24 years of Heart and Hustle: Angela Wilbur’s Behind-the-Scenes Impact at NHA

This Employee Spotlight series celebrates NHA’s 30th anniversary during the 2025-26 academic year and honors those whose dedication, leadership, and Moral Focus™ values have shaped our schools. 

For 24 years, Angela Wilbur has quietly helped bring National Heritage Academies^® (NHA) schools to life.
If you’ve ever walked into a brand-new NHA school on the first day and thought, “Wow, everything is ready,” you’ve seen her work.

Angela is a Construction Project Coordinator and Buyer in the NHA Service Center, but that title only tells part of her story.

Her journey started in 2001 with what she thought would be a temporary job.



From Temp to Trusted Leader

Angela joined NHA as a temporary receptionist after the company she worked for went out of business.

“I just needed something quickly,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about NHA at the time. But I fell in love with the people and the culture.”

Back then, the organization was small enough that you knew everyone by name. And as a receptionist, she met nearly all of them.

Three months later, she moved into Office Services. Then she joined the Education Team, which at the time helped open new schools and support new teacher orientation.

“That’s where I fell in love with our schools. You get to see the kids, the teachers, the principals, everybody pouring their hearts into the buildings.”

As NHA evolved, so did Angela’s role. When the organization rearranged and formalized purchasing systems, she helped launch the Purchasing Team.

“I’d been doing all the purchasing anyway, for all of the furniture, curriculum, supplies, so it just made sense.”

Eventually, her work shifted into construction, where it has remained for nearly 20 years. Angela oversees supplying furniture, flooring, markerboards, cubbies, wardrobes, signage, and the finishing touches that transform a building into a school.

Angela describes her favorite moment as being the last one in the building before a new school opens.

“I love going into a new school and seeing it finalized. Making sure the desks are set up just right, and then handing it over and saying, ‘Here you go!”

NHA takes a standardized approach to ordering. Every classroom is thoughtfully planned and ready for learning. After occupancy, Angela and her team move in.

They unbox curriculum.
They organize supplies.
They set up classrooms.

“When teachers walk in, it’s plug and play. They come in, sit down, and start teaching.”



First Days and All-Nighters

If you ask Angela about her favorite memories, there’s definitely a theme.

“First days of school. Those are my favorite.”

She is there every time.

Her role? A little bit of everything: helping with attendance questions, troubleshooting unexpected issues, supporting dismissal, and calming nerves.

“I love seeing the kids run to their parents after the first day. They’re just so excited.”

Then there was the year when NHA opened 12 schools.

“That was my favorite year. Challenging, yes. We were pulling all-nighters, setting up classrooms the night before school opened. But it was amazing.”

Through rapid growth, construction challenges, and organizational evolution, Angela has remained steady.

From receptionist to construction leader.
From unpacking boxes to handing over fully prepared classrooms.
From all-nighters to opening-day smiles.

“I just can’t believe it’s been 24 years. It’s gone by so fast.”



Fun Fact

“We’re a theater-loving family.”

For the past five years, she has volunteered as the drama teacher at Vanguard where her daughter Ivy attended school. Last year the school musical was “Annie,” this year, they are performing “Frozen Jr.”

“It gets me back into the schools. I get to be with the kids. I love that piece of it.”

About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of 103 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 67,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.