In local public schools across North Carolina, something quietly transformative happens every day: millions of students receive breakfast and lunch at no cost to their families. These meals can be […]
Community Connections: The Power of Rural Schools and Local Businesses
In rural communities, like the many we have here in North Carolina, local public schools are often community hubs, serving as places of learning as well as connection and growth. […]
Celebrating the 50 Year Legacy of IDEA
Fifty years ago, the first iteration of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was signed into law, transforming the American education system by guaranteeing that students with disabilities have the […]
The 2025 Long Session Presents Exciting Opportunity
January marked the beginning of the 2025 long session for the North Carolina General Assembly. As this session begins, we are at a critical point for public education in our […]
Bright Ideas and the Potential for Bright Futures
Last month over 100 educators were celebrated at the annual Bright Ideas luncheon. The Bright Ideas program was started by the North Carolina Electric Cooperatives 30 years ago with each […]
Beyond the 2024 Election
Earlier this month Americans selected the next set of leaders who will make the decisions that shape the coming years for our communities, our state, and our country. In North […]
Recovering from Helene in Western NC Schools
A little over a month after Tropical Storm Helene devastated much of Western North Carolina, the region’s resilient communities have begun to rebuild, but there’s still a long road ahead. […]
Local Public Schools Are on the Ballot in Nearly Every Race
Regardless of the election results, North Carolina will have a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction in January. And, every single state senator […]
Local Public Schools are Vital to Community Resilience
Local public schools are more than a collection of classrooms and hallways lined with lockers. Our public schools provide a space for connection, bringing people together through sports, arts, and […]
We Have the Opportunity to Prioritize Our Local Public Schools
Election season offers us a great opportunity. The opportunity to weigh in on and decide a direction for our country, state, and local communities. If we hope to see our […]
Strengthening the Educator Pipeline Through Programs Like NC Teaching Fellows
This year, my youngest child, Andrew, graduated from high school. And, yes, I am feeling all of the pride and all of the empty nest fears that go with that. […]
Recruiting and Supporting Educators is Critical for North Carolina’s Children
Last month we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week. Teachers were given messages, tokens of appreciation, honors and celebrations to express the sometimes unspoken gratitude those impacted by their work feel. For […]
Building Relationships Through Bring Your Legislator to School Day
As in many other states, state-level elected officials in North Carolina play a crucial role in shaping policies that affect communities at large, particularly when it comes to public education. […]
Education is on the Ballot
It is once again an election year and the primaries are happening in North Carolina right now. While many people may view election season as just a time of exacerbated […]
Improving North Carolina’s Teacher Working Conditions
My mom was a Kindergarten teacher, a reading teacher, and a director of Pre-K for a large school district. I not only had the benefit of growing up in a […]
Supporting Teachers So They Can Support Students
As I’ve said many times, teachers are the number-one school-related factor influencing student outcomes. Teachers have the immense responsibility of preparing our children to be educated and well-equipped community members. […]
Back-to-School 2023-24
Students across North Carolina are back in school. Over 1.4 million students in our public schools approached the school year ready to learn, and our educators met those students with […]
NC Has Money — Just Not for Public Education
The State of North Carolina has money. In 2022, North Carolina had over $6 billion in unappropriated funds. This year, North Carolina is expected to have at least $3 billion […]
Final Word: Ask Yourself These Questions
There are few days that go by that I don’t have a moment of appreciation for the beauty around us in NC. The trees, the hiking trails, the flowers… It’s […]
$1B Out of Public Schools Will Hit Rural Communities Hardest
Last week legislation was introduced to provide $1 billion of your tax dollars to pay to send children, regardless of a family’s financial or educational need, to any private school […]
Final Word: What North Carolina’s Regional Teachers of the Year Want You to Know
For this Final Word our 2022 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teachers of the Year shared what they wish for people to know about public education. Clinton Todd, Northeast North […]
The Final Word: Words From Dr. Dudley Flood
We are so pleased to have been joined by Dr. Dudley Flood who has been deep in this work, trying to ensure that every child in North Carolina has access […]
Final Word: Election Season is Upon Us, and Education is on the Ballot
Early voting has begun in North Carolina, and the importance of the 2022 election cannot be overstated. The outcome of the soon-to-be-decided races will have far-reaching implications for critically important […]
Final Word: Licensure Pathways, Recruitment and Retention
It’s no secret that well-prepared, effective teachers are invaluable in the classroom. Research shows us that teachers are the number one school-related factor that impacts student outcomes. You have probably […]