The North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) honored North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA) Executive Director Katherine W. Joyce as the Clifford Winslow Friend of Education Award recipient during NCASA’s 2026 Conference on Educational Leadership in Wilmington March 27th.
NCSBA President, Mr. Carlos Riddick of Washington County, presented Ms. Joyce with the award named in honor of Clifford Winslow, a dedicated school board member and former president of NCSBA. Established in 1986, the award has only been bestowed 11 times. It is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to public education and who have built long-lasting meaningful relationships with local boards of education.
During the presentation of the award, Mr. Riddick recounted Ms. Joyce’s accomplishments. “As Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators, Katherine Joyce has been an outstanding partner to NCSBA and school boards across the state,” he said. “The relationship between school boards and administrators is critical – it requires mutual respect, open communication, and a shared commitment to doing what is best for our students.”
He was joined on stage by NCSBA Executive Director Leanne Winner, who worked closely with Ms. Joyce for many years. Together they have collaborated on numerous pieces of K-12 legislation, often navigating complex and high-stakes negotiations.
Ms. Winner praised Ms. Joyce and acknowledged that her “leadership has helped bridge perspectives, strengthen collaboration, ultimately benefit the students and communities we all serve. Your work reflects the very essence of this award.”
Ms. Joyce was presiding at the NCASA Conference when the NCSBA representatives interrupted her on stage to present the surprise award.
“I am deeply honored that the North Carolina School Boards Association chose to surprise me with this award, which is especially meaningful and uplifting because it is presented only in rare circumstances,” Joyce said. “It underscores the significant partnership that I’m proud to have helped NCASA forge with NCSBA since 2003, when I joined the NCASA team, and that beneficial collaboration in supporting school boards and administrators holds long-lasting, beneficial impacts for our public schools across the state.”