Dr. Jocelyn BeCoats

Dr. Jocelyn Bethel Becoats is a retired forward-thinking educator who believes in putting the needs of all children first – diligently encouraging them in the unwavering pursuit of personal greatness, civic engagement, and lifelong learning. During her 32 years as an educator, she established a hallmark of courageous leadership by consistently engaging all stakeholders in critical, sometimes controversial, conversations that could have impacted the classroom, the school building or even the district.

Before her retirement, Dr. Becoats served as the Executive Director of Federal and Special Programs of Guilford County Schools and prior to that served as the Chief of Curriculum for the district. Upon her move to Greensboro from Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, she was an Instructional Improvement Officer and the Executive Director of Elementary and Middle school curriculum. She has served as a middle school teacher, middle and high school assistant principal, and a middle school principal.

During her last years of work, Dr. Becoats was extremely knowledgeable of the State’s NC Star web-based tool that was used in districts and/or schools in charting and managing the continuous school improvement process. She was experienced in providing support and oversight to 125 school of improving student achievement and demonstrated ability to deliver mission critical results. Dr. Becoats has experience in planning and coordinating professional development for district meetings and conferences and she continues to be known as the Graduation coordinator guru because she has experience in organizing and planning over thirty graduation ceremonies for Guilford County Schools for many years.

A native of Kinston, North Carolina, Becoats holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a specialist degree in education administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a master’s degree in education administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and two bachelor’s degrees, one in Mathematics and the other in Math Education from North Carolina State University.

Dr. Becoats is a proud 38-year golden life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she serves as a member of the Greensboro Alumnae chapter as well as the South Atlantic Region Nominating Committee and is an Associate member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. In her spare time, she believes in giving back to her community as she serves as the board chair for Operation Xcel and a board member of North Carolina Agricultural and State University’s Center for Teaching Excellence and still finds time to volunteer at Teen Court with One Step Further. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Becoats is a proud mother of two daughters, Iman and Jadyn.