Dr. Valerie Bridges has more than 30 years of experience as a North Carolina educator and school leader. She was the Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools in Tarboro, NC and had served in this role for the past four years. Before her superintendency, she served as Associate and Assistant Superintendent in both Edgecombe and Washington County Schools. Prior to her transition to the eastern region of North

Carolina, she worked in Guilford and Wake County Public Schools as a high school teacher, middle school Assistant Principal, and Elementary Principal.

Dr. Bridges holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Meredith College, teacher certification from St. Augustine’s College, a Master’s degree in School Administration and a Doctorate in Educational Research and Leadership from North Carolina State University.

She has served on numerous state and national boards including: North Carolina Virtual Public Schools, Down East Partnership for Children, North Carolina School Superintendents Association, The Innovation Project and Boys & Girls Club. In 2021, she was featured as EdWeek’s Leaders to Learn From. In addition, she has been honored with being named the Regional Superintendent of the Year (2021), the 2021 recipient of the Dr. Brad Sneeden Leadership Award, named Distinguished Citizen of the Year for the City of Rocky Mount (2020), and awarded the 2021 North Carolina State University Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for the College of Education.

Dr. Bridges and her husband, Ronald, have two children. She loves professional football and college basketball and her hobbies include reading, traveling, and shopping for shoes. Her true passion and joy is for children and helping them to reach their full potential. Her motto is “Whatever it Takes” to help students succeed.