Education Matters

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 entering the classroom and some insight on getting into education as a career field.

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 in NC. We hope that you will take the time to hear their responses to several education-focused questions.

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 State Superintendent. Understanding educational issues and hearing from the candidates who will be charged to lead our public schools are important aspects of ensuring that every child in NC has access to a high-quality and equitable education.

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 Carolina creates an opportunity for legislators to experience the day-to-day reality of North Carolina’s elementary and secondary schools for a better understanding of what is working well for students and educators as well as the challenges they face.

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 Information Officer Dr. Vanessa Wrenn to discuss the future of AI in North Carolina schools.

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.

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 Jones and Dr. Jeni Corn from NC Department of Public Instruction.

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 some words of wisdom.

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-income families, but recent legislation has changed that. This episode continues exploring those changes and what exactly they mean for North Carolina students and families.

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 Movement is an initiative aimed at building a network of organizations in North Carolina pushing for educational equity; it includes several events throughout the year, including last month’s Color of Education Summit in Raleigh which drew a crowd of over 800.

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 recognized for their contributions to out-of-school time programming as part of Lights On Afterschool, an annual nationwide campaign celebrating after school programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities.

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 childrens’ education at private schools. This program used to be specifically for low-income families, but recent legislation will expand eligibility to all families. This expansion and the accompanying lack of accountability for private schools could greatly impact our education system.

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

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

Ep. 224 Back-to-School 2023-24 by 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 is planning and paying for postsecondary education, which has the potential to help students understand Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which serves as a gateway to accessing federal, state, and institutional financial aid for postsecondary opportunities. FAFSA empowers students and families to make informed decisions, comprehend the expenses linked to education, and develop effective strategies for managing their finances throughout their academic journey. Guests: Jessica Swencki, Deputy Director, myFutureNC Kathy Hastings McDonald, Associate Director for Outreach, NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) Leslie Walden, Vice President,

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 in education. Guests: Dr. Lisa Eads, Associate Vice President of Academic Programs, NC Community Colleges Cathy Collie-Robinson, Chair/Instructor, Early Childhood Education Program, Durham Technical Community College Dr. Steve Turner, Dean, Humanities & Social Sciences, Guilford Technical Community College Alan Hooker, Director of Recruiting, Guilford County Schools Dr. Paula Groves Price, Dean of the College of Education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Dr. Gerrelyn Patterson, Chair of the Department of Educator Preparation, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

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 weighted student funding formula, and significant changes to funds moving from districts to charter schools. We are pleased to be joined by those who will implement and be directly affected by new legislation and policy, including district leaders and parents. Guests: Dr. Kathy Spencer, Executive Director, Southeast Education Alliance Dr. Matthew Cheeseman, Superintendent, Beaufort County Schools Steve Curtis, Finance Officer & Director of Auxiliary Services, Pamlico County Schools Susan Book, Parent, and Public School Advocate