FAST NC receives donations, awards first grants for Florence relief

FAST NC has collected more than $78,000 so far. Please continue to share the website information with your network and encourage folks to donate. FAST NC can accept donations by check and credit card. The website is http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fastnc/.

In other good news, the General Assembly this week approved $350,000 for the North Carolina Education Fund that will be used for FAST NC grants. The first FAST NC grants have been approved. Congratulations to the following applicants:

• Duplin County Schools: $14,000 to replace 35 K-2 instructional rugs.
• Onslow County Schools, White Oak High School: $14,000 to replace destroyed science supplies and materials
• Pender County Schools: $14,000 for teachers and teacher assistants to use to replace instructional materials and supplies

Second round applications were received through Nov. 30; second round awards will be announced this week. Third round applications will be received until Dec. 14. Fourth round applications will be accepted from Dec. 15 – Jan. 11. To secure an application form, go to the FAST NC website and click on the “Apply Now” link.

Call for 2019-20 Kenan Fellowship applications

Applications for 2019-20 Kenan fellowships will be accepted through Jan. 21, 2019. These fellowships address the critical need to develop and empower high-quality teachers who can drive innovations that make learning more authentic and engaging for students.

The fellowship begins with a summer internship in a higher education laboratory or local industry setting and is supported by 80 hours of professional development that focuses on instructional leadership, elevating teacher voice, strengthening ties between the school and the local community, peer coaching and mentoring, and growing professional learning networks that extend beyond the school and local district.

Each Fellow is awarded at least a $5,000 stipend and must develop and implement relevant educational materials and/or programs based on their internship experience. Fellows remain in the classroom while completing the year-long fellowship.

Applicants must submit an essay detailing their desire to have influence beyond the classroom and two letters of recommendation. Final candidates are invited for an in-person interview to be conducted in their local area. Fellowships are based on funding and awarded each spring.

Click here to read more. 

2019 CCES Conference

Innovative Pathways to Personalized Learning

The 2019 Connecting Communities of Education Stakeholders conference will be held March 18-21. The conference, themed Innocative Pathways to Personalized Learning, merges the best of Home Base Symposium and Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA) by:

• Providing educators and leaders relevant, research-based strategies to affect short- and long-term change in adult practices that foster innovative practices for student success
• Providing support staff with professional learning and resources for the daily operations and needs of school communities
• Supporting student and educator growth through the dissemination (or sharing) of data-driven strategies and resources
• Recognizing and encouraging the collective contribution of communities of education stakeholders in individual and community-wide growth

The conference will be located at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel & Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC (3121 West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro). Click here for more information.