Team

Dr. Sharon L. Contreras is a teacher at heart, a transformational leader and a passionate advocate for children and education. She is the CEO of The Innovation Project in North Carolina, a collaborative of forward-thinking education leaders who are unleashing student potential and shaping the future of learning. 

Growing up in Uniondale, NY with nine brothers and sisters, she learned early to advocate for her right to an excellent education. At the age of 10 she was told by her teacher she didn’t belong in the advanced gifted program that she knew included classmates she had tutored. After pleading her case independently, then alongside her parents, she gained a seat in the accelerated program which changed the trajectory of her life, while lighting a fire for achievement and advocacy for others. Years later, not even the gradual loss of 90% of her hearing stopped her from breaking through barriers for herself and removing them for her students. 

Contreras is celebrated for implementing policies and practices aimed at eradicating opportunity gaps. She has held two superintendencies—one urban and one in a county-wide district serving urban, suburban, and rural students. Her tenure in Guilford County—one of the nation’s largest school districts—has been recognized for driving results, including expanding access to Advanced Placement courses, career technical education, and dual-enrollment programming preparing students and their parents for the workforce. GCS’ high impact tutoring initiative and learning hubs started during the pandemic are considered a national model. In 2022, the GCS graduation rate reached a high of 91.8%.

Contreras was named Superintendent of the Year by the North Carolina PTA (2019), a North Carolina Regional Superintendent of the Year (2020) by the Piedmont Triad Educational Consortium and a Top 5 Finalist for the Green Garner Urban Education Leadership Award by the Council of Great City Schools (2020). She was among Triad Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs in 2020 and named to the Business North Carolina Power List 2022. Most recently (2024), Contreras was recognized by LatinxEd with the From Dreams to Action Award. She holds multiple degrees, including a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Sharon L. Contreras’ legacy is one of courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to children and families. Her work has not only transformed the districts she has led, but also set new standards for reimagining education nationally. Her relentless pursuit of educational justice and equity continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations of educators and students.

Winston McGregor is a community leader with more than 25 years of experience leading nonprofits and public private partnerships with a focus on leveraging resources creatively to help people build better lives.

She served as Executive Director and then President of the Guilford Education Alliance (GEA) from 2013 – 2023. She was also appointed and then elected to serve as the at-large member of the Guilford County Board of Education from 2018 – 2022. She served as Chair of the Policy Committee, on the Joint Facilities and Capital Planning Committee, and as Vice Chair of the Board during a dynamic time of change and transition. She played a key role in galvanizing the community behind two successful bond initiatives, the second $1.7 billion bond effort was, at the time, the largest school bond initiative passed in NC history and the 3rd largest in the country.

Prior to her work in public education, McGregor served a decade as Development Director and then President of one of the largest Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the country, managing $15 million in construction, real estate, and mortgage assets. She was awarded the prestigious Kavanaugh Cup for her contributions to expand affordable housing.

She has been honored as an Outstanding Woman in Business by the Triad Business Journal, a 2019 Woman of Distinction by Empowered Girls of NC, and with the 2019 Public Education Champion and Humanitarian Award by the Motivational Foundation. With her leadership, GEA was named the 2015 Non-Profit of the Year by the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium and the 2020 Outstanding Philanthropic Organization by the Triad Chapter of NC Association of Fundraising Professionals. For her service on the Board of Education, McGregor was honored by the Greensboro Regional Realtors Association with their 2023 Outstanding Public Service award.

A graduate of American University in Washington, DC, McGregor launched her career working in the national political arena in various fundraising and project management roles with, first, U.S. Senator, and then, Vice President Al Gore, as director of development for the Democratic Leadership Council and the Progressive Policy Institute and as executive director of the American Council of Young Political Leaders, a U.S. State Department funded nonprofit facilitating international exchanges for U.S. and global political leaders.

Winston grew up in Madison and Greensboro, N.C., as well as Corpus, Christi, Texas. She now lives in Rockingham County, N.C. She and her two young adult sons were prepared for the world by excellent public schools. Her sons are proud graduates of N.C. State and Appalachian State University.

Dr. Kim Morrison is the former Superintendent of Mount Airy City Schools (MACS).  She is a lifelong educator having served for 31 years with the last eight years of her tenure as Superintendent.  Dr. Morrison is known for her work with innovative schools all over the country serving as President of Magnet Schools of America. She is also the former chair of The Innovation Project, a North Carolina based superintendent led non-profit organization supporting innovation in school districts.  She led a team that hosted the new Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, as the keynote in April and has partnered with the National Education Association Director, Becky Pringle, recently on national initiatives. She has brought in over 40  million dollars in grants and programs for public schools.  Many of these schools have won national awards, including the Ronald P. Simpson Award, the top magnet award in the nation, the Schools to Watch award- a national middle school award, and the District of Distinction Award from the District Administration Magazine.  

Dr. Morrison was the PTEC Superintendent of the Year in 2022 and one of two finalists for the American Association of School Administrators, “Women in School Leadership Awards” (2012). Dr. Morrison won the 2016 Rhododendron Award from Appalachian State University, the highest honor in the School of Education for alumni. She is most proud of being the mother of two college-age young men, Kaleb and Eli and being the wife of Tommy Morrison.

Dr. Valerie H. Bridges is the retired Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools. She served as superintendent from 2017-2023, during her tenure in Edgecombe she led the school district out of low performing status. Before serving as District Superintendent she served as Associate and Assistant Superintendent in Edgecombe and Washington County Schools. Before working in 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. During her tenure as principal, she was nominated as principal of the year several times (three of the six years) and was named 2007 Principal of the Year by GCAEOP. Her school was selected as one of the fifteen most improved schools during the 2007 school year and met high growth standards during the 2008 and 2009 school years. As a school leader, she has implemented multiple programs to improve academic achievement and student support (40 Days of Purpose, Principals, Days of Peace, Covey Moments).  The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce nominated Dr. Bridges as the 2021 Distinguished Citizen of the Year on February 4, 2021.

She earned a B.S. degree in Accountancy from UNC Wilmington, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Meredith College, teacher certification from St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, a Master’s degree in School Administration and a doctorate degree in Educational Research and Leadership from NC State University in Raleigh, NC.

Dr. Bridges is an active member of the Fulbright Principal Exchange program and has traveled to Brazil and Argentina. She has hosted principals from Argentina in Guilford and Edgecombe County.

She is married and has 2 children; she loves professional football and college basketball.  Her hobbies include reading, traveling, and shopping for shoes.

But her real passion and joy is for children and helping students to reach their full potential. Her motto is “Whatever it Takes” to help students succeed.

Dr. Jennifer D. Brown is a seasoned executive leader with 25 years of experience advancing excellence in education and nonprofit leadership. While leading TIP’s Accelerate Carolinas project, she also currently serves as a Regional Superintendent at the KIPP Foundation, where she coaches and supports CEOs and Executive Directors across seven regions within the nation’s largest network of nonprofit college-preparatory charter schools.

Previously, Dr. Brown served as Executive Director of KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools, where she led the successful turnaround and expansion of the region. Her leadership centered on strengthening academic outcomes, building organizational coherence, and cultivating strong partnerships with families, community leaders, and stakeholders to ensure sustainable impact.

Dr. Brown’s career spans classroom teaching, district and nonprofit leadership, and executive-level system stewardship. Earlier in her career, she worked in school districts across North and South Carolina and held leadership roles in national education nonprofit organizations, including New Leaders and New Classrooms Innovation Partners, supporting leadership development and the implementation of innovative instructional models.

Her leadership approach is also shaped by service in the U.S. Army Reserve which includes a deployment to Iraq as a Public Affairs Broadcast Journalist during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Dr. Brown holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English from Winthrop University. She has been recognized for her impact as a Jacksonville Business Journal Ultimate CEO (2023), a Woman of Influence (2023), and as the recipient of the inaugural Reflecting Freedom for Education Award from the Mandela family in 2019.

In addition to her professional work, Dr. Brown is the creator and author of What’s in Brown’s Bag™, a weekly leadership series offering practical insights and tools grounded in reflection, lived experience, and results.

An active member of her church and several service organizations, Dr. Brown is also a proud wife and mom. She believes deeply that strong, human-centered leadership can unlock the potential of individuals, organizations, and communities.