The Leadership B. A. N. C. Team

Dr. Monica Bernette Smith-Woofter, Leadership B.A.N.C.’s Treasurer and Parliamentarian, serves as an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at James Madison University. Smith-Woofter’s executive leadership, coaching/advising, and teaching and learning experiences allow her to customize supports and frame continuous improvement efforts through an equity lens to build the capacity of others and to promote self-efficacy. Dr. Smith-Woofter has been a lifetime educator, serving in the roles of bus driver, substitute teacher, high school teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, numerous central office director positions, chief academic officer, and finally retiring as a superintendent with 32 years of educational leadership experience. She continues to serve as an executive coach and presenter regarding effective leadership practices, equity, diversity, access and inclusion, microaggressions awareness, and coaching supports to leaders, all of which align with her research interests.

smithwoofter2@gmail.com

Dr. Mark Alvis Rumley, Leadership B.A.N.C.’s Secretary, serves as a faculty member for and the Assistant Director of the Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools (PPEERS), an innovative and nationally recognized school leadership preparation program within the School of Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Dr. Rumley has been a lifetime educator, having served for nearly 40 years in the roles of teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, assistant professor, and state-based educational director for superintendents and boards of education. He continues to serve as an executive coach and presenter for school districts regarding leadership for rural schools, beginning teacher support and retention efforts, equity-based education, and leadership development through cognitive coaching.

markarumley@gmail.com

Dr. Nancy Nicholson Barbour, Leadership B.A.N.C.’s President/CEO, is a 30 plus year educator. She began her career teaching in public schools in rural North Carolina with special needs and regular education students. She worked as both a school and district administrator, supporting continuous improvement and focusing on personalizing learning for both child and adult learners. From local school and district work, she began working at the state level with schools across the state that struggled to meet minimum student performance standards, and after retirement, she continues to serve in leadership coaching roles, supporting equitable practices. She believes in the power of education and how it should focus on a model of continuous improvement and inclusive practices. She recognizes the impact that education has on all people and strives to live according to her favorite quote, “Equality is leaving the door open for anyone to enter; equity is ensuring there is a pathway to the door for all who need it.”

nnbarbour@gmail.com

Dr. James Christopher Ellerbe, Leadership B.A.N.C.’s Vice President, an educator with more than 30 years of experience in the classroom and administration, serves as an Executive Consultant for SERVE, Inc.. at both state and district levels in GA, NC, SC. During his educational career, he worked in a variety of capacities, beginning as a teacher assistant and bus driver to a math teacher, coach, school administrator, state administrator and supervisor, superintendent, and State Education Program Director. Dr. Ellerbe is known to leverage his professional work experiences and successes to improve student achievement, providing quality educational opportunities for students by setting and supporting annual goals; and by collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure the development, execution, and management of plans and processes that drive improvement in student growth and achievement. Dr. Ellerbe has a track record of success working in both high-poverty, rural, and affluent school districts.

jcellerbe@gmail.com