Pam Gould - STEP

Pam Gould is a lifelong resident of the Twin Counties with over 30 years in education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and a Master of Arts in Education from East Carolina University. Her career spans Edgecombe County Public Schools, Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools, Edgecombe Community College, and Nash Community College — starting as a middle school teacher and coach, then moving into roles as a counselor, Crisis Intervention Specialist, Educational Consultant, and Director of the Redirections Day Treatment Program. She's presented at state and national conferences and delivered professional development to hundreds of local educators. In this episode, we talk with Pam about her path from the classroom to running one of eastern North Carolina's most impactful workforce development organizations as Executive Director of S.T.E.P. — the Strategic Twin Counties Education Partnership. We dig into STEP's mission: connecting students in Nash and Edgecombe counties to real local careers, shattering the myth that "there are no good jobs here," and making sure dual-enrolled high schoolers graduate with industry-recognized credentials in hand. We also preview STEP's upcoming Education & Business Leaders' Summit — a half-day AI Summit on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount (7:30 AM – 12:00 PM). Industry leaders, educators, and innovators come together to explore what artificial intelligence means for the workplace, the classroom, and the future of the Twin Counties economy.