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

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 who will be directly affected by new legislation and policy, including teachers and students.

Guests

Xavier Adams, NCCAT 2022 Prudential NC Beginning Teacher of the Year

Dr. Lenora Crabtree, Instructor, Cato College of Education, UNC-Charlotte, 2012 Southwest Regional Teacher of the Year

Bryce Guinness, Sophomore, Orange High School, Orange County Schools

Kairee Jones, Senior, Orange High School, Orange County Schools

Laviant Lewis, Senior, Orange High School, Orange County Schools

Aiden McCollick, Senior, Orange High School, Orange County Schools

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 they need. To see what a trauma-informed school looks like and what they are doing to support students, we visited Tramway Elementary School in Sanford, NC, in Lee County Schools to learn more. Our guest host who visited the school this week is Tom Williams, previous host of Ed Matters and the Immediate Past Chair of the Public School Forum’s Board of Directors.

Guests:

Dr. Johnnye Waller, Assistant Superintendent of Auxiliary Services, Lee County Schools

Andrea Cummings, Principal, Tramway Elementary School, Lee County Schools

Megan O'Shaughnessy, School Counselor, Tramway Elementary School, Lee County Schools

Myra Cole, Teacher, Tramway Elementary School, Lee County Schools

Jessica Jackson, Intervention Teacher, Tramway Elementary School, Lee County Schools

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 they need. To see what a trauma-informed school looks like and what they are doing to help students, we visited West Greene Elementary School in Greene County to learn more.

Guests

Elizabeth DeKonty, Director, NC Center for Resilience and Learning

Antonio Blow, Director of Student Services, Greene County Schools

Phil Cook, Principal, West Greene Elementary School, Greene County Schools

Anya Mattingly, Assistant Principal, West Greene Elementary School, Greene County Schools

Griffin Gurkin, Teacher, West Greene Elementary School, Greene County Schools

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 Schools

Matt Scialdone, Teacher, Middle Creek High School, WCPSS

Hallie Brew, Student, UNC-CH

Addi Simpson, Student, Middle Creek High School, WCPSS

Aliza Zahid, Student, Middle Creek High School, WCPSS

Alexa Burke, Student, Middle Creek High School, WCPSS

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, Junior, Hoggard High School, NHCS

Cassidy Thompson, Junior, Hoggard High School, NHCS

Tenaya Toon, Sophomore, Laney High School, NHCS

Dr. Kayce Smith, Educational Consultant and former MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) coordinator at Myrtle Grove Middle School, New Hanover County Schools

Schala Harper, special education teacher at Trask Middle School, New Hanover County Schools

Bettina Umstead, Chair of the Durham Public School Board

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 Triad North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Guilford County

Ryan Mitchell, West North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Henderson County

Elizabeth Santamour, Sandhills North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Hoke County

Ashtyn Berry, Southwest North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Cabarrus County

Clinton Todd, Northeast North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Pitt County

Keegan Storrs, North Carolina 2022 Charter School Teacher of the Year

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 Triad North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Guilford County

Ryan Mitchell, West North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Henderson County

Elizabeth Santamour, Sandhills North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Hoke County

Ashtyn Berry, Southwest North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Cabarrus County

Clinton Todd, Northeast North Carolina 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, Pitt County

Keegan Storrs, North Carolina 2022 Charter School Teacher of the Year

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 the ongoing work across NC. Hundreds of educators, students, equity leaders, and community and business partners joined us to learn and create action steps for impact together are with us today on the show.

Guests:

Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith, Senior Director of the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity

Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards, Associate Director of Research for the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity

Danita Mason-Hogans, Civil Rights Historian, Educator, Speaker, Activist

Dr. Dudley Flood