• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Public School Forum

Public School Forum

A think-and-do tank committed to North Carolina public schools

  • Who We Are
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Our Board of Directors & Advisory Members
    • Work with Us
  • Our Centers
    • Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity
    • NC Center for Afterschool Programs
    • NC Resilience and Learning Project
  • Our Programs
    • Rural Teacher Leader Network
    • Education Policy Fellowship Program
    • Education Matters
    • NC Education Partners
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Op-Eds & Analysis
  • Resources
    • Policy Analysis, Briefs, and Research
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Eggs & Issues Breakfast
    • Jay Robinson Education Leadership Award & Gala
    • Synergy
    • Color of Education
    • Education Primer Sessions
    • All Upcoming Events
  • Donate
  • Our Partners
    • Forum Partners Program
    • Our Supporters
    • Donate

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

Subscribe to the following newsletters:(Required)
Name(Required)
Email(Required)

Get Connected with an Expert

Name(Required)
What area(s) of expertise are you seeking?

Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity

As we remember the momentous accomplishments of black leaders in American history, the Dudley Flood Center would like to invite you to listen to educators and students share why we STILL have work to do in achieving racial justice in education.
  • Who We Are
  • Programs
  • Resources
  • Advisory Board
  • Our Story

The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity (Flood Center) will serve as a hub to identify and connect organizations, networks, and leaders to address issues of equity, access, and opportunity in education across North Carolina. The Flood Center is born out of the findings and recommendations of the Forum’s Study Group XVI: Expanding Educational Opportunity (2016), co-chaired by Dr. Flood, as well as the Forum’s Color of Education partnership, which aims to achieve racial equity in education across North Carolina through building connections and engagement across fields of research, policy and practice. The Flood Center aims to continue this work by informing discussions on policies impacting equity & social justice, supporting and advancing equity-focused educator programming, and promote discussions around how schools are funded at the local and state levels, in hopes of achieving equity, access, and opportunity for each and every young person in North Carolina.

Vision

The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity envisions an education system that provides every student in North Carolina with access to equitable, culturally responsive, and high-quality educational opportunities that lead to success in college, career, and citizenship.

Mission

The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity strives to work collaboratively to take action toward addressing issues of systemic racism by advocating for structural changes in policy and practice to build an equitable education system that meets the social, emotional, and academic needs of NC’s diverse student population.

Student Voices Webinar Series

So often we engage in discussions about education without including students, our primary stakeholders. This Flood Center series on Educational Equity and Opportunity leads with the voices of our students. Please join us monthly for a 1.5 hour session that will provide us space to hear from and engage with students and one another.


Color of Education

Color of Education is a partnership between the Public School Forum of North Carolina, the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University, and the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. Sandra Wilcox Conway of Conway and Associates also provided key partnership design for Color of Education. The partnership seeks to build bridges across the fields of research, policy, and practice and bring together the knowledge and perspectives of communities, educators, policymakers, experts and other key stakeholders focused on achieving racial equity and dismantling systemic racism in education across the state of North Carolina.

Equity Digest 

The Dudley Flood Center proudly presents the “Equity Digest” a monthly newsletter designed to keep readers abreast of the work of the Flood Center as well as evidence-based research, statewide programmatic and policy efforts, and professional development and funding opportunities that promote educational equity in North Carolina public schools.

Click here to view the archives.


Color of Education Past Summits

Click here to view past Summit info.


Color of Education Event Calendar 

 Submit an Event


Mapping the Movement  

Map your Organization


North Carolina School Desegregation & Resegregation

North Carolina’s commitment to providing an equal public education to all students within the state began in 1776, when it included the right to public education in its original constitution. Following the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954, many Southern states engaged in immediate backlash, publicly proclaiming that they were not giving up their segregated system of schooling. While North Carolina’s approach to desegregation was less violent than other Southern states, it was by no means progressive, at least immediately following the Brown decision. However, 20 years after the Brown ruling, North Carolina would be recognized nationwide as the blueprint for successful integration strategies.

This timeline explores the policies, court cases, and important historical events that shaped not only school desegregation in North Carolina, but also the resegregation that has occurred in more recent years. This project attempts to highlight the lived experiences and stories of those who lived through desegregation, and fought to create equal schooling opportunities for all North Carolinians. To learn more about any of the topics covered in this timeline, please consult our resources page and literature review. We would like to thank Jenn Ayscue, Sandra Conway, Danita Mason-Hogans, and the UNC Southern Oral History Program for their support, expertise, and guidance throughout this project.

View Timeline

View Literature Review

View Statement on HB 324

Dr. Tawannah Allen (Jackson), High Point UniversityDr. Scott Elliott, Watauga County SchoolsAnn McColl, The Innovation Project
Tom Bradshaw, Jr. Public School Forum Board Emeritus MemberDr. Alice Garrett, Flood GroupDr. Marjorie Campo Ringler, East Carolina University
Matt Bristow-Smith, Edgecombe Early College High SchoolDr. Anthony Graham, Winston Salem State UniversityDr. Kathy Spencer, Southeast Education Alliance
Tracey Burns, NC Department of Natural and Cultural ResourcesDr. Patricia Hilliard, Friday InstituteDavid Young (BOD representative), Participate Learning
Renee Cavan, TruistDr. Martinette Horner, UNC-Chapel HillDr. Dudley Flood, Honorary Member (non-voting)
Nicky CharlesDr. Connie Locklear, Public Schools of Robeson County Indian Affairs

Background

To expand, deepen, and elevate our policy and programmatic work centered on educational equity, in October 2020, the Forum launched the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity (Flood Center) through a catalytic grant provided by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and Sandra and Peter Conway to operationalize the Center. The Flood Center’s namesake is Dr. Dudley Flood, an educator and champion of school integration in North Carolina. In the years following the Brown v. Board of Education decision that mandated school desegregation in the United States, Dr. Flood and his long time colleague, Dr. Gene Causby (1934 – 2014), traveled to every corner of the state to unite divided communities and work toward integrating our public schools. His legendary commitment to school integration and his belief that every child deserves an equitable educational opportunity will serve as the foundation and beacon for the work of the Flood Center. Dr. Flood is a long-time Board member of the Forum.

The work of the Flood Center will leverage our strengths and knowledge gained from the Forum’s Study Group XVI Report: Expanding Educational Opportunity in North Carolina and the Color of Education Initiative to partner with schools and districts to make tangible progress toward educational equity and opportunity. We seek to build on these ongoing efforts and our role as a statewide convener of diverse stakeholders to create opportunities for system-wide changes that will help to advance equity for communities and populations directly impacted by systemic inequities.

About Dr. Dudley Flood

Dr. Dudley Flood is an educator and champion of school integration in North Carolina. In the years following the Brown v. Board of Education decision that mandated school desegregation in the United States, Dr. Flood traveled to every corner of the state to unite divided communities and work toward integrating our public schools. His legendary commitment to school integration and his belief that every child deserves an equitable educational opportunity will serve as the foundation and beacon for the work of the Forum’s new Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity.

2022-2023 Educational Equity Fellow

The Dudley Flood Center is excited to announce that we are seeking an 2022-2023 Educational Equity Fellow! Last year our Fellows exhibited their passion for educational equity and strengthened their research, evaluation, and leadership skills through the Fellowship.  We are thrilled to be able to support another graduate student towards their goals!

Apply Now

Our Team

Deanna Townsend-Smith, Ed.D.

Senior Director, Dudley Flood Center
dtownsend-smith@ncforum.org
919-781-6833 Ext. 114

Ashley Kazouh

Associate Director, Dudley Flood Center
akazouh@ncforum.org
919-781-6833 Ext. 134

Malasia McClendon

Program Coordinator, Dudley Flood Center
mmclendon@ncforum.org
919-781-6833 Ext. 109

Deanna Townsend-Smith, Ed.D.

Senior Director, Dudley Flood Center
dtownsend-smith@ncforum.org
919-781-6833 Ext. 114

In her capacity as Senior Director, Dr. Townsend-Smith will advance and expand the current programmatic and policy efforts of the Flood Center in an effort to achieve its mission of addressing issues of systemic racism by advocating for structural changes in policy and practice to build an equitable education system that meets the social, emotional, and academic needs of NC’s diverse student population.

Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith has been working in education for over 20 years. In 2014, she earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership. She has worked and gained expertise in a variety of roles, including as a teacher, mentor, new teacher coach, administrator and, most recently, as the Director of Board Policy and Operations for the North Carolina State Board of Education. Prior to that role, Dr. Townsend-Smith served as the assistant director in the NC Office of Charter Schools. Deanna has a passion for education and has dedicated her life’s work to the field. Most of her career has been spent in North Carolina, where she resides with her husband and son. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, reading, and traveling.

Ashley Kazouh

Associate Director, Dudley Flood Center
akazouh@ncforum.org
919-781-6833 Ext. 134

Ashley is the Associate Director for the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity at the Public School Forum of North Carolina. In this position, Ashley guides policy and research priorities related to racial equity, manages the Flood Center Fellowship program, and oversees the programmatic efforts of the Flood Center. Her current research has centered around strengthening the teacher pipeline, focusing on understanding the barriers within licensure policies and requirements that prevent candidates, especially those from diverse backgrounds, from entering the teaching workforce within North Carolina. Ashley is also a member of the Governor’s DRIVE Task Force, charged with creating a plan of action to increase racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity within North Carolina’s educator workforce.

Before moving to the Triangle, Ashley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University. After college, she gained a passion for education and racial equity through influential experiences such as facilitating social justice workshops for students as an Americorps member in Memphis, TN, and collaborating with community members to promote the academic, socio-emotional, and behavioral well-being of students as a Program Coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
To continue making strides in social justice, Ashley completed a dual Masters’ degree in Social Work and Public Administration at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Her focus on understanding and addressing systemic issues surrounding race, organizational culture, and practices has been a consistent motivator and has validated the work she does at the Public School Forum of North Carolina. Ashley recognizes the disparities and inequities within education and nonprofit leadership and as a native of High Point, NC, she has a strong passion for advocating for all people throughout the state.

Malasia McClendon

Program Coordinator, Dudley Flood Center
mmclendon@ncforum.org
919-781-6833 Ext. 109

Malasia is the Program Coordinator at the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity. As the Program Coordinator, she provides overall support and organization for the Flood center, manages and coordinates communications, and drafts and disseminates information about the Flood Center’s programmatic and research efforts. Additionally, she supports the programmatic work of the center such as the Student Voices Webinar Series, Rural Teacher Leader Network, Color of Education Summit, and other programmatic efforts as needed. Prior to joining the Public School Forum, Malasia was a Fellow at the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation where she made funding recommendations in accordance with the Foundation’s grantmaking strategies, organizational values, and priority areas. Additionally, she managed the recruitment and selection processes for the Non-Profit Internship Program and the Fellowship Program. 

Malasia is a native of North Carolina and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from North Carolina State University.  During her undergraduate experience, she participated in the North Carolina General Assembly Internship Program, supported research as a Research Assistant at the T.E.A.C.H. National Center, and interned with the James B. Hunt Institute. On campus, Malasia created safe spaces for students of color and those disproportionately affected by systemic inequities by reactivating the campus chapter of the NAACP. Additionally, Malasia participated and led service trips internationally to teach English. Malasia has a heart for education. She aspires to experience a world where education policy is informed by quality research and accounts for historical inequities faced by students and communities.

Our Funders

Want to stay updated on the work of the Flood Center? Join our subscriber list to receive updated on future events, publications, and programs.

Join Us

Footer

Contact

1017 Main Campus Drive
Suite 2300
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-781-6833
info@ncforum.org

Recent Tweets

RT @DudleyFloodCtr Join our team! twitter.com/theNCForum/sta…

About a day ago

#NCEd Many North Carolina principals are concerned about a change in how principal pay is calculated included in the recently passed state budget which may decrease their salaries by $7,000 to $18,000 effective Jan. 1. ednc.org/an-overlooked-…

About 2 days ago

Last week the Madison County School System announced plans to put AR-15 rifles in safes in every school within the county. "I do not want to have to run back out to the car to grab an AR [in the event of an emergency]," said Sheriff Buddy Harwood. #NCEd cbsnews.com/news/ar-15s-ev…

About 2 days ago

Check it out! Tonight @ 7pm, a documentary by @EveryChildNC and @wnstory entitled 'The Untold Story of the North Carolina Constitution.' #nced twitter.com/wnstory/status…

About 3 days ago

RT @DudleyFloodCtr We are excited to announce the #COE2022 keynote speaker, Dr. Jelani Cobb! Join us as we take a walk through history & explore how the past informs the present. We will focus on developing action-oriented approaches for achieving RE in NC edu. #nced #FloodEquity #HistoryCounts pic.twitter.com/FOY64ppNUs

About 4 days ago

Follow @thencforum

Our Mission

For more than 30 years the Public School Forum of North Carolina has served as an indispensable and nonpartisan champion of better schools. We bring together individuals and institutions from business, education and government to study education issues, develop ideas, seek consensus, and ultimately inform and shape education policy.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2022 · Public School Forum of North Carolina

All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design