Bonnie Ferneau - CCRSP Member of the Year

A Career of Excellence in Education

An outstanding volunteer-servant of the Carteret County community is Bonnie Ferneau.

Bonnie’s professional influence spans decades, states, and even continents. She taught elementary physical education in Frederick County, Maryland and Fairfax County, Virginia, where she also developed important curricula such as Adaptive Physical Education. She served as an undergraduate and graduate instructor at George Washington University.

Since 1990, she has been a vital part of Carteret County Schools, serving as the Supervisor of New and Beginning Teachers and mentoring dozens of student teachers as a cooperating teacher and physical education mentor.

Nationally, Bonnie made history as the first Jump Rope for Heart National Coordinator and served on its advisory committee. Her expertise later led her to Australia and New Zealand as an American delegate and speaker for Early Childhood Education, where she delivered more than 40 presentations supporting the Australian Heart Foundation’s teacher workshops.

Commitment to Retired School Personnel

Bonnie’s dedication to education after 37 years, only deepened after retirement. She continues to support her fellow retirees as the Membership Chair for the Carteret County Retired School Personnel (CCRSP), which she joined upon her retirement in 2002. Bonnie will celebrate her Silver Anniversary of North Carolina Retired School Personnel (NCRSP) membership in 2027 and is one of our immediate past presidents of CCRSP.

She belongs to the Pine Knoll Shores Women’s Club, is a former board member of the CC Country Club and a past president of the Gamma Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), the international honor Society for key women educators.

A dedicated Mile of Hope volunteer and member. Bonnie was recently inducted nto the SHAPE NC Hall of Fame for her lifelong international work and in making physical education a daily part of elementary school life.

This is a fitting recognition for Bonnie, which will add to an already distinguished list of awards, including multiple Teacher of the Year recognitions and the Golden Key Award from DKG.

Kathy Day-Ketel - CCRSP Member of the Year

A Career of Excellence in Education

Kathy Day-Ketel is a dedicated educator whose impact on the students of Carteret County, at East Carteret High School, has left a lasting legacy. Known for her passion and commitment to the classroom, she served as a cornerstone of the East Carteret faculty as the History Department Head until her retirement. 

Her career was defined by her ability to inspire students to reach their full potential and her unwavering support for the teaching profession.

Commitment to Retired School Personnel

Since retiring, Kathy Day-Ketel has not slowed down. She has been an active and vital member of the Carteret County Retired School Personnel (CCRSP), contributing her time and energy to ensure that retired educators remain a strong, advocacy-focused community. Her involvement includes:

● Active Membership: Consistent participation in NCRSP, CC League of Women Voters, CC Food and Health Council, Friends of the Library (Beaufort), CC Democratic Women, St. Egbert Ladies Guild. She is active in all these organizations as a board member, committee chair, and contributing member. Kathy served as a poll worker for the CC Board of Elections and as volunteered with the CC History Museum.

● Advocacy: Supporting the mission of the NCRSP to safeguard pensions and healthcare for all North Carolina retirees.

● Leadership and Service: Stepping up whenever the organization needs a helping hand (such as serving as our Secretary, attending our NCRSP State Convention as a delegate, and Co-Chairing our American Education Appreciation Tubs for Carteret County Teachers, Staff, and Administration) that embodies the spirit of a humble hard worker.

Kathy’s selection as our CCRSP Member of the Year is a testament to her can do attitude and her high-energy approach to volunteerism. Whether she is assisting with community service projects or supporting legislative goals, she does so with a positive attitude that motivates those around her.

This award recognizes not just her years in the classroom, but her continued heart for service in retirement. Kathy continues to prove that an educator's influence never truly ends—it simply finds new ways to serve the community.

The February 15th Meeting hosted  Devotional and Prayer by City Councilman Harvey Walker Speaker James Walker on Teaching during the Civil Rights Movement

The November 9th meeting hosted Devotional and Prayer by Rev. Curtis Oden and Speaker Sheriff Asa Buck on Senior and School Safety