(EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. – August 26, 2025) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alumnus Jason Johnson has been named the 2025 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, a prestigious honor recognizing exceptional school leadership across the state.

Johnson, who is serving a second term as principal of Orange High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina, was selected for his outstanding leadership, commitment to student success and transformative impact on public education. Sponsored by Wells Fargo and administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), the award celebrates principals who demonstrate visionary leadership, foster academic excellence and build inclusive school cultures.

As part of the recognition, Johnson will serve during the 2025-26 academic year as a statewide ambassador for more than 2,500 principals, participate in national leadership programs and hold a seat on the State Board of Education.

Johnson’s journey began at N.C. A&T, where he earned a degree in office administration in 1997 from what is now the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics. He said he hadn’t considered college until an A&T recruiter visited Durham’s Hillside High School and encouraged him to apply.

“Several of my friends and I rented a van and went to a football game there for prospective students. That visit to A&T changed everything,” Johnson said. “It introduced me to student life, a rigorous academic environment and a place where I could take pride in being Black.”

While at A&T, Johnson discovered his passion for education through a practicum at Foust Elementary School in Greensboro. That experience inspired him to pursue advanced degrees in school administration and dedicate his career to empowering students and educators alike.

Throughout his career, Johnson has held leadership roles in Chatham, Guilford and Orange counties in North Carolina, as well as at NCDPI. His tenure at Orange High School has been marked by academic growth, improved performance and a culture of collaboration. Under his leadership, the school exceeded growth expectations, improved its letter grade and increased proficiency across all racial groups.

Johnson attributes his leadership philosophy — “leading with love” — to his upbringing. Raised by his mother, Zeathea Massiah, an immigrant from Barbados, he learned the values of hard work, cultural pride and resilience.

Education remains a family affair. His wife, Heather Johnson, is a literacy coach and interventionist at A.L. Stanback Middle School in Hillsborough. Their son is preparing to become a teacher and their three daughters are in middle and elementary school.

“I love what I do and I’m excited to go to school every day,” said Johnson. “A&T gave me the foundation, and now I get to pay it forward. Best job in the world.”

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About North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically Black university, as well one of the top 25 “Most Innovative” universities in America (U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2024). North Carolina A&T is a land-grant, doctoral research university and a constituent member of the University of North Carolina System. An exponential university, A&T is recognized widely for its national leadership in graduating African American students in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was established in 1891 as only the second land-grant college created under the second Morrill Act and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.