For the first time in Pender County Schools history, its superintendent has been named the best in North Carolina.
Dr. Brad Breedlove was named the Burroughs Wellcome Fund 2027 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year Thursday during a ceremony at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro.
Breedlove earned the statewide honor after first being selected as the Region 2 — Southeast Superintendent of the Year and advancing alongside seven other regional winners from across North Carolina.
For Breedlove, though, the recognition quickly became less about an individual award and more about the people who make up Pender County Schools.
“This really makes me proud of Pender County Schools and what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Breedlove said. “We have done a lot in the last four years as a school system, and it’s hard work. We are as good as the people that we have, and we have some fantastic people. I think receiving this award is a sign of that.”
That response came as no surprise to Pender County Board of Education Vice Chair Jennifer Hansen, who attended Thursday’s ceremony.
“Dr. Breedlove is an incredibly humble man, very smart, very dedicated, and really just has the best interests of our staff and students and all of Pender County Schools,” Hansen said.
Hansen said the recognition is also a reflection of the work taking place throughout the district.
“To have the first-ever Superintendent of the Year coming from Pender County Schools is just a testament to the hard work and dedication of all of our staff and the trust he has put in them,” Hansen said. “We’re just so excited to work with, honestly, simply the best.”
Breedlove has served as superintendent of Pender County Schools since January 2023. During that time, the district has worked to improve academic outcomes, expand opportunities for students and plan for the challenges that come with continued growth across Pender County.
His career in education began in the classroom and has included work as a teacher, coach, principal and district-level administrator. Breedlove was also named the 2014 North Carolina Principal of the Year before eventually becoming superintendent in Pender County.
Thursday’s recognition held additional meaning because it came from fellow education leaders.
Breedlove said being recognized by his peers, and knowing how they view Pender County Schools, made the honor especially meaningful.
Now, his role expands beyond Pender County.
Breedlove said being North Carolina Superintendent of the Year brings with it a responsibility to listen, learn and represent school districts across the state.
“I think it’s a responsibility to the state as well,” Breedlove said. “We have to be conscious of when we speak, people are listening, and it matters.”
He said that means continuing to talk with other superintendents, learning about the challenges facing districts across North Carolina and also finding opportunities to celebrate the work happening in public schools statewide.
The recognition also carries a more personal side.
Breedlove said leadership in education has always been something his entire family has experienced with him, from his days as a classroom teacher through his time as superintendent.
“It is a family job, no doubt,” Breedlove said. “My family’s all in on this as well as I am.”
As the 2027 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year, Breedlove will now represent the state in the 2027 National Superintendent of the Year competition.
But even with the statewide recognition, his message Thursday remained focused close to home, on the students, staff and families of Pender County Schools who helped make the honor possible.