Education Matters

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/WCPSS Sen. Deanna Ballard, NC General Assembly Emma Battle, Higher Ed Works Jennie Bryan, Southeast RTOY/BCS JB Buxton, Durham Tech Community College Renee Caven, Truist Rep. Ashton Clemmons NC General Assembly Debra Derr, NC Chamber Lisa Eads, NC Community Colleges Eugenia Floyd, NC TOY/CHCCS Dale Jenkins, Curi (Retired) Liliana Soto, Vance County Schools Kathy Spencer, Southeast Education Alliance Deanna Townsend-Smith, State Board of Education Joshua Webb, Edgecombe Early College Tre Woods, Teacher Cadet

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: Eulanda Thorne, Program Manager, Resilience & Learning Angela Mendell, Program Manager, Resilience & Learning Quintin Mangano - Principal, Nashville Elementary/Nash County Schools Leigh-Hileman Steele - School Psychologist /Nash County Schools

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 EducationNC; Dr. Jeff James, Superintendent of Iredell-Statesville Schools; and Mr. Jermaine White, Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services at Harnett County Schools are with us today to talk about the innovative ways some North Carolina districts are increasing mental health supports in their schools.

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 are able to support our students. Guests: Eugenia Floyd, 2021 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, North Central Region Teacher of the Year, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Susanna Cerrato, Western North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Asheville City Nicole Rivers, Sandhills North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Cumberland County Jennifer Bryan, Southeastern North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Brunswick County Erin Ellington, Northwest North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Watauga County Kelly Poquette, Piedmont Triad North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Alamance-Burlington Jennifer Attkisson

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 are able to support out students. Guests: Eugenia Floyd, 2021 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, North Central Region Teacher of the Year, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Susanna Cerrato, Western North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Asheville City Nicole Rivers, Sandhills North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Cumberland County Jennifer Bryan, Southeastern North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Brunswick County Erin Ellington, Northwest North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Watauga County Kelly Poquette, Piedmont Triad North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Alamance-Burlington Jennifer Attkisson,

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 preparing our children to compete in a global workplace. Guests: Leigh Ann Lampley, Principal, International School at Gregory, Spanish Immersion Magnet, Wilmington James Hopkins, Principal, Lakewood Elementary Jake Henry, Chief Academic Officer, Participate Learning

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 Carolina’s State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, who will discuss their vision for the AIM conference as well as a host of other top issues that are impacting public schools today. Guests: Catherine Truitt, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Michael Maher, Executive Director of the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration at NCDPI Julie Pittman, Educator Engagement Special Advisor, NCDPI Dr. Robert Taylor, Deputy State Superintendent, NCDPI

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 Advocates Mod: Iheoma Iruka, FPG Child Development Institute, UNC-CH Guests: Eugenia Floyd, 2021 BWF NC Teacher of the Year, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Monika Johnson Hostler, Wake County Board of Education Rep. District 2 Letha Muhammad, Executive Director of the Education Justice Alliance Dr. Loury Floyd, Dean, UNC-Pembroke School of Education

GUESTS: Monica Battle Rene Flores Martha Flores Shannon Ford Talia Ragland Kissue Mims

This week we hear from superintendents across the state about what the biggest challenges and opportunities our schools and students face this year. Guests: Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent, Chatham County Schools Dr. Jeff McDaris, Superintendent, Transylvania County Schools Dr. Eisa Cox, Superintendent, Ashe County Schools

With classrooms full and a school year like no other, we decided to talk with some of the most impactful people when it comes to student learning outcomes, our teachers. Today we are kicking off a two week series with the North Carolina Regional Teachers of the Year. Guests: Susanna Cerrato, Western North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Asheville City Schools Nicole Rivers, Sandhills North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Cumberland County Schools Jennifer Bryan, Southeastern North Carolina 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year, Brunswick County Schools

Today we delve into education issues with two special guests, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, and U.S. Representative Alma Adams from the NC 12th district. These two life-long educators have been spending time on the ground in NC and share what they consider to be critical issues during Covid recovery and in the coming years. They remind us of the importance of our schools and the remarkable efforts by our educators, students, and families this past year. Guests: U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona U.S. Representative Alma Adams, NC 12th District

Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity Student Voices Series, Increasing Diversity in STEM

Today on our show, we’d like to take the time to explain the federal, state and local roles in education, and how each of those actors contributes to supporting education in different, yet very necessary ways. Joining us to discuss these roles are Lindsay Wagner, the Director of Communications for the Public School Forum, and Congresswoman Deborah Ross, who represents North Carolina’s second congressional district Guests: Rep. Deborah Ross, Congresswoman for NC’s 2nd District Lindsay Wagner, Director of Communications, Public School Forum of NC

Dudley Flood Center for Equity and Opportunity Student Voices Panel: Ensuring Access to Rigorous Coursework

Today we have the privilege to hear from two incredible North Carolina teachers of the year as well as Dr. Jim Causby, a longtime school superintendent and advocate for the recent creation of North Carolina's Beginning Teacher of the Year program as they discuss what impacts teachers, the needs of the classroom, and how they hope to make positive change in the field of education. Guests: Emilee Higdon, 2021 Prudential NCCAT NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Dr. Jim Causby, NCCAT Foundation Board, Chair of the BTOY Steering Committee, Retired Superintendent and Interim Superintendent of many districts across our state Eugenia Floyd, 2021 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Teacher of the Year

As we continue to move through this time of transition and recovery from COVID-19, many critical issues continue to be top of mind for our schools, educators, and students. That includes developing pathways to ensure that all students have equitable access to high quality and well prepared teachers and elevating the importance of social and emotional learning, and identifying and investing in early childhood education so that our children are ready to reach critical milestones as they enter kindergarten. Many of these issues align closely with the goals set forth in the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan that has been submitted to Judge David Lee, and today we’ll continue the talk about that plan and what is needed for the success of students across our state in the second part of this two part series. Guests: Dr. Beverly Emory, Executive Director for the Office of District and School Transformation for the NC Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education Geoff Coltrane, the Senior Educat

As we continue to move through this time of transition and recovery from COVID-19, many critical issues continue to be top of mind for our schools, educators, and students. That includes developing pathways to ensure that all students have equitable access to high quality and well prepared teachers and elevating the importance of social and emotional learning, and identifying and investing in early childhood education so that our children are ready to reach critical milestones as they enter kindergarten. Many of these issues align closely with the goals set forth in the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan that has been submitted to Judge David Lee, and today and next week we’ll talk about that plan and what is needed for the success of students across our state in this two part series. Guests: Dr. Beverly Emory, Executive Director for the Office of District and School Transformation for the NC Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education Geoff Coltrane, the Senior Education Advisor to Gov

Through the work of myFutureNC, the state of North Carolina has set an ambitious goal for 2 million North Carolinians to have a high-quality postsecondary credential or degree by 2030. Today, we will hear more about what opportunities exist in our communities and schools and what we need to do as a state to move closer to achieving this goal. Guests: JB Buxton, President, Durham Technical Community College Cecilia Holden, President and CEO, myFutureNC Dr. Jeff McDaris, Superintendent, Transylvania Public Schools

Early childhood education, care, and support provide our children with the foundation to do well in school and in life and are critical for our families and our state. Our guests are here today to talk about the importance of early childhood learning and support and what needs to happen across North Carolina to give our children the best chance for success. Guests: Michelle Hughes, Executive Director, NC Child Muffy Grant, Executive Director, NC Early Childhood Foundation Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake)