Bradford Lee Sneeden

Bradford Lee Sneeden, 56, passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2008 at Wake Medical Center in Cary.
Brad was able to give everyone the encouragement they needed to go to the next level, both professionally and personally. He was a visionary, a great leader, a role model and excelled in his ability to problem solve. Brad was a loving and devoted husband, father, son and brother who will be greatly missed.
Brad was serving as Superintendent of Carteret County Schools. Prior to his current position, Brad worked as Associate Vice President for Leadership Development and Director of the Principals' Executive Program from 2004 to 2007. He worked as the Deputy State Superintendent for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education from July 1998 to August 2003. From 1996-1998 he worked as an adjunct professor with the Department of Educational Leadership and as the Director of the Office of School Services at East Carolina University.
From 1990-1996 Brad was superintendent of the Craven County Public School System, and from 1988-1990 he was the system's associate superintendent for human resources. He worked as the personnel director for Hatteras Yachts, New Bern, from 1985-1988.
Brad was principal of Brinson Memorial Elementary School from 1981-1985 and served as the school's assistant principal from 1977-1981. During that same period he taught evening biology classes at Craven Community College.
From 1975-1977 Brad worked as a teacher at Jasper School and at Arthur Edwards Elementary School, both in Craven County.
Brad was born in Wilmington and grew up in New Bern where he graduated from New Bern High School in 1970. He attended East Carolina University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education with a minor in biology. He also held a master's degree in school administration and an educational specialist II degree in administration and minor in supervision. Brad was currently a doctoral candidate pursuing a degree in educational leadership.
He received numerous recognitions and awards throughout his career, including Teacher of the Year and Administrator of the Year in Craven County, Employee of the Year for Hatteras Yachts, Superintendent of the Year by two North Carolina educational organizations, and the James Batten Outstanding Educator from East Carolina University. In 2003, Governor Easley awarded Brad the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a citizen of North Carolina.
Brad was a nationally certified trainer in Interaction Associates',Facilitative Leadership and Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. He has also served on the board of directors for the National Malcolm Baldrige Association.
He was preceded in death by his father, Spurbie Eugene Sneeden.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Mayo Sneeden; his son, Bradford Lee Sneeden, Jr. of Raleigh; his daughter, Olivia Caroline Sneeden of Raleigh; his mother, Mary Sneeden Waters of New Bern; his sister, Linda Sneeden Lupton and her husband, Guy of Benson; his brother, David Sneeden and his wife, Rhonda of New Bern; his in-laws, Alfred and Elsie Mayo of New Bern; nieces and nephews.
Services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 25, 2008 at Centenary United Methodist Church in New Bern with Rev. Ernest Porter officiating. Burial will follow at New Bern Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Bradford Lee Sneeden Scholarship Fund, at Harris, Creech, Ward and Blackerby, PA; c/o Tom Ward; PO Box 1168; New Bern, NC 28563.