Staff Directory

Dr. Wilson is entering her fourth year as principal of Franklin County Early College High School. She earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from North Carolina State University. During the 2024-2025 school year, she also completed the Distinguished Leadership in Practice Program (DLP), a year-long leadership development program for practicing school principals from all regions of the state, for the second time in her career. The program is designed and provided by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principal’s Association (NCPAPA) and sponsored by the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD.)

Dr. Wilson earned a Master of School Administration degree from NC State University and was a member of the Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA). NELA is a fully-funded scholarship program, ranked Top Principal Preparatory Program in the United States, (one of only five to earn this distinction from the University Council of Education Administration). Dr. Wilson was a 2019 recipient of NC State University's US Department of Education grant titled, “The Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA) 2.0: Developing and Sustaining Effective Leaders for High-Need Rural Districts,” in the amount of $6,500 for Bunn High School. She was also a presenter and guest panelist at NC State University’s 2019 NELA SUMMER CONFERENCE: BUILDING TEACHER EFFICACY: THE KEY TO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT.

Dr. Wilson earned an undergraduate degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from NC State University and taught 9-12th grade Mathematics at Franklinton High School for nearly a decade. She was recognized as Franklin County Schools Secondary Mathematics Educator of the Year in the 2014-2015 school year. Additionally, she participated in the North Carolina Governor’s Teacher Network and North Carolina State University's Aspire training program. In her last years in the classroom, Dr. Wilson served as the Math Department Chair, served on the School Leadership Team, School Improvement Team, and the school's Professional Development team. Throughout her teaching career, she also served as a teacher mentor for student teachers, student government sponsor, Varsity cheerleading coach, and Competition team cheerleading coach.

Brandy Coombs is a native of Knightdale, NC and has lived in the Louisburg area for the past 14 years. She has dedicated 22 years to teaching, grades 5th through 12th. She graduated from Barton College with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Middle School Mathematics. In 2011, she earned her National Board Certification in area of Early Adolescence Science. She has served as the Science Department Chair and Team Lead for over a decade at various schools. Outside of teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three boys, being outdoors, bee keeping, gardening, and learning new things.

Mrs. Edwards grew up in Raleigh, NC, but her family hails from Franklin County. She has various experiences ranging from elementary school to high school and has served all grade levels during her 40-year career. She believes in a lifelong commitment to education.

Mrs. Gupton is a science enthusiast with a background in health sciences and microbiology. She became a teacher in 2018 after realizing her passion of pouring into youth and sharing scientific knowledge with others. She thoroughly enjoys teaching at the Early College High School. Outside of work she loves spending time with her husband and three children. She also enjoys being outside, animals, all things fall, and all things Christmas.

William Hunt is from Zebulon NC. He graduated from Wake Tech in 2016 with an Associate of Arts Degree. He then graduated from East Carolina University in 2018 with a Bachelor in Science Degree of History Education and in History. He is married to his awesome wife, Jenny (who is an elementary school teacher,) and has a 1 & 1/2 year old son, Liam. Hunt has been at ECHS for 4 years and previously worked in Pitt County Schools for 2.

Ms. Lassiter, a proud Franklin County native and alumna of Franklin County Schools, exemplifies dedication and excellence in education. A graduate of Louisburg Elementary, Terrell Lane Middle, and Louisburg High School (Class of 1998), she pursued her passion for literature at Elizabeth City State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. With over a decade of service in the Franklin County School District, including the past five years as an esteemed English teacher at Franklin County Early College High School, Ms. Lassiter has made a transformative impact on countless students.

Her love for writing and exploring great novels is matched only by her passion for inspiring young minds. Ms. Lassiter excels at motivating students to become accountable, independent thinkers, empowering them with the tools to succeed academically and in life. Through her unwavering commitment, creativity, and ability to connect deeply with her students, Ms. Lassiter is not just a teacher but a beacon of excellence and inspiration in the field of education.

John Osborne is a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina. He is an alumnus of Wilson Early College Academy, where he earned his Associate degree upon graduation. Subsequently, he pursued and successfully obtained his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Appalachian State University. Following this academic achievement, he gained valuable experience as a software developer during a brief period of professional engagement.

It was during his international experience in Taiwan that Mr. Osborne discovered a passion for teaching. This newfound enthusiasm prompted him to transition his career, aligning his expertise in math and technology with a dedication to education. Mr. Osborne is currently in his fourth year of teaching at Franklin County Early College High School.

Katarzyna Poleszak was born in Poland and moved to the United States in the year 2000. She has been teaching math in North Carolina for more than 10 years. Before moving to the US, she taught Math and ESL in Poland for 8 years. She joined the Early College in 2021. She likes to learn about the human brain and apply the knowledge to help her students excel in math. She likes to spend her free time hiking with her dogs, gardening, and cooking with her son and daughter.

Mrs. Thomas brings a variety of experiences to the Franklin County School classroom. Her 2024-25 school year she was as an elementary Media Instructional Assistant. Her previous educational experience includes roles as Kindergarten TA, long term substitute 2nd grade teacher and as an on-call substitute teacher for various grade levels and subjects. Before entering into the education field, Mrs. Thomas spent 17 years as a warranty claim auditor/office administrator and labor coding specialist for BMW, VW and Audi in the automotive service industry.

Brinea Wright is a North Carolina resident from Kittrell, NC. A proud graduate of Franklin County, they earned their Associates of Arts from Vance Granville Community College in 2019 and their Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2021. She has a deep passion for literature, often spending their free time reading, writing, and exploring various forms of storytelling through television.