Swan Quarter, NC – May 27, 2025 – Hyde County Schools officially broke ground on the Mattamuskeet Rising project, a major educational revitalization initiative set to reshape the future of learning in the region. Held at 5:00 PM on the Mattamuskeet School campus, the ceremony marked the beginning of a $36 million transformation of one of North Carolina’s most iconic rural educational institutions.
The event included remarks from outgoing Principal Allison Etheridge and incoming Principal Timothy O’Shea, signaling a unified leadership transition. Hyde County Board of Education member Edward Torres led a site blessing, highlighting the project’s spiritual and communal foundation.
The ceremony welcomed a wide range of honored guests and supporters. Chairman of the Hyde County Board of Education Lindsey Mooney recognized key stakeholders, including Board of Education members Mr. Edward Torres, Mrs. Chanta Rickard, Mr. Dustin Nails, County Manager Kris Noble, Commissioners Randall Matthews, Jeffrey Berry, and Jan Moore, former Commissioner Earl Pugh, Former Board of Education member Thomas Whitaker, and Adam Owens of the NC Education Lottery. Project partners from Stocks & Taylor Construction, including Selden Taylor, Blake Goodall, and Nick Bundy, were also acknowledged, along with Jeremy Phelps, Operations Director of Hyde County Schools, and numerous community members, students, and parents.
The Mattamuskeet Rising project represents more than just new construction. It consolidates aging structures into a single, modern facility while renewing vital athletic and community spaces across the school’s 44-acre campus. Funded through the North Carolina Education Lottery and supported by Hyde County Schools and the Board of Commissioners, the initiative addresses long-standing structural challenges resulting from age and storm damage.
Superintendent Dr. Melanie R. Shaver emphasized that this initiative reflects Hyde County’s resilience and commitment to educational excellence. “This project honors the legacy of those who built and sustained Mattamuskeet School while creating a safe and modern environment for future generations,” she said.
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic turning of soil by the Hyde County Board of Education and guests, celebrating the community’s shared investment in student success and regional renewal.
