On this episode of Education Matters, we’re joined by North Carolina Teaching Fellows Director Bennett Jones along with some fellows both past and present to explore how the program can impact individuals with a passion for education as well as our state’s educator pipeline.By Public School Forum of NC

On the episode of Education Matters we’re joined by 2024 North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching 2024 Empower NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Abigail Bentley finalists Samantha Shaw, Cassidy Upton and Sydney Smith. These educators have been recognized as outstanding new teachers and today they’re here to share their experiences enter…

On May 7, 2024, the Public School Forum hosted its annual Eggs & Issues breakfast. The Public School Forum invited the candidates for Governor and several candidates for the General Assembly to join us to discuss their perspectives on and plans for education. The General Assembly and the Governor play critical roles in education policy and funding …

On May 7, 2024, the Public School Forum hosted its annual Eggs & Issues breakfast. At this event, the Forum shares the Top Education Issues and the progress that has been made against them. On this episode Dr Lauren Fox will share our progress on the Top Educational Issues for this biennium. We’ll hear from Mo Green, the Democratic candidate for St…

On this episode we’re joined by 2022 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year Leah Carper and Representative Maria Cervania to discuss the second annual Bring Your Legislator to School Day. The event which is organized by Members of the NC Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year Network and the Public School Forum of North C…

On this episode we’re joined by members of the inaugural North Carolina Flight Crew and Program Manager Wayne Capps. The Flight Crew is a program organized by the NC Center for Afterschool Programs connecting girls from across North Carolina who share a passion for STEM. We’re also joined by education tech consultant Adam Garry and DPI Chief Inform…

Today we’re joined by members of the North Carolina Principal of the Year Network to discuss their experiences as principals, approaches to leadership and efforts to help advance our state’s public education system.By Public School Forum of NC

It is election season and early voting for the North Carolina primary election is underway. On this episode we’re joined by some education and election experts to discuss which education issues are on the ballot this year, what the outcomes could mean for communities across the state and the value of civic engagement.…

This episode of Education Matters explores teacher working conditions in North Carolina, why they matter and ways we can all get involved in making improvements. For this discussion we’re joined once again by some outstanding educators, the 2023-24 North Carolina Regional Principals of the Year as well as the 2023-24 Teacher of the Year Kimberly Jo…

On this episode of Education Matters we’re joined by some outstanding educators, the 2023-24 North Carolina Regional Principals of the Year. They’ve been recognized for their strong leadership and commitment to student success, and on this episode they’ll share some insight on how they’re striving to lead positive learning environments as well as s…

On this episode of Education Matters we discuss the Roadmap of Need, a whole-child needs assessment that offers county-level data and rankings to help audiences better understand the needs of North Carolina’s diverse communities. Together we’ll explore the methodology, findings and potential uses of the Roadmap.…

On this episode of Education Matters we continue our discussion on the recent expansion of North Carolina’s private school voucher program. Commonly referred to as Opportunity Scholarships, school vouchers allow families to use public dollars to subsidize their childrens’ education at private schools. This program used to be specifically for low-in…

On this episode of Education Matters we’re joined by Dr. Denna Townsend-Smith, senior director of the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity along with the Center’s namesake, Dr. Dudley Flood and other education advocates essential to Mapping the Movement, including two student historians from Mecklenburg County. Mapping the Movem…

On this episode of Education Matters we’re joined by Elizabeth Anderson, director of the NC Center for Afterschool Programs along with North Carolina’s 2023 Afterschool Champions to discuss the value of out-of-school time programming in providing students continued learning and enrichment opportunities. This year’s Afterschool Champions were recogn…

On this episode of Education Matters we’re joined by the Forum’s Sr. Director of Policy & Research Dr. Lauren Fox along with two superintendents to discuss the recent expansion of North Carolina’s private school voucher program. Commonly referred to as Opportunity Scholarships, school vouchers allow families to use public dollars to subsidize their…

Meet the 2023-24 NC Regional Teachers of the Year by Public School Forum of NCBy Public School Forum of NC

Meet the 2023-24 North Carolina Teacher, Principal and Superintendent of the Year by Public School Forum of NCBy Public School Forum of NC

Ep. 224 Back-to-School 2023-24 by Public School Forum of NCBy Public School Forum of NC

Starting with the graduating class of 2024, North Carolina Public School Students are now required to take an economics and personal finance course to develop financial literacy as a graduation requirement. This curriculum equips students with financial knowledge and skills to navigate their financial futures. One area included in this requirement …

Today we are here to talk about pathways for recruitment and preparation of educators, and the growing role of community colleges in helping to prepare future teachers. You’ll hear today about collaborative frameworks between high schools, community colleges, and universities to create a seamless educational pathway for students pursuing a career i…

This year’s legislative session seems to have multiple bills every single week that would impact our schools, districts, educators, families, and students if passed. The fast pace and volume are even faster and heavier than expected. The proposed legislation includes opportunity scholarships or vouchers, a new approach to funding schools through a …

This year’s legislative session seems to have multiple bills every single week that would impact our schools, districts, educators, families, and students if passed. Some proposed legislation includes the Parents Bill of Rights, the Standards of Student Conduct Bill, and the Equality in Education Bill. We are pleased to be joined by some of those w…

Nearly ⅔ of adults report experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience, or ACEs, which can have negative impacts, including health problems, mental health issues, and learning difficulties. Mental health supports for students are critical. Now, more than ever, we as a state need to invest in our children and provide them with the services…

Nearly ⅔ of adults report experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience, or ACEs, which can have negative impacts including health problems, mental health issues, and learning difficulties. Mental health support for students is critical. Now, more than ever, we as a state need to invest in our children and provide them with the services th…

This week on Education Matters we talk with two teachers and seven students about the importance of a culturally responsive curriculum.Guests:Xavier Adams, NCCAT 2022 Prudential NC Beginning Teacher of the YearTia Hilber, Student, Orange High School, Orange County SchoolsLaviant Lewis, Student, Orange High School, Orange County SchoolsGrace McDanie…

Centering student voices can lead to an empowering classroom environment, bring about higher engagement and motivation, and ignite passions. Today we will hear from Bettina Umstead, Chair of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education, and students from New Hanover County about their Student Voices Initiative and the policy that they proposed whic…

As we find ourselves at the mid-point of another school year, we have with us our North Carolina Regional Teachers of the Year to discuss both the challenges and the opportunities that are on their minds today — and the ways in which we can support educators so that they are able to support our students.Guests:Leah Carper, 2022 Burroughs Wellcome F…

As we find ourselves at the mid-point of another school year, we have with us our North Carolina Regional Teachers of the Year to discuss both the challenges and the opportunities that are on their minds today — and the ways in which we can support educators so that they are able to support our students.Guests:Leah Carper, 2022 Burroughs Wellcome F…

The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity at the Public School Forum recently held its 5th Annual Color of Education with our wonderful partners, the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University and the Center for Child and Family Policy. Today we are joined by four of the leaders who played critical roles in the…

The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity at the Public School Forum recently held its 5th Annual Color of Education with our wonderful partners, the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University and the Center for Child and Family Policy. Today we are joined by four of the leaders who played critical roles in the…

Early voting is open through November 5th. We encourage you to check your voter registration, check out your sample ballot, and find your voting locations at the NC State Board of Elections website: www.ncsbe.gov. And remember, you are not required to show a photo ID when voting, and curbside/assisted voting options are available. On today’s show, …

Pathways to Excellence for Teaching Professionals (Model) is a proposal being developed and worked on by the North Carolina State Board of Education and the PEPSC (Professional Educator Preparation Standards Commission). The model, if approved by the State Board and ultimately enacted by the General Assembly could change how teachers are licensed a…

The new school year has begun and with it came a shortage of teachers and school staff. To discuss what is going on and possible solutions are the North Carolina Principal of the Year and the two most recent North Carolina Teachers of the Year.Guests:Eugenia Floyd, 2021 NC Teacher of the YearLeah Carper, 2022 NC Teacher of the YearPatrick Greene, 2…

The Leandro Court Case has been ongoing for nearly 30 years and is set to continue this month. While the defendants and plaintiffs agree with the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan, which provides a roadmap for education investments needed across our state, the Supreme Court will hear appeals to this case while schools and districts wait for inves…

Some North Carolina school districts have utilized a new structure to help retain and expand the reach of highly effective teachers. To learn more about what these roles are and how districts are utilizing the approach we are joined by BEST NC, an organization that has explored the opportunities provided by advanced teaching roles; a principal and …

NC’s education system and schools affect each and every one of us across our state. We have much work to ensure that our educators and students have what they need. And, many of the actions needed by our state are clear and common sense. Here to talk about this are the North Carolina 2021 and 2022 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Teachers of the Year and ou…

Most of you watching today know children who are in our schools right now. We’ve talked a great deal with educators and students themselves about the challenges and promising moments of this year. On today’s show, we will talk with three elementary school principals about how our kids and educators are doing - and what we need to consider as we win…

Today we have the privilege of introducing the 2022 Beginning Teacher of the Year, Xavier Adams as well as one of his students and the beginning teachers of the year from the inception of the program in 2020. For beginning teachers who are just starting from scratch, the first year of employment is challenging to navigate. Today we are going to lea…

Today’s show comes from the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity’s Student Voices Series: Implications of Desegregation on NC Teacher Pipeline. This event explored the difficult experiences of students and educators of color during the years following the landmark decision of Brown v. Board of Education. Also discussed is how …

Most of you probably know a student or even students who have struggled with mental health. Supporting students’ mental health has always been a challenging and important issue for schools — and today more than ever, the mental health needs of students are complex and significant as we navigate this global pandemic.Reporter Rupen Fofaria of Educati…

Today is a special day for our show—over the last 5 and a half years, we have been so fortunate to produce 200 episodes of Education Matters that tell the story of why public education in North Carolina is so important for our children, families, and communities. We have had discussions ranging from the potential impacts of school-related legislati…

We are coming to you from the Public School Forum’s Annual Event, Eggs and Issues and have with us some spectacular guests today to discuss the top issues surrounding education across our state.GUESTS: Elena Ashburn, NC POY/WCPSSSen. Deanna Ballard, NC General AssemblyEmma Battle, Higher Ed WorksJennie Bryan, Southeast RTOY/BCSJB Buxton, Durham Tec…

On today’s show, we talk about Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma-informed practices. ACES affect social and emotional learning and academic outcomes, and COVID has only exacerbated this issue. To talk about how to better support students, we are joined by our Resilience & Learning team members, a principal, and a school psychologist. Guests:…

Most of you probably know a student or even students who have struggled with mental health. Supporting students’ mental health has always been a challenging and important issue for schools — and today more than ever, the mental health needs of students are complex and significant as we navigate this global pandemic.Reporter Rupen Fofaria of Educati…

As we find ourselves at the mid-point of another school year that has proved to be incredibly challenging for all, we have with us for the next two weeks our North Carolina Regional Teachers of the Year to discuss both the challenges and the opportunities that are on their minds today — and the ways in which we can support educators so that they ar…

As we find ourselves at the mid-point of another school year that has proved to be incredibly challenging for all, we have with us for the next two weeks our North Carolina Regional Teachers of the Year to discuss both the challenges and the opportunities that are on their minds today — and the ways in which we can support educators so that they ar…

One thing that you may not realize is that many school districts across North Carolina offer a variety of options within the public school system, ones that are high quality and scalable to other districts. Today we’ll hear about how North Carolina public schools offer many opportunities for students that are taking shape across our state and prepa…

Accelerate, Invigorate, and Motivate: those are the three words that officials at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction rallied behind as they planned the inaugural AIM Conference for district leaders and teachers across our state that was held earlier this month. On today’s show, we will have with us DPI officials as well as North Ca…

Last week the Color of Education Annual Summit took place, with educators and advocates coming together to discuss equity and opportunity. On today's show, we'll bring to you the Spark of Color panel discussion from the event.Sparks of Color: The Untold Stories of Racial Equity AdvocatesMod: Iheoma Iruka, FPG Child Development Institute, UNC-CHGues…

GUESTS:Monica BattleRene FloresMartha FloresShannon FordTalia RaglandKissue MimsBy Public School Forum of NC