eastern North Carolina gives you the best of both worlds: you're only an hour from bigger cities like Raleigh and Durham but you get the close community feel of a rural area. Living in the same towns as students lets our corps members connect with families outside of school. They get involved in local programs, coach sports teams, and offer tutoring.
In their free time, our corps members enjoy hiking and camping in state parks, fishing and boating on Lake Gaston, visiting historical sites, going to Durham Bulls games, trips to the Outer Banks, and trying local food. The coast offers great water activities, while inland areas have beautiful farms and charming small towns that keep their historic character.
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“I want to decrease the high school dropout rate and increase the college graduation rate for Indigenous students. I joined TFA because one day I will help to make this change.”
“Teach For America gave me one of the greatest gifts: my why. And that why—that fire—lights in me to this day.”
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Support Our Work
Our is only possible with community support, and we are grateful to have you as a partner. Your dedication to educational excellence helps to find, recruit, select, and train a new generation of leaders in our region. Your support has brought to life our Eastern North Carolina Residency program, leadership development, and locally-based programming, and support for thousands of student-centered leaders through the years.