Jay Morgan has built much of his own life around finding strengths, overcoming roadblocks, and setting goals. Now, he brings that same philosophy to his work with students in the Brunswick Interagency Program (BIP), helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities build skills, gain independence, and pursue opportunities in the community.
“I’m blessed to be able to teach students, to be able to make their day,” said Jay. “We’re all a big team.”
That sense of community is something Jay has experienced firsthand at BCC. He graduated from the college himself, and over the years, BCC has become part of his family’s story, too.
“I went to school here and graduated from BCC. My wife graduated here, and now my daughter goes here, too. There’s such a strong family atmosphere at BCC, and especially at this stage of my life, I wanted to be part of that.”
Education is something Jay has always valued. Before joining BIP, he spent nearly 20 years working in landscaping at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). When he left, he knew he wanted to find a way to stay connected to education, which ultimately led him to BCC.
“I wanted to be a part of some kind of education system. I love to teach, I love to coach,” said Jay. “BCC gave me the opportunity to teach and work with students, and that’s something I really value.”
That opportunity brought Jay to BIP, where he now serves as Employment Supervisor. In his role, Jay helps BIP students build employment skills and connect with opportunities in the community. Drawing on his experience in education and the passion for coaching he shared with his father, Jay has developed an approach to teaching that focuses on each student’s individual strengths.
“How I approach teaching is exactly like how I’d coached. I look at the skill sets; everyone has something they aren’t good or bad at. I look at what their strengths are and then come up with a system for them.”
Jay believes everyone has something special to offer, and sometimes it just takes a little guidance to discover it. Outside of work, Jay has always found joy in music and comedy, and he brings that same spirit into the classroom, finding ways to connect with his students and brighten their days.
“I’ll go over and rap for the students, and I see how it brightens their day. It’s something I do on the side, but I love the reach. I’m blessed to be here, to be able to teach students and make their day.”
For Jay, patience is also an important part of his work. His own experience with a learning disability has taught him that progress takes time, and that understanding shapes the way he approaches the barriers his students may face.
“I believe there’s two people, one person makes excuses and one person gets around the roadblocks,” said Jay.
With patience, experience, and a strong belief in his students, Jay is helping BIP students build the skills, confidence, and independence to pursue meaningful opportunities, contribute to their communities, and see what is possible for themselves.
“That’s the dream: to coach, to teach, and to be able to make someone’s life better.”
September 2026