Final Word

On the latest episode of Education Matters, we were joined by the 2026-27 Wells Fargo North Carolina Regional Principals of the Year. To conclude our conversation, we asked what they’d liked people to know about their school and/or North Carolina’s local public schools as a whole. Here’s what they had to say: Kelly Flora, Nags […]

Teacher Appreciation Week rolls around each year–an opportunity for students and families to share tokens of gratitude, and for principals and PTAs to make sure teachers are well-fed and well-stocked with snacks. Coffee bars appear. Catered lunches show up. Handwritten notes are passed across desks. For a brief moment, the community comes together to remind […]

There’s a phrase we hear often in education: student voice matters. It shows up in mission statements, strategic plans and conference panels. But too often, it stays an idea we agree with, rather than a practice we commit to. Fortunately, students are challenging that. Amplifying student voices isn’t just about students being heard. It’s about […]

The NC Center for Resilience & Learning was founded on a simple but urgent truth: children cannot learn effectively when they do not feel safe, whether that be physically, emotionally or psychologically. Rooted in decades of neuroscience and educational research, the Center works alongside schools to implement trauma-informed practices that support both students and the […]

As in many other states, state-level elected officials in North Carolina play a crucial role in shaping policies that affect communities across the state — particularly when it comes to local public schools. Nurturing strong relationships between these officials and the communities they serve is essential to fostering collaboration, ensuring transparency and incorporating diverse perspectives […]

When we talk about preparing students for life, it’s easy to focus on test scores, GPAs, and graduation rates. Those metrics matter, but they don’t tell the whole story. Another essential element in preparing students for life is presenting them with possibility. Students believing they have options, feeling empowered to choose a path that aligns […]

Over the past month, North Carolina has been confronted with a wave of immigration enforcement actions that left families frightened, educators overwhelmed, and entire school communities destabilized. The headlines have been loud, but the impact on our students has been far quieter, unfolding in classrooms, in counseling offices and at kitchen tables across our state. […]

On the first episode of Education Matters this school year, we discussed legislative updates from the Summer. One of the biggest concerns then was how funding uncertainty brought on by the lack of a state budget and temporarily withheld federal funding would impact students. Since then, the General Assembly still has not passed a state […]

In their new strategic plan, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and State Board of Education call for North Carolina public schools to be the best in the nation by 2030. Given more than 80 percent of our students’ time is spent learning outside of school, we simply can’t be the best in the […]

Right now, North Carolina ranks 49th in the nation in public education funding efforts. The 30-year Leandro case  remains ongoing, despite rulings that we are not meeting our constitutional duty to provide every child with a sound, basic education. At the same time, calls to defund the U.S. Department of Education and delayed funding disbursements […]

In 2022 and 2023, North Carolina was CNBC’s top state for business. In 2024, we were #2. Virginia took the top spot with one of the cited reasons being the state’s strong public education system. While that drop in ranking is far from drastic, it does demonstrate that if North Carolina does not prioritize our […]

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 the most consistent and nutritious food some children receive all day. And yet, school nutrition remains one of the most overlooked parts of our education […]

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. Likewise, local businesses are often important pieces of what makes a rural community what it is, making relationships between the two not just beneficial, but […]

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 right to a free and appropriate public education. Before IDEA, millions of children were denied schooling or placed in inadequate programs that failed to meet […]

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 state. The newly elected and returning officials have a unique opportunity to shape the future of our schools, students and educators. This session is a […]

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 of the state’s 26 local electric cooperatives selecting winners from across our 100 counties each year. Since the program’s inception, $16 million in Bright Ideas […]

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 Carolina, January will usher in terms for a new Governor: Josh Stein, Lt. Governor: Rachel Hunt, Attorney General: Jeff Jackson, Treasurer: Brad Briner, and Superintendent […]

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. In the days and weeks immediately following the storm local public schools, teachers and staff worked tirelessly to support children and families. Watauga High School, […]

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 activities to build relationships across generations. In times of need, our public schools are a place of resources and support for all students and families […]

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 values prioritized by the people in decision-making positions, we must participate. Elected officials at the national, state, and local levels are tasked with creating numerous […]

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. However, the part of the graduation celebrations that struck me the most was the day that the seniors all went back to their elementary schools. […]

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 many educators, this reminder that they are appreciated and respected was much needed. Education is a demanding career field, and in recent years it’s unfortunately […]

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. Establishing strong relationships between these officials and the communities they serve is invaluable to fostering collaboration, ensuring transparency and considering diverse perspectives when crafting policies. […]