40 years ago the Public School Forum of North Carolina was founded out of a critical need to bring together educators, community members, business leaders and policymakers to support our local public schools. In the decades since, the Forum has served as a think-and-do tank, bringing together individuals and organizations to study education issues, develop ideas, seek consensus, and ultimately inform and shape education policy with the goal of providing every child in North Carolina with a high-quality, equitable education.
To celebrate 40 years of this work, we asked 40 community members – students, educators, lawmakers and business leaders – what they would like local public schools to look like in another 40 years. Here are their visions:
“As a student, I started public school in the early 1980s, when classroom treats sometimes came as filmstrips paired with cassette tapes… Our classrooms smelled of chalk and floor wax, a scent I still associate with the feeling of belonging. School, to me, felt safe, caring, and joyful.
One of my favorite memories was from fifth-grade physical education in Springfield, Missouri, when our class was bused across town for winter swim lessons… I learned that education isn’t just about books; it’s about shared experiences that stay with you.
I remember my third-grade teacher, Ms. May, grinding corn into masa and frying tortilla chips right in class. I remember our custodian, who made sure our unfinished Space Shuttle Challenger poster and art supplies were laid out each morning before recess so my friends and I could work on it. Then he would carefully roll everything up and put it away so we could maximize our time creating together.
I believe that in forty years, classrooms will look unrecognizable. Artificial intelligence will reshape what and how we teach. But my vision for public education in my district is simple: that schools remain places where humanity leads technology, where joy, kindness, and care still define what it means to learn.”
Anthony Martin, Ed.D., 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Sandhills Region Teacher of the Year, Columbus County Schools
“When I imagine what public schools in my district will look like in the next 40 years, I see vibrant and thriving learning communities that honor the whole child. I see schools where every student, regardless of their zip code, has equitable access to opportunities that nurture their academic, social, and emotional growth.
Our classrooms will be spaces where students are creators and innovators, using technology and hands-on experiences to solve real-world problems. I envision schools that serve as community hubs, where families feel deeply connected and supported, where wraparound services like food, health care, and mental health support are seamlessly integrated, and where students’ basic needs are met so they can fully focus on learning.
I hope to see culturally relevant and inclusive curricula that affirm students’ identities, celebrate their stories, and prepare them to thrive in a global society. Teachers will be valued as experts and leaders, supported with the resources, time, and respect needed to do their best work.
Most of all, I dream of a future where public education remains the heartbeat of our communities, a place where every child is seen, heard, loved, and inspired to dream bigger than they ever imagined.”
Chanel Jones, 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Piedmont-Triad Teacher of the Year, Alamance-Burlington School System
“In the future, I want our schools to be welcoming for everyone. That means making sure every student feels seen and supported, no matter their background. Mental health should be a top priority, and students should always have someone to talk to. Schools should celebrate different cultures and make sure every voice matters. Because our public schools are the great equalizer, where every student is welcomed regardless of race or socioeconomic status or ability level, in 40 years, we must aspire to reach each and every student who walks through our open doors.
…I hope that in 40 years, [teachers] have even more support and respect than they do now. They deserve smaller class sizes, more planning time, and the freedom to be creative with their lessons. Teachers deserve a pay that reflects their dedication and hard work, and they deserve recognition for those very things from both the local community and the federal government.
I also hope schools become the center of the community, places where families, local businesses, and people from all walks of life come together… Students could graduate not only with good grades but with real-life experience and a strong sense of purpose ready to take on whatever the world throws at them.”
Hannah Moon, M.Ed.; NBCT, NC Southeast Regional Teacher of the Year 2025, New Hanover County Teacher of the Year 2024-2025
“As an educator in Edgecombe County, I’ve witnessed firsthand the resilience, creativity, and growth mindset that define our students and schools. Over the next 40 years, I envision Edgecombe County Public Schools continuing to lead with innovation, equity, and community at the heart of everything we do.
One of ECPS’s greatest strengths is its commitment to whole-child education—prioritizing not just academic achievement, but also emotional wellness, cultural identity, and future readiness. I’ve seen students thrive through project-based learning, social-emotional supports, and real-world experiences that connect the classroom to the community. These approaches must continue and expand.
Looking forward, I hope to see schools that are hubs of opportunity—equipped with cutting-edge technology, flexible learning environments, and strong partnerships with local businesses and colleges. I imagine every student having access to personalized learning paths that reflect their passions and strengths, supported by educators who are well-compensated, empowered, and deeply valued.
I want to see our schools as models of equity, where zip code doesn’t determine access, and all children—regardless of background—can succeed and feel a strong sense of belonging. I believe ECPS can lead the way in rural education, showing what’s possible when innovation meets community care.”
Tamika J. Farmer, 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Central Teacher of the Year, G.W. Carver Elementary School, Edgecombe County Schools
“North Carolina’s constitution promises every child a sound, basic education, but too often that promise depends on a zip code. Forty years from now, I want rural schools to prove that excellence and equity can share the same country road. Public schools should be the beating heart of their towns, leveraging tight-knit relationships, ag-tech partnerships, and “grow our own teacher” programs so students feel seen, heard, valued, and inspired.
Perquimans County shares this vision. We are growing at a time many districts are shrinking. Hertford Grammar School is pursuing STEM School of Distinction status, blending rigorous academics with hands-on learning in every grade. Our PQ Ambassadors program is preparing current high schoolers to return home as future teachers. Soon, universal broadband, 1:1 devices, and AI tutors will personalize learning and expand equity. Paired with well-paid, well-prepared teachers, these tools will sharpen curiosity, creativity, and character. Public education is shifting from teaching what to think to how to think—critically. If we invest in our schools, North Carolina can fulfill our constitutional promise and become the “Best Public School System in the Nation,” [as tasked by the Achieving Educational Excellence strategic plan.]”
Dr. John Lassiter, WF Northeast Principal of the Year, Perquimans County Schools
“It is hard to imagine education in 40 years. By then, I will be retired! But I do have a vision for North Carolina Charter Schools!
In 40 years, I envision a North Carolina where charter schools and traditional public schools will work in full collaboration and not compete against one another. I imagine this partnership would just be the norm and both systems would foster a unified educational approach where teachers from both systems would come together to elevate student learning and achievement, helping us to become the best in the nation!
I also hope to see educators still at the heart of the classroom, guiding students in hands-on learning, meaningful interactions, and real engagement. Technology will continue to evolve, but it should only support — not replace the human connection between teachers and students. The relationships built between teachers and students nurture essential life skills like communication, problem-solving and personal growth.
I also imagine each school in the charter school community to be fully equipped to serve students with diverse learning needs. Schools will have state-of-the-art resources along with highly trained staff to support the needs of all students, regardless of the learning need.
…This is the future I hope to see in 40 years!”
Lindsay Phillips, 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Charter School Teacher of the Year, Mountain Island Charter School
“When I think about the next 40 years of public education in North Carolina, I don’t picture a school full of gadgets or AI-powered classrooms, though those things will certainly play their part. What I imagine is something more fundamental: schools that are deeply human again.
In 40 years, I hope public schools have moved beyond the tug-of-war between policy and politics and returned to their truest purpose: forming minds, shaping character, and preparing young people to serve and lead in their communities. I hope that our schools will reflect both the efficiency of systems and the compassion of people, where accountability is balanced with empathy, and where innovation never comes at the cost of connection.
I want to walk into a school where joy and purpose are visible in every hallway. Where students greet you by name because they were greeted that way and they know they belong… These moments don’t happen by accident; they happen in schools where relationships come first, where every adult sees themselves as part of the same mission, and where students feel both challenged and cared for in equal measure.
…Most of all, I hope that when a student walks across the graduation stage in 2065, they’ll still be able to say what we hope they say today:
‘My school saw me. My teachers knew me. And because of that, I know I can make a difference.’”
Dr. Jake Wilson, 2025 Wells Fargo Charter School Principal of the Year, Mountain Island Charter School
“In the next 40 years, I envision public schools in my district as thriving centers of innovation, connection, and care. Places where every child feels seen and supported from the moment they walk through the door. Our schools will be modernized with updated infrastructure, sustainable buildings, and technology that keeps pace with the world students are preparing to enter. Classrooms will be flexible, community-centered spaces where learning extends beyond the four walls and mirrors the realities of life and work.
Curriculum will evolve to blend academic rigor with real-world relevance. Students will explore career and technical education, early college pathways, and interdisciplinary courses that foster adaptability, creativity, and collaboration. Partnerships with local industries, universities, and community organizations will give students early exposure to careers that strengthen our regional workforce.
Most importantly, equity will remain at the heart of everything we do. Every student, regardless of background, will have access to free, nutritious meals, high-quality instruction, and educators who are empowered and supported as leaders of learning. Schools will reflect the diverse, growing communities they serve: celebrating culture, cultivating belonging, and preparing students not just for college or careers, but for lives of purpose and possibility.”
Rachel Candaso, Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Teacher of the Year, Pitt County Schools
“I love Orange County Schools, and I am excited to see what the future holds for us in 40 years! One of the best parts of our school district is seeing how many generations of families continue their legacy in this area: it is a powerful experience to witness grandparents coming back as alumni to watch their grandchildren graduate from the same high school they did, and to see proud aunts and uncles cheer on their younger relatives playing for the very sports teams that they used to lead. In these joyous moments, I am reminded of how our school district is the heart of our local community, and in 40 years our schools must continue playing that role.
…In 2065, I hope Orange County Schools is a place where every student feels excited about the first day of school because future students have heard about the amazing things that their parents experienced in our school district. I hope that students will have heard about how our schools are a place where: 1) all students belong, are loved, and celebrated, 2) every student is offered the supports they need to excel, 3) students have the nutritional and social emotional support they need to learn, 4) and that students are offered a wide range of educational opportunities through clubs, course offerings, and field trip opportunities to enrich their understanding of the world.”
Xavier Adams, 2022 Prudential NC Beginning Teacher of the Year, Orange County Schools
“In 40 years, I would love to see learning itself expand far beyond the classroom walls. I imagine my public schools as a larger community ecosystem that breaks down the barriers between schools and the real world. Students would learn math through budgeting community projects, explore science through local environmental partnerships, understand history through the lens of veterans as well as local and state government officials, and study language arts through storytelling with local authors and poets. This less centralized, more experiential approach would allow students to see the relevance of their education in daily life while deepening their understanding of their community and their role in it.
I imagine that, in 40 years, a cornerstone of Caldwell County’s future schools would be an integrated whole-child approach that honors both academic achievement and future career readiness. I want to see the arts integrated A+ program that currently exists at Davenport A+ Elementary thriving and expanded into other elementary, middle, and high schools. Arts concepts through theatre, music, visual art, dance, and physical education are naturally transferable, and many times essential, to future career pathways as they teach students creativity, collaboration, the elements of design, patterns, rhythm, empathy, communication, critical thinking, public speaking, dexterity, perseverance, and adaptability.”
Dr. Jessica Anthony, 2025 Wells Fargo Northwest Region Principal of the Year, Caldwell County Schools
Several quotes have been shortened.
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