Education Matters

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 Year Tia Hilber, Student, Orange High School, Orange County Schools Laviant Lewis, Student, Orange High School, Orange County Schools Grace McDaniel, Student, Orange High School, Orange County...

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 which was unanimously passed. Guests: Samin Bhan, Juni...

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 Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Piedmont...

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 Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Piedmont...

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 planning and success of the convening and also th...

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 planning and success of the convening and also th...

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, we will talk with guests about the importance of v...

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 and paid. The proposal includes a tiered approach t...

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 Year Leah Carper, 2022 NC Teacher of the Year Patrick Greene, 2022 NC Principal of the Year

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 investments that they urgently need. Here to discuss wh...

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 lead teacher who are currently using advanced teac...

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 our first three NCCAT Prudential NC Beginning Teache...

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 wind down the school year. We want to note how signif...

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 learn from them about what being a new teacher is lik...

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 these experiences of the desegregation of 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-S...

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 legislation to spotlighting the many innovations that educa...

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....

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 & Lea...

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-S...

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 Fl...

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 Fl...

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...

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, wh...

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 Y...