2025 Early College Summit

Beth understands social-emotional learning (SEL) and how SEL is foundational for organizations and learning.  Beth is committed to systems change and organizational learning, where employees can access a culture and climate that promotes well-being and belonging.  Beth is a Co-Founder of SEL4NC, a grassroots organization with the mission to improve the lives of all young people and adults by empowering advocates to support equity-focused social and emotional learning in their schools and communities.  She completed her Leading and Learning in Organizations (LLO) doctorate at Vanderbilt University.  In 2022, Beth joined the SERVE Center, which houses the Region 6 Comprehensive Center, supporting state education departments in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.  At the SERVE Center, Beth supports alternative education in North Carolina and a Community of Practice for Career Accelerator Program Summer Camps.  In addition, she built a National Community of Practice for the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework for state leaders and continues to co-lead the North Carolina Social and Emotional Learning and Educational Equity Project.

Beth joined the SERVE Center from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), where she was the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Lead on the Integrated Academic and Behavior Systems (IABS) Team within Educator and Student Advancement. She led SEL for the state, including leading the North Carolina Social and Emotional Learning Implementation Team and co-leading the North Carolina Social and Emotional Learning and Educational Equity Project.

Relationships matter and are at the center of all her work. By focusing on data and fiscally responsible, research-based, and well-implemented practices, systems can make important changes that result in positive outcomes for the end user. As a leader, sensemaking and practicing humility and curiosity are central.

Beth grew up in western North Carolina and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill. She began her educational career as a Special Education Teacher in western North Carolina. She taught Developmental Psychology and graduated from Appalachian State University with a Master of Arts and Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology in 2004. She worked as a School Psychologist in Wake and Burke counties in North Carolina. She worked as a Lead School Psychologist in Burke County. She served as the Secretary, President-Elect, President, and Past President of the North Carolina School Psychology Association (NCSPA).
In 2011, Beth joined the Cabarrus County team as a District MTSS & PBIS Coordinator. She taught at UNC Charlotte in the Department of Special Education and Child Development and in the Department of Counseling. In 2014, Beth joined the NCDPI state team as an MTSS Regional Consultant. As a regional consultant, she worked with the Southwest, Sandhills, and Northwest regions. In 2018, Beth resumed her long-time passion for social and emotional learning and school mental health, and, in 2019, Beth shifted from a regional consultant to a Practices Lead with a focus on SEL.