Tammi Sutton is the founder and executive director of KIPP Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Public Schools, which includes six KIPP Schools in Gaston, Halifax and Durham Counties. In 2001, Tammi co-founded Gaston College Preparatory (GCP) middle school where she served as the co-principal and taught English, History and Pre-Algebra. During her time at GCP she was a recipient of the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2005, she founded GCP’s high school where 100% of the first nine senior classes have earned acceptance to a four year college or university and over 80% of these students will be first-generation college graduates. Before co-founding GCP she taught middle school language arts and social studies in Northampton County for five years, and was named the Sallie Mae New Teacher of the Year as well as twice named Teacher of the Year. The success of her students has been featured in Wendy Kopp’s book, One Day, All Children, as well as on ABC News, Fox National News and twice in The New York Times. Tammi was recently reappointed by the Governor to serve on the NC Charter School Advisory Board. She previously served on the North Carolina Blue Ribbon Commission on Charter Schools. Tammi, a first-generation college graduate, earned her BA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with degrees in English and political science. She earned her Master’s of Education in curriculum and instruction from National-Louis University.