Wake County principal honored as North Carolina Principal of the Year

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — State officials have named a principal in the Wake County Public School System as North Carolina’s Principal of the Year.

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Mariah Walker of Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Raleigh was announced as the 2026 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year during an awards ceremony on May 15 at the Umstead Hotel in Cary, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

“Dr. Walker is the type of leader we need in North Carolina’s public schools,” North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green said in a statement. “Dr. Walker leads her staff and students by creating a culture of respect and authenticity to foster growth in every person who enters Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy.

“I’m looking forward to working with Dr. Walker to uplift the good happening across North Carolina’s public schools,” he continued in his statement.

According to NCDPI, Walker was the principal at Hillburn Academy in Raleigh before being named to lead WYWLA. Under Walker, 100% of WYWLA students have graduated over the last four years and growth has increased over the last two.

State officials also credited Walker with moving WYWLA’s Early College program from St. Augustine’s University to Wake Technical Community College and then to its current home at Shaw University.

Walker holds a bachelor’s degree, two master’s, and a doctorate from North Carolina State University, according to NCDPI.

“A mentor, advocate, and thought leader, [Walker] fosters collaboration among school leaders and walks alongside them as they grow in their practice,” Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor said in a statement. “Her broad experience gives her a grounded voice in shaping policy and strengthening systems that support both students and staff.”

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Juan Austin, the senior vice president of Philanthropy and Community Impact for Wells Fargo, said in a statement, “Wells Fargo is proud to support the North Carolina Principal of the Year program and to recognize school leaders like Dr. Mariah Walker, whose dedication is helping shape stronger futures for students, families and communities across our state.

“Our longstanding commitment to North Carolina is rooted in creating opportunity and we are honored to invest in programs that celebrate excellence in education and the leaders who make a lasting difference every day,” he continued in his statement.

According to state officials, Walker will travel the state during the 2026-27 school year as a principal ambassador with financial support from Wells Fargo and the NCDPI and compete nationally for National Association of Secondary School Principals Distinguished Principal of the Year. Walker will also participate in the Truist Leadership Institute and attend the International Society for Technology in Education conference.

As the state winner, according to NCDPI, Walker will receive a mobile device from Lenovo, an engraved award, a gift from the Carolina Hunger Initiative, and a custom-made NC Principal of the Year signet ring from Jostens.

“My leadership is centered around this truth, ‘How you make room at your table determines whether your guest wants to eat’,” Walker said in a statement. “At Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy, we make room for every student by confronting inequity with courage, care, and collective responsibility.”

On Monday, WYWLA students surprised Walker with a ceremony on campus in celebration of her award.

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