C. Steve Parrott, President
Steve Parrott is a former Senior State Executive - Carolinas Region for Embarq. His 32-year career in the telecommunications industry with Sprint and Embarq included 27 years in various senior leadership positions.
Parrott has held numerous leadership roles on education boards and committees, including the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, North Carolina Community College Foundation Board and the North Carolina e-Learning Commission.
A 1975 graduate of the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, he is also a member of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Board, the NC Global Transpark Foundation Board and past president of the NC Telecommunications Industry Association and chair of the NC Technology Association.
Parrott and his wife, Judy, have lived in Raleigh since 1993. His two children attended Wake County public schools, graduating from Leesville Road High School. His wife is a church organist, preschool music teacher and small business owner. He can be reached at 919.821.7609 x122 or sparrott@wakeedpartnership.org.
Fran
Carruthers, Vice President of Development
As Vice President of Development, Fran Carruthers is responsible for the design and implementation of the Annual Campaign for Public Education, which engages more than 500 volunteers, interns and collaborative partners to successfully meet our revenue goals. Support to the Annual Campaign for Public Education is provided by corporations and individuals who share Wake Education Partnership’s mission of uniting community resources for excellence in public education for all of Wake County’s children.
Joining the Partnership staff in 2000, Fran has previously served as Coordinator of the legacy teacher grants program and as Special Events Coordinator. Fran graduated from St. Andrews College with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and additionally holds an RN degree in psychiatric nursing.
She can be reached at 919.821.7609 x130 or fcarruthers@wakeedpartnership.org
Julie Crain , Vice President of Programs
As Vice President of Programs, Julie Crain is responsible for managing and implementing the Partnership’s Program of Work. In addition, Julie coordinates the organization’s research strategies and manages the Quality Matters Committee.
Julie taught English in Wake County Schools for 12 years at Fuquay-Varina High School and is a National Board Certified teacher. At her school, she served as chair of the School Improvement and Leadership Teams. Julie graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English education as a N.C. Teaching Fellow and a master's degree in English education. She is a past Kenan Fellow (2001-2003). Presently, Julie also works with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as an assessor trainer. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Educational Research and Policy Evaluation at NC State University.
She can be reached at 919.821.7609 x129 or jcrain@wakeedpartnership.org
Tim Simmons, Vice President of Communications
As Vice President of Communications, Tim Simmons is responsible for outreach, advocacy, research and communications at the Partnership.
Simmons was a long-time education reporter for The News & Observer in Raleigh. He provided extensive coverage of the school accountability movement in the 1990s and the many reform efforts triggered by the state’s new emphasis on test scores.
His coverage of the racial achievement gap in 1999 won the highest national award for education writing that year and helped shape state programs to address the issue. He has also written about the resegregation of the state’s schools, the costs and benefits of diversity and the difficulty of maintaining good parent-teacher relationships. He graduated with a degree in journalism from Michigan State University in 1981.He can be reached at 919.821.7609 x140 or tsimmons@wakeedpartnership.org
Heather Schonfeldt Campbell, Finance Director 
Heather Schonfeldt Campbell is responsible for managing the Partnership’s day to day financial operations as well as annual budgeting and forecasting.
Heather has worked in public accounting for 11 years with a focus on non-profit organizations for the past seven years. She graduated with honors from Charleston Southern University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and she earned her MBA from East Carolina University.
She is a CPA and member of the NCACPA and AICPA. She has also served on a joint non-profit committee with the NCACPA and NC Center for Non-Profits as well as taught small business courses at Durham Technical Community College.
Heather has lived in North Carolina since 1999. Her husband is a former elementary school teacher and is currently in school administration in Durham Public Schools. They have a one daughter, Bella.
She can be reached at 919.621.7609 x124 or hcampbell@wakeedpartnership.org
Barbara Miles, Office Manager
Barbara Miles provides administrative and operational support to the president, staff and board members. Her administrative experience draws from 12 years in corporate business.
She graduated with honors from North Carolina Wesleyan College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
She can be reached at 919.821.7609 x121 or bmiles@wakeedpartnership.org