Joe Sinclair followed in his parents' footsteps and devoted more than forty-five years of his life to promoting the education of young people. Former North Carolina Superintendent of the Year, he holds a BS in health and physical education from Appalachian State University, a master's in physical education and a master's in educational leadership from North Carolina A&T State University, a specialist degree in educational leadership from Western Carolina University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.