RALEIGH, NC (February 7, 2025)- The Public School Forum of North Carolina will honor Mebane Rash and Tom Oxholm at the 2025 Jay Robinson Education Leadership Award Gala on Thursday, May 1 at the Angus Barn Pavilion in Raleigh. This year’s gala marks the beginning of the Public School Forum’s 40th Anniversary Year with this important event celebrating local public schools in our state and recognizing leaders and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to public education.
Both of this year’s honorees were selected for their unwavering commitment to advocating for public school students in North Carolina within their respective fields. Rash is the founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of EducationNC (EdNC), which has provided in-depth reporting on education topics relevant to readers in North Carolina since its founding in 2015. Tom Oxholm has long been a proponent of and activator for bridging the business and education communities and has continuously served as a highly active member of education and public school organization and efforts.
Dr. Mary Ann Wolf, President and Executive Director of the Public School Forum of NC shared, “We are absolutely thrilled to award Mebane Rash and Tom Oxholm with the Jay Robinson Education Leadership Award. They are incredibly deserving for their never-ending dedication and action for kids, educators, families, and public schools. They are courageous leaders who represent the very purpose of the Public School Forum – to bring together business, education, and policy leaders to ensure every child in NC has access to a high quality and equitable education.”
As the founder and Editor-in-Chief of EdNC, Mebane Rash has built a platform that informs while actively supporting schools, educators and students. Her deep personal connection to public education, rooted in her own experiences as a student in Charlotte’s public schools, has shaped her belief in the power of education to develop future leaders. Under her leadership, EdNC has amplified critical issues, from disaster recovery efforts that helped secure millions in funding for affected schools to documenting the evolving role of local public schools as community anchors. With over 1.2 million unique users and a rapidly growing audience, EdNC has proven that North Carolinians care deeply about the future of public education. Mebane’s vision has not only elevated the conversation around education policy but has also fostered real impact in classrooms across the state. Her work ensures that educators and students alike have a voice, and that public schools continue to be spaces of innovation, resilience, and opportunity.
Through his work, Tom Oxholm has demonstrated a decades-long commitment to strengthening public schools in Wake County and across North Carolina. As a business leader, former Wake County School Board member, and longtime advocate, he has dedicated over 30 years to ensuring students receive the support they need to thrive. He founded the first Business Alliance in Wake County in 1992, an initiative that has since expanded to over 40 alliances and 25 academies, directly connecting students and educators with career pathways. His leadership on school finance, bond campaigns and tutoring initiatives has had a lasting impact, from increasing funding transparency to recruiting hundreds of volunteers to support student learning. His dedication to public schools reflects a deep belief in its role as the foundation of a strong community, workforce, and democracy. He never hesitates to call upon fellow-business leaders to speak up and act for our local public schools.
This prestigious award is named in honor of the late Dr. Jay Robinson, one of our state’s most distinguished education leaders and the first president of the Public School Forum. His career spanned 50 years, beginning as a math teacher and basketball coach in Cabarrus County, becoming a school principal and later superintendent of schools first Cabarrus and then Charlotte-Mecklenburg school systems. He served as vice president for public affairs and special projects for the University of North Carolina system and chaired the State Board of Education.
Individual tickets to attend and information on becoming an event sponsor are available at ncforum.org/jayrobinson.
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About The Public School Forum of North Carolina
Since our founding in 1985 as a nonpartisan “think and do tank,” the Public School Forum of North Carolina has been a champion of better schools and one of the most trusted sources in the state for research and analysis on vital education issues. In order to provide meaningful action on our state’s most important public education issues, we bring together leaders from business, education and government to study education issues, develop ideas, and ultimately inform and shape education policy. We do this through research, policy work, innovative programs, advocacy, and continuing education for educators and policymakers. Follow us on social media at @theNCForum and visit our website at http://www.ncforum.org/
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