Columbus County, NC - The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) is proud to congratulate Columbus County educator Brandon Southern as North Carolina’s ESP of the Year. Southern will also be North Carolina’s nominee for the National Education Association’s (NEA) Education Support Professional (ESP) of the Year award.
Southern currently serves as a Behavior Day Treatment Teacher Assistant as well as a bus driver for Columbus County Schools. A nearly 20-year education veteran, he began his career as a substitute teacher before fully immersing himself in the profession—working as a general education teacher assistant and transportation coordinator before stepping into his current role. Through every position he has held, Southern has helped build the positive, stable school climate that allows students to learn and grow.
He also serves on NCAE’s ESP Council, where he is working alongside colleagues to establish an ESP Bill of Rights and to set a new standard in North Carolina—one where having a single job is enough to support oneself. This work reflects the broader truth that ESPs are foundational to strong schools: when they are supported, students and educators benefit.
“There are a lot of ESPs who show up for work and have to take on more than one job, not only in the school building but outside of it,” said Southern. “Like myself: I drive a bus, I am a teacher assistant, and I also work at the hospital. In the state of North Carolina, that’s what many of us must do in order to make a living.”
“We are incredibly proud of Brandon," said Tamika Walker Kelly, NCAE President. "His dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to students represent the very best of what Education Support Professionals bring to our schools every day. This recognition is a testament not just to his excellence, but to the essential role ESPs play in creating the safe, supportive learning environments every child deserves.”
The top five finalists will be announced in February, with the winner revealed at the 2026 NEA ESP National Conference in March.
