Welcome our New NCAPCS Board Members!
June 1, 2026
emoore21
At the May NCAPCS Board Meeting, three new board members were voted to join the board! We are very excited to have these three highly regarded charter school leaders on our board.
Dr. Brian Mathis
Executive Director, Vance Charter School, Henderson, NC
Dr. Brian Mathis has served North Carolina’s public schools for 27 years. He is beginning his ninth year as Executive Director of Vance Charter School in Henderson, NC.
He graduated from Appalachian State University in 1999 and began his career as a physical education teacher and coach. He earned his Master of School Administration from NC State University and was assigned an assistant principalship in 2009. From 2011 through 2018, he served as an elementary and high school principal. Brian attained his Doctor of Education in 2017 from East Carolina University. Brian believes in providing education and opportunity for all students that allow them to thrive in the workplace, university setting, or military service.
He is married to his wife, Jenny. They have a daughter, Julianna, and a German Shepherd, Josie.
Dr. Sarena Fuller
Executive Director, ArtSpace Charter School, Asheville, NC
Dr. Sarena Fuller is a dedicated educational leader with 20 years of experience in North Carolina's diverse education landscape, spanning traditional, charter, and state schools. Currently serving as the Executive Director of ArtSpace Charter School in Asheville, which has twice been named a National Distinguished School by the US Department of Education, Dr. Fuller is recognized for her commitment to fostering a vibrant school culture and promoting arts integration to empower students.
Dr. Fuller attended East Carolina University as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow, where she cultivated her passion for teaching. She earned her Master's in Administration from Appalachian State University and later achieved a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Western Carolina University, focusing her research on strategic planning for innovative public schools.
Dr. Fuller's leadership and innovation in education have been widely recognized. She was honored as the 2024 North Carolina Wells Fargo Charter School Principal of the Year for her transformative leadership at ArtSpace Charter School. Previously, she received the STEM
Administrator of the Year award from the SMT Center, and was named district Teacher of the Year during her tenure as a classroom teacher in Burke County.
Passionate about nurturing innovator's mindsets among students and educators, Dr. Fuller remains committed to addressing complex challenges in education through creative approaches and strategic initiatives.
Dr. Tamara M. Turner
CEO, Quality Education Academy, Winston Salem, NC
Tamara is the Chief Executive Officer of Quality Education Academy (QEA). Dr. Turner encourages young people to become empowered through civic engagement and community uplift.
Tamara obtained a bachelor's in elementary education and, after teaching from 1999 to 2005 in Guilford County and Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, she earned her master's in School Administration from NC Agricultural and Technical State University. From 2005 to 2018, she taught Kindergarten, middle, and high school English while being a NC-licensed school principal. In 2019, Dr. Turner launched QEA’s Community Engagement Team as the Chief Development Officer. As the Chief Development Officer, Dr. Turner helped QEA secure sizable grants and increase enrollment. Tamara earned her doctorate in Organizational Development and Change from Fielding Graduate University in 2020.
In the fall of 2021, Dr. Turner chartered the Greensboro Metro branch of the National Association of University Women as its founding president. Mrs. Turner has helped grow the branch and impact the NC Triad through service to the community in the areas of healthcare and education.
Dr. Turner has been a bible teacher for the past 30 years and enjoys reading, studying history, writing poetry, songs, raps, blogs, essays, making music, and spending time with her husband of 26 years, Robert.