State Board of Education Meets
Next Week

The North Carolina State Board of Education will meet next Tuesday-Thursday, May 2-4, in the 7th Floor Board Room, Education Building, Raleigh.

On Tuesday, Board members will hold their semi-annual planning/work session. At the Board’s regular monthly meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, members will take action on items including an update to the READY Accountability Annual Performance Standards policy, restart applications, a competency-based education alternative licensure program, and alternative growth measures for Career and Technical Education teachers. Discussion items include extended content standards for K-12 English Language Arts, K-8 Mathematics Standard Course of Study revisions, Power Teacher Pro implementation plan, updating the licensure policy to include digital learning competencies, and an amendment to general licensure requirements policy to include addition of specific world languages.

The agendas for this meeting and executive summaries are available online (under Meetings tab). The State Board’s committee meetings and full Board meeting are audio streamed for those who can’t attend.

2017 NC Teacher of the Year Greetings

Hello to all!  My name is Lisa Godwin and I am the newly named 2017 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year! I am so very thankful to have this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

I am blessed to call Topsail Island my home. I teach kindergarten at Dixon Elementary School, which is part of the Onslow County School District. I will be completing my 20th year in education at the conclusion of this school year, but my journey into education has had many twists and turns.

I grew up in a small farming community in Lee County, North Carolina, where my dad served as minister of the local church. Greatly impacted by his ministry, my dad inspired and taught me to love others with an open heart and to serve with helpful hands. This ideal became the foundation for my personal and career choices.

I originally pursued a nursing degree after graduation, but knew in my heart that it wasn't the right choice for me. After accepting a position as an instructional assistant with the Lee County School District, I finally found my true passion…teaching! Many friends and family members reminded me that it is never too late to fulfill your life’s purpose. So, I began the juggling act of working during the day, going to school at night and continuing to raise two small sons. Although it was a long road (three years of undergrad studies and then two more years to receive my Master of School Administration) it was totally worth it!

Whenever I reflect upon my personal beliefs and feelings about teaching or leadership in general, I am reminded of a quote that I have always loved by Mahatma Gandhi, “There go my people. I must follow them for I am their leader.” This quote represents the essence of true leadership. I have a desire to be an educational leader who never gets ahead of others but listens to the concerns and needs of those I serve. This type of servant leadership promotes an atmosphere of respect and acceptance, which can only strengthen relationships within a school community.

This philosophy will serve as a compass for me, and will help me find direction during my year representing you as Teacher of the Year. YOU are my people and I want you to know that I will work very hard to make sure your voices are heard. It really is all about you and the children!

I hold dear the realization that one of the greatest freedoms that we have as Americans is the right to a free education. That freedom extends to ALL people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or disability. This freedom sets us apart from other nations and is a cornerstone of what makes our country so great. Through the public education system, we may break the cycle of generational poverty and allow students to tap into their inner gifts, which provides them with the tools to become forward thinkers with a plan and purpose for their lives. We are equipping our young people with the knowledge and power to achieve their dreams and to become responsible members of our society.

As North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year, I will strive to be a positive voice for public schools and the thousands of educators who work tirelessly every day to provide quality instruction for children across our great state. I also want to encourage young people to choose education as a professional career path. We need creative minds and thinkers to choose education as an innovative and financially viable career path so that North Carolina remains competitive with bragging rights about its innovative system of public schooling.

I want my message to promote a renewed commitment towards the support and funding of our classrooms and the recognition of the efforts of teachers across our state and country. This platform will allow for positive, yet honest and productive, conversations with our legislators and community leaders so that they might have sincere insight into our classrooms and the challenges facing our public schools today.

Wow! Just writing this message has me even more excited about starting my year! I hope that our paths will cross during my travels, but know that I am always available to you through email and through social media outlets. I am working on my webpage and will be setting up a blog soon. I will make sure to pass that information along to you next time. Until then, enjoy your last few weeks of school. I appreciate all that you do! Lisa Godwin, 2017 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year

Revised English Language Arts Standards Approved; Classroom Implementation in 2018-19

English language arts (ELA) teachers and students will use newly revised standards in North Carolina public school classrooms beginning in the 2018-19 school year. The State Board of Education approved the revised standards at its April meeting. The revisions were endorsed by the following state-level groups: NC Chamber, BEST NC, the NC Association of School Administrators, the NC School Boards Association, the NC Large District Consortium and HIRE Standards. Also, Mission: Readiness, an organization of more than 650 retired admirals and generals endorsed the revisions.

Revisions were a compilation of work completed by a Data Review Committee that reviewed information provided through ELA teacher focus groups, educator and community surveys and the work of the Academic Standards Review Commission. Writing teams of ELA teachers, district leaders and professors from North Carolina colleges and universities used the Data Review Committee’s recommendations to create three different drafts, each responsive to follow-up feedback. This work has taken approximately a full year to complete.

Key improvements to the standards include a new format (available fall 2017), a strong emphasis on the writing process, language continuums and more attention to Reading Standard 10. Here’s how the change breaks down: 125 standards had major changes; 45 standards had a minor change; 179 standards remained the same; eight standards were removed; one new standard was included; 67 standards had examples removed with no other change; and 38 standards were integrated into others.

Over the next six months, NCDPI’s English language arts staff will develop an Implementation Kit to be available in January to provide:

•  standards in the new format;

•  approximately 25 lessons per grade level;

•  a text selection guide;

•  revised “40 Ways to Read like a Detective” cards;

•  an Independent Sustained Reading Guide;

•  Language Continuum Guides;

•  parent resources; and

•  an Integrating Standards and Aligning ELA Instruction Module.

Training will be held this fall to introduce the new standards and their format. If you have any questions, please contact NCDPI K-12 English Language Arts Section Chief Julie Joslin. 

Multi-Tiered System of Support:
More About Core

Within a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), district and school teams support teachers by defining the core behavior and academic instruction – curriculum and environmental practices to be implemented districtwide or schoolwide. 

The Core (Tier I) curriculum includes the materials, instructional programs, texts, lessons and mapping (for academics and behavior/social-emotional functioning) delivered to all students.

Core instruction will most likely vary in intensity from school to school, even within a district. This is due to the fact that Core instruction is based on local needs. Some schools may require more time and focus in Core to ensure all students meet and/or exceed state proficiency levels and locally developed behavioral and social-emotional expectations.

When we think about behavioral standards, we start with schoolwide expectations. The schoolwide expectations provide the first level of uniformity for behavior across a building or district. They give students and staff the consistency that promotes achievement. Schoolwide behavior expectations should follow these guidelines:

*  three to five expectations;

*  positively stated;

*  explicitly taught and re-taught as needed;

*  defined across settings; and

*  aligned to classroom rules and procedures.

For a sample Classroom Management Plan, click here. If you have additional questions about MTSS, please contact Amy Jablonski, director of Integrated Academic and Behavior Systems.

E-Learning Advisor of the Year Candidates Announced

The NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is pleased to announce its top four candidates for the 2017 E-learning Advisor (ELA) of the Year award. NCVPS teachers and staff members nominated educators at the school and district level who have had a positive impact on their NCVPS students. Nominated ELAs employ innovative practices that can serve as a model for other schools or districts. Their practices improve the overall effectiveness of online learning and contribute to the success of students taking NCVPS courses.

Nominations included individuals working in various roles such as the e-learning advisor, lab facilitator, EC coordinator, data manager, principal and the district e-learning coordinator. Nominees were then invited to submit a portfolio that showcased their e-learning program.

The four finalists for the 2017 award are:

-  Robin Lamb - Cedar Ridge High School, Orange County Schools

-  Neal Dorow - Eugene Ashley High School, New Hanover County School

-  Nartarshia Sharpe - Crossroads Flex, Wake County Schools

-  Amanda Housand - Union Academy Charter School

NCVPS will now conduct phone interviews with each finalist to conclude the award process. A winner will be announced in two to three weeks.

Congratulations to all 13 candidates who were nominated for this year’s award. NCVPS could not have achieved the success that it has without the fantastic ELAs at the school and district level.

Three Middle Schools Tapped as Schools to Watch; 11 Middle Schools Earn Re-Designation

Congratulations to Ellerbe Middle and Rockingham Middle (Richmond County Schools), and Newton-Conover STEM Middle (Newton-Conover City Schools) for being the latest North Carolina middle schools to be named Schools to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. The schools’ emphasis on strong academics, sensitivity to young adolescents’ needs and interests, and commitment to providing all students equal access to a high-quality education resulted in the well-deserved recognition.

In addition, the following 11 North Carolina middle schools were re-designated as Schools to Watch:

• Charles W. Stanford Middle (Orange County Schools) and Mount Airy Middle (Mount Airy City Schools) earned their first re-designation.
• McGee’s Crossroads Middle (Johnston County Schools), Piedmont Open IB Middle (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools), and Chowan Middle (Edenton-Chowan Public Schools) – first designated six years ago – were re-designated for the second time.
• Rogers-Herr Middle (Durham Public Schools), West Pine Middle (Moore County Schools), and Thomas Jefferson Middle (Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools) – first recognized nine years ago—were re-designated for the third time.
• Carmel Middle and Jay M. Robinson Middle (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) and East Yancey Middle (Yancey County Schools) – first recognized 12 years ago – were re-designated for the fourth time.

To find out how your middle grades school can be apply for this recognition, please visit the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education website or contact NC Middle School Association Executive Director Dr. Cathy Tomon or 252.241.1586. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15.

Are Your Students Ready for a Summer Math Challenge?

Did you know that on average, students lose approximately 2.6 months of grade-level equivalency in math skills over the summer months? MetaMetrics is trying to stop this loss in math skills by offering the Summer Math Challenge.

The Summer Math Challenge is a free, six-week, email-based math skills program for students who have finished first through eighth grades. As a part of the program, parents receive daily emails with fun, targeted activities and resources to help children retain the math skills learned during the previous school year.

The Summer Math Challenge begins Monday, June 19, and runs until Friday, July 28. For more information, including how to encourage your students to participate in the Summer Math Challenge, visit MetaMetrics’ Summer Math Challenge website.

Manage Your Email Subscriptions
with NCDPI

As a reminder, GovDelivery, the email delivery system for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, offers you the opportunity to manage your email subscriptions so that the mailings you receive provide the information you want!

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has more than 50 topics you may subscribe to including news releases, meeting and event notices, From the Board Room – a monthly newsletter highlighting State Board of Education activities, Legislative Alerts, and numerous Department newsletters.

To manage your subscriptions, all you need to do is go to GovDelivery’s landing page and enter the email address by which you received this message. NCDPI staff hope the ability to manage your emails from the Agency is helpful to you!