By Kaitlyn Parker, External Affairs Intern
Golden LEAF Scholar alumna and Cherokee County native Bekah Mulligan knew she wanted to give back to her community and serve future generations through education. A member of the 2011 scholarship cohort, Mulligan graduated from Western Carolina University with a double major in history and secondary education.
“I’m currently a principal at Fairview School in Sylva, North Carolina,” said Mulligan. “I’m married with two daughters, a senior and a fourth grader. I’m an educator at heart. I love doing what’s best for kids and being in schools. It’s definitely what keeps me going and showing up to work every day.”
During her time at Western Carolina, Mulligan participated in the Golden LEAF internship program, designed to place students in internships within their rural communities.
“My first year I interned at my local high school where I grew up,” said Mulligan. “Then my second year was at a parenting and pregnancy center. As a former teen mom, I’m very passionate about supporting teenage parents and those who might not have a lot of resources. Finally, over one summer I worked with Western’s University Participant program aiding students with disabilities. My brother, who has Down syndrome, was also a University Participant student. So, we kind of went to college together. It was very fun.”
Mulligan’s teaching career began as a student teacher at Smoky Mountain High School. After that semester, Mulligan began a position teaching exceptional children.
“I was able to get a teaching job at the high school as an exceptional children teacher, which started my career,” said Mulligan. “About five or six years in, I transitioned to teaching history. I did that for a while, then decided to go the administrative route. I taught for a year in elementary school and then became an assistant principal. Now I am a principal.”
Mulligan was named the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) 2026 Outstanding Assistant Principal for North Carolina by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals’ Association (NCPAPA).
“In our state, each district gets to recommend one person as the outstanding assistant principal for North Carolina,” said Mulligan. “It’s through NCPAPA and they do it for principals as well. My superintendent reached out to me and said that she recommended me for it, and she would really like me to complete the application and go through the process. I didn’t really think too much of it at the time, but then in November I was told that I was selected! I had a wonderful opportunity to go to the National School Leaders Conference in Orlando. I had a great time networking and learning so much from other school leaders. I’m very thankful for that experience.”
Mulligan’s future goals center on supporting students, families, and their individual educational needs.
“I’m very passionate about supporting students,” said Mulligan. “That is why I got into this career. I realized how much my teachers poured into me. I didn’t start out wanting to be a teacher, but as I reflected, all of those people who made an impact on my life didn’t just teach me reading, math, and all those things, but they made me a better human. I want to support students at all stages of life and meet them where they are. Every kid deserves someone who will provide positive support. School should be a safe space.”
For those interested in the Golden LEAF Scholarship, Mulligan’s advice is to apply.
“I would say do it,” said Mulligan. “I remember being very nervous, but you should just be yourself. That’s the biggest thing. Learn more about Golden LEAF’s history and what they’ve done for rural North Carolina. If it wasn’t for the paid internship opportunity, I probably would have been waiting on tables, to be completely honest. The scholarship gave me so much experience in different ways that prepared me to be a successful worker in the community. It gives you more variety and pushes you past your comfort zone a little bit.”
Learn more about the Golden LEAF Scholarship here.