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At the start of its recent meeting, the Dare County Board of Education (BOE) took time to recognize two individuals whose contributions have extended well beyond the classroom and into the broader educational and community landscape. Superintendent Steve Basnight began the evening’s proceedings by celebrating the achievements of Mora Velazquez, a dedicated advocate for dual language education, and Coach Chad Williams, a champion both on and off the basketball court.

Velazquez, currently serving in Dare County’s dual language immersion program, was recognized for her appointment to the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC) Board as the dual language immersion representative for the 2024–2025 academic year. This prestigious state-level position reflects her leadership and expertise in world language instruction.

“Board members in this organization play a vital role in shaping language education policy across the state,” Basnight explained. “Mora’s service ensures Dare County continues to be represented at the forefront of professional standards and innovation.” Velazquez has been instrumental in organizing key events for the FLANC, including planning site visits for the spring conference in Greenville. Her professionalism and continued dedication to the field have made a lasting impact both locally and statewide.

Shifting from the classroom to the basketball court, Basnight then honored First Flight High School’s (FFHS) athletic director and head basketball coach Chad Williams, who was recently named the 2024–25 National Coach of the Year Champion by the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer program.

Williams earned the national recognition for organizing the Good Guys vs. Cancer Showcase, an annual basketball event that has raised more than $100,000 since its inception in 2018. The tournament was born out of personal tragedy following the diagnosis of Williams’ father, Guy Williams Jr., with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia and lymphoma.

What began as a small showcase has grown into eastern North Carolina’s premier high school basketball event, drawing 32 teams from North Carolina and Virginia in its most recent installment. Last year’s event raised more than $24,000 in support of the American Cancer Society’s mission and local families battling cancer.

With visible emotion, Basnight reflected on the showcase’s deeper meaning. “You’ve not only created a legacy for your dad, you’ve created an opportunity for all of us to make our own memories. I want to thank you and like I’ve told you multiple times, he’s [my dad’s] real proud of you.”

The meeting continued with a celebration of academic excellence, as director of secondary education Denise Fallon recognized students from across Dare County for their remarkable achievements in mathematics competitions held at both the regional and state levels. Fallon, herself a former math teacher and coach, expressed tremendous pride in the students’ performance, noting that Dare County schools delivered an unprecedented sweep of honors.

Students from middle and high schools across the county competed in the North Carolina regional and state math competitions, where they showcased both skill and determination. Teams from each level, from introductory algebra through calculus, brought home multiple awards.

Manteo Middle School (MHS) captured first place in the Level 1 division under the leadership of coach Melissa Geiger. Notably, eighth-grade students from this team competed against high schoolers taking Math I, making their victory even more impressive. Individual honors included first place state qualifier for Alex Midgett, with Lucas Bailey and Aniyah Gibbs also securing top-10 finishes.

In the Level 2 division, FFHS earned first place, led by coach Tom Hasky. Standout performers included Ben Cortez (sixth in the state), Harry Lipchak (seventh) and Daniel Trice, all of whom qualified for the state-level competition.

MHS’s Level 3 team, coached by Evan Davis, also clinched first place regionally. Students Daisy Brewster, Finnegan Davis and Sarah Marshall Gallop advanced to the state competition, with Gallop earning a fourth-place state finish.

At the comprehensive level, reserved for advanced students studying pre-calculus and calculus, MHS once again claimed first place regionally. Team members Finn Schultz, Alan Garcia and Aiden Riggs all advanced to the state level.

Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS) also shined in the comprehensive division, securing second place regionally under coach Natasha Farrow. Quinn Farrow placed third regionally and was a state-level participant.

In addition to team honors, several individual students from across the district received recognition for their exceptional performance: From First Flight Middle School, students Holden Hudspeth and Brantley Molton qualified for the state competition. From FFHS, Wesley Robinson placed seventh in the state for Level 3.

The board took a moment to honor a remarkable group of students who have served as liaisons between their peers and the BOE. These student advisors were recognized for their strong communication, thoughtful insight and dedication to representing their schools and communities. In appreciation of their service, each student received a commemorative sash and cord to wear at graduation.

“There is no way … we could have anticipated the level of input, the level of thought, and some of the comments that were made back to us,” Basnight said, noting how often students brought common sense perspectives to complex decisions. “You have exceeded our expectations. You make us excited about the future.”

He went on to express his personal gratitude, adding, “Thank you, from Dare County Schools, from our Board of Education, and from myself, for being who you were and helping us to be better.”

This year’s student board advisors, recognized with their families present, were: Elizabeth Fairbanks, CHSS – attending Clemson University to study electrical engineering; Caroline Fuller, CHSS – headed to UNC Charlotte to pursue biomedical engineering and neuroscience; Emerson Mann, FFHS – enrolled at UNC Chapel Hill’s Honors College for biomedical engineering; Schuyler Wilson, FFHS – also attending UNC Chapel Hill, studying political science on a pre-law track; Tobias Fleckenstein, MHS – attending UNC Chapel Hill for political science and pre-law, recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout; Spencer Twiford, MHS – accepted into East Carolina University’s Honors College to study English and secondary education, with plans to pursue a master’s in administration and return to Dare County as an educator and school leader.

Afterward, the board received a presentation on the new Dare County Schools Sports Management Program, a hands-on initiative launched this year to give students real-world experience in athletic administration, event planning and sports marketing. Developed through collaboration with PE teachers, athletic directors and CTE coordinators, the program provides students with the opportunity to explore the operations behind high school sports—from organizing events and managing equipment to running social media and coordinating transportation logistics.

The program was implemented in two formats: a standalone course at MHS and an internship model at FHHS and CHSS. Both approaches proved successful, allowing flexibility in how students engaged with the curriculum.

Student intern Abby Miles, a junior at FHHS, shared how the program helped clarify her college and career interests. She highlighted projects like running a fall basketball league and managing school sports updates through social media, all of which deepened her appreciation for the planning and coordination behind athletics.

Looking ahead, the program aims to expand with more community partnerships, guest speakers, field trips and opportunities in officiating, sports journalism and compliance. Students have already contributed ideas for growth, and district leaders expressed excitement about building on the program’s early success.

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