LaTresha Wilson, Tuckaseegee Elementary School

When LaTresha Wilson was young, she was tested to be in the Talent Development (TD) program, but she didn’t get in. That hurt her feelings, but it also made her think about other children who were smart and should also be taught with high expectations.

Coming from a family of educators, that experience stuck with her until she entered an HBCU (historically Black college or university) on her way to becoming an educator. She was inspired to start students young and bring them high-level experiences. 

“I wanted to make sure that I encouraged boys and girls at schools, like Title I schools,” said Wilson, principal of Tuckaseegee Elementary School, “and that I was creating experiences to build and grow students so that the representation of people being in TD and just being smart was a norm.”

Wilson has done that and more at Tuckaseegee, where she arrived as a first-time principal three years ago. Her first year, the school was on the low-performing list, but by year’s end, its school performance grade had moved from a D to a C. In 2024-25, Tuckaseegee moved from a C to a B. The school’s performance has earned Wilson the title of Principal of the Year for Elementary School Performance Area C, and she is a finalist for the 2026 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Principal of the Year.

“(The recognition) means a lot to me because when you get a chance to do something you love, you’re doing it because it's the right thing to do,” Wilson said. “I think that it’s amazing, it's a little mind blowing, but I’m just grateful that people are seeing the good work that is happening at Tuckaseegee and that we’re being a beacon of light in the community.”

Wilson wasn’t sure she wanted to become a principal until she served as an assistant principal at Paw Creek Elementary School and saw how lives were impacted there. She said good principals must love people, have passion for the work, be the inspiration when times get hard and the motivator who can push through things that don’t look possible.

“When (staff and students) become confident, they become inspired, and that’s where I’m able to push them beyond limits that they knew were possible,” Wilson said. “That is what brings me joy. When I come to school, I look at this as my family because this work is hard, and I know that it won’t always be perfect, but you bounce back and do things because you love them so much. The best part is not just that they’re doing it, but they just feel the love and are excited about being here. Being able to create that environment is what I love most about being a principal.”

The Tuckaseegee neighborhood is home for Wilson, whose family is embedded in the community, and the school benefits from having long-time staff members, some of whom attended Tuckaseegee and are now back as teachers.

“That doesn't really happen, so that means that it’s something about the community and the place that makes them want to stay,” she said. “The staff love kids. They say yes because it’s the right thing to do, even if it’s hard. They genuinely like each other, and they work hard to make Tuckaseegee an extra special place. We’re not perfect, but we’re pretty darn close!”