C.C. Spaulding Principal Dr. Vanessa Alford Named 2025-26 DPS Principal of the Year
DURHAM, NC– Being named 2025-2026 Durham Public Schools (DPS) Principal of the Year on Wednesday, October 15, was no surprise to Dr. Vanessa Alford’s colleagues, students, and staff.
Her superintendent calls her “transformative”.
Her students profess their love for her, call her helpful and say she’s supportive, and the best.
Her mentees have advanced from teachers to assistant principals to principals.
And she’s dedicated her career to making meaningful connections on behalf of others.
Dr. Alford simply says, “I try to be for others what they have been for me.”
The principal of C.C. Spaulding Elementary School attributes her success to the support she has received since she dreamed of becoming a teacher as a little girl. Her parents valued education and enforced its importance. She admits that she would have been happy as a career classroom teacher. However, the leaders in her life motivated her to step outside the classroom and take on a leadership role.
“After about nine years– as a History and Math teacher– I realized my impact would be greater beyond the classroom and I began in leadership,” said Dr. Alford. “I had some really good principals, department chairs, and people asking me to consider being a principal, and it’s been great. It’s my purpose and my calling.”
Dr. Alford is recognized as a transformative educator after over two decades as a lead learner. As a teacher, she employed innovative strategies to connect students with the material. “What you think wouldn’t make a difference will. I used anything around me, including milk cartons, to demonstrate freedom of speech when I was teaching the Constitution.”
She’s even taught on the collegiate level.
“I really am led by God in the work that I do. I know my assignment, and I am aligned with my purpose. But, there are certain things in school that just work. You have to have a good understanding of what instruction looks like,” she said.
In addition, Dr. Alford believes that relationships are critical.
“You have to know how to develop people,” she said.
In the meantime, she says she tries to remain humble so that her heart is in the right place each day that she arrives at school.
“I never want anyone to walk in this building one way and leave the same way,” she said. Her philosophy since teaching has always been to leave a child better than you found them.
“You’ve got to do this with your heart.”
Gains at C.C. Spaulding
DPS Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis shared that Dr. Alford has transformed the school into a nurturing, high-performing learning environment where every child is both challenged and supported. Her leadership has led to measurable gains in student achievement, particularly in literacy and math, while narrowing opportunity gaps for historically underserved student groups.
Dr. Alford is equally committed to the professional growth of her staff. She has cultivated a collaborative culture of instructional excellence, empowering teachers through high-quality professional development, data-driven practices, and consistent coaching. Her ability to inspire educators and bring out their very best has created a schoolwide culture of shared accountability and success.
Still Humble, Thankful
After being recognized, Dr. Alford thanked her colleagues for their unwavering support.
“I’m humbled. It could have been anybody, but my colleagues noted that it was my time. They are here to support me,” she said.