WILMA’s Leadership Institute: Meet Brandy Sawyer
Snapshot of this year's Leadership Institute members
WILMA’s 2026 Leadership Institute, an annual nine-month program, gives area women the opportunity to learn from leaders in the region, visit a range of local companies, and serve as each other’s personal board of directors.
WILMA’s Leadership Institute, an annual nine-month program, gives area women the opportunity to learn from leaders in the region, visit a range of local companies, and serve as each other’s personal board of directors. The program is part of the WILMA Leadership Initiative, created to empower women to lead with confidence and purpose. Meet institute member BRANDY SAWYER.
Brandy Sawyer
Title: Chief Academic Officer
Company: Pender County Schools
How long have you been with your current employer? 3 years
Alma Mater: Wilkes University and Cedar Crest College
Prior career experience: Worked in Education for 18 years in Allentown, PA before moving to North Carolina. In Allentown, I served as a Science Teacher, Director of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as well as the Executive Director of Secondary and the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
Current job responsibilities: A Chief Academic Officer acts as the top educational leader in a school district responsible for driving academic strategy, curriculum development, and student performance. Some of the key duties include leading instructional staff, managing accreditation and budget, analyzing data to improve instruction, and setting pedagogical standards. Other duties include curriculum development and instruction, instructional leadership and support for principals, data analysis and performance assessment at district and school level, overall school improvement efforts, professional learning, strategic planning, compliance and governance of board policies and state regulations.
Hobbies: love traveling, being spontaneous, foodie, wine tasting
To learn more about WILMA’s Leadership Institute and Initiative, go to https://www.wilmamag.com/leadership/
Want more WILMA? Click here to sign up for WILMA newsletters and announcements
