At Tuesday’s Moore County Board of Education meeting, the board appointed Neil Waters as chief administrator for exceptional children’s services, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
“Mr. Waters’ extensive expertise and proven commitment to educational excellence are poised to have a significant positive impact on students, staff, and the broader community,” announced the school district in a press release.
A native of Wallace, North Carolina, Waters earned his B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was also a member of the cheerleading squad as Rameses, the university’s mascot. He pursued an M.A. in Communication Disorders at Appalachian State University, launching his career as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in Montgomery County Schools and later joining Moore County Schools in 2005.
Highlights of his career include:
● Honored as Teacher of the Year at Carthage Elementary in 2009
● Named Moore County’s Exceptional Children’s Teacher of Excellence in 2010
● Served as lead SLP for nine years, specializing in augmentative and alternative communication as part of the Moore County Schools Assistive Technology Team
● Promoted to assistant director for exceptional children’s services in 2022, building on his commitment to supporting exceptional students and educators
Waters lives in the Seven Lakes community with his wife, DJ, an exceptional children’s teacher at West End Elementary, and their daughters Aidan, a sophomore at Pinecrest High School, and Nora, a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Superintendent Dr. Tim Locklair supports Waters’ appointment, citing his contributions to Moore County Schools and his capacity to enhance exceptional children’s services significantly.
“This appointment underscores the district’s commitment to creating innovative, inclusive, and high-performing educational environments throughout Moore County Schools,” said the district.
Feature photo: Neil Waters, current assistant director for exceptional children’s services.
Contributed article and photo.
