Wake County Principal Named N.C. Principal of the Year
Apex, N.C. — Wake County Public Schools said Dr. Mariah Walker, principal of Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy, was named the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year by NC Public Schools. The ceremony was held at The Umstead Hotel & Spa earlier this afternoon.
As the Wells Fargo Principal of the Year, Walker will serve as an ambassador for approximately 2,700 principals across North Carolina through a two-year advisory with the State Board of Education and a seat on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Public School Forum.
Walker noted that purpose, people, and passion are the reasons she engages in this work, saying, “Being a principal is loving an entire community of children and still finding space for one more. It’s holding the hopes of families, the dreams of students, and the spirit of a school all at once. It’s choosing, every single day, to lead with heart, with grace, and with an unwavering belief that the children we serve today will absolutely be the leaders of tomorrow!”
Wake County Public Schools congratulated Dr. Walker, saying she will represent the district well and share her impact across the state.
| May 15, 2026 at 2:22 PM | School |
Free boat rentals return to Lake Crabtree County Park
Wake County says boat rentals are back at Lake Crabtree County Park in Raleigh, offering free kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and pedal boats from May 15 to Sept. 7 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays plus Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4 and Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (rentals end at 5 p.m.), with entrants required to show a valid ID and sign a waiver at the Lake Crabtree County Park Boat House.
| May 16, 2026 at 8:33 AM | Gov |
Wake County Offers Free Pre-K for 4-year-olds
Wake County Public Schools said eligible families with a child who will be 4 by Aug. 31 may qualify for free Wake Pre-K, with an in-person application event May 21, online applications available anytime, and a June 12 deadline for Title I preschool eligibility.
| May 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM | School |
Wake County Public School System Named Among Best Music-Education Communities
Wake County Public School System in Apex, North Carolina, has been recognized as one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation.
| Apr 28, 2026 at 10:22 AM | School |
Kim Leon Helps Wake County Dogs Find Homes
Kim Leon has spent 11 years fostering Wake County dogs after starting as a volunteer walker, helping them decompress, heal and adjust before finding loving homes.
| Apr 24, 2026 at 8:37 PM | Gov |
Volunteer Spotlight Honors Kimberly Fields at Walnut Creek Elementary
Apex, N.C. — During National Volunteer Appreciation Week, Wake County Public School System officials spotlight Kimberly Fields, a Walnut Creek Elementary parent volunteer who supports kindergarten classrooms, chaperones field trips and helps organize events while also serving on the School Improvement Team, with administrators praising her commitment and impact on students, staff and families.
| Apr 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM | School |
Wake County officials celebrate families serving as precinct officials
During Volunteer Month, the Wake County Board of Elections highlighted three-generation precinct officials, such as the Griffin family, whose members serve Wake County voters, noting nearly 400 families have relatives in precinct duties and inviting others to become precinct officials.
| Apr 24, 2026 at 5:16 PM | Gov |
Wake County Volunteers Honored During National Volunteer Week
Wake County Public Schools in Apex, North Carolina, celebrated National Volunteer Week by honoring more than 50,000 volunteers districtwide, including Judy Ellis of Green Magnet Elementary, whose four-year foster grandparent role helps students feel welcome and supported.
| Apr 21, 2026 at 12:20 PM | School |
Apex resident volunteers on Raleigh affordable housing project
Terry Mahaffey of Apex says volunteering with Wake County Habitat for Humanity on Raleigh's Old Poole Place development is helping build affordable housing and pave the way for more projects, while noting the group's policy to turn off engines when overnight temperatures exceed 40 degrees to keep downtown Raleigh quieter.
| Apr 21, 2026 at 7:04 AM | Political |
54 Volunteers Help Clean Wake County Roadsides
54 volunteers helped remove litter and beautify Wake County roadsides during the Service Raleigh Cleanup, a collaboration of Wake County Waste and Recycling, NC State University, and Service Raleigh.
| Apr 20, 2026 at 10:08 PM | Gov |