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.