Retired public educator having served as teacher, principal, district office curriculum leader and state school improvement administrator in NC, SC, and KY. Consultant with Susan Allred Consulting, LLC with focus on continuous improvement systems in education at all levels

Dr. Beverly Emory has 41 years of experience in education and 25 of those as a superintendent in North Carolina and Ohio. She recently served as the NC Deputy State Superintendent and the NC Department of Public Instruction Executive Director of District & School Transformation. She has served as a Teacher, Public Information Officer, Principal and Adjunct Professor. Bev earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Appalachian State University and her doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Believing in lifelong learning, she is currently studying to earn licensure as a Personal Trainer from the American Council on Exercise.

Lauren Ross grew up playing multiple sports and progressed to being a college athlete at Western Carolina University. While there, Lauren set numerous records and discovered her passion for health and fitness. Upon graduating, Lauren set out to become a personal trainer. She trained under Mr. USA, won 4th place in a bodybuilding competition, taught PE and Music at a small GA school, and, in 2016, opened her own personal training company, Freedom Fitness. With 9 years and over 13,000 hours of personal training under her belt, Lauren has worked with many overworked, stressed, and burnt-out educators. Around 98% of these educators were on anxiety medication and either lowered their dosage or concluded their prescriptions. With Lauren's understanding of proper health and fitness, she knew her work could empower educators physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thus, The Healthy Teacher (THT) was born. THT has been implemented in 13 states and has over 1500 members. Lauren and Raegan enjoy traveling America, highlighting the fundamentals of health and the power of one’s thoughts and words. They recently opened a second business specifically for mental health called Dan McCullough Affirmations, which offers every person the chance to be encouraged and affirmed.

Colonel (P) Riedel is the Chief of Staff for the South Carolina Army National Guard (SCARNG) and former Brigade Commander of the 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade. Riedel is from Barnwell, SC and began her military career as an enlisted soldier and later received her commission through South Carolina’s Officer Candidate School, Palmetto Military Academy (PMA). She is a graduate of the Cyber War College at the National Defense University (NDU), College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC) at Fort McNair, Washington, DC. Riedel is South Carolina’s first commander of the 125th Cyber Protection Battalion (CPB). Colonel Riedel formed a new cyber battalion, basically from scratch, and within 6 months, prepared the battalion for deployment in support of Task Force Echo in March 2018-19. A Task Force of more than 150 Soldiers from various branches across the country to support the Cyber Mission Force. In April 2024 COL Riedel was inducted into the Citadel Academy of Engineers. COL Riedel continues to support the cyber initiatives of the SCARNG and the cyber community. She has a top-secret clearance.
She has over 30 years of service, Colonel Riedel, was selected and awarded the AOC 17A Cyber Operations Officer designation in 2019. Her military assignments include Platoon Leader, 116th and 114th Signal Company, Company Commander, HHC 151, Battalion S-4 HHD 105th Signal, 218th MEB Brigade Civil Affairs Officer, 228th TTSB S-3, 125th Cyber Battalion Commander, Joint Force Head Quarters (JFHQ) G6, 228th Brigade Commander and Chief of Staff, SCARNG.

In 2023 COL Riedel deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield as the Deputy G6 Forward for US Army Central (ARCENT). Responsible for overseeing, directing, and coordinating the provision of a full range of information technology services in the Middle East. In 2018, Riedel served as the Task Force Commander for Task Force Echo II. The Task Force was aligned under the 780th MI Brigade, which falls under the operational control of the U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER). In June 2012, Riedel served as the S1 in support of Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo (KFOR 16). Her responsibilities included Civil Affairs Officer and S-1 for the Multinational Battle Group (East) KFOR 16. In February 2003, Riedel deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Signal Platoon Leader.

COL Riedel has a Master of Science in Government Information Leadership, a concentration in strategic cyberspace & information warfare from the Cyber War College at National Defense Univ. She has a Master of Science in Project Management from The Citadel and a BA from the Univ of South Carolina. She works full-time at The Citadel as the Deputy Director, DOD Cyber Institute. COL Riedel has worked as an Associate Professor of Military Science at The Citadel and as the SCARNG Cyber Project Manager focused on critical infrastructure and state partnerships. She worked as a senior paralegal for ten years in tobacco, asbestos, and pharmaceutical litigation.

Colonel Riedel is married to her husband of 29 years and has two children.

2025 National Principal of the Year