Dr. Mary Hemphill-Joseph: Director of the DPI Division of Academic Standards   We are excited to announce Dr. Mary Hemphill-Joseph as the new Director of Academic Standards! Dr. Hemphill-Joseph comes to the division with a wealth of experience, from teacher to principal and most recently, the Director of K-12 Computer Science and Technology Education at DPI.    In an effort to align the support our team provides and the strategic plans of agency leadership, the K-12 Standards, Curriculum, and Instruction division is now known as the Division of Academic Standards. Our work and the support we provide has not changed. We remain committed to supporting NC educators with resources and professional development that assist with standards-aligned instruction, along with assistance for legislative and grant-related programs.

UPDATE INCLUDES: 

OPPORTUNITIES and AWARDS  

• Apply to be a State or National School of Character  

• Apply for the United States Senate Youth Program

• Grant Opportunities 

INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS & RESOURCES 

• On Demand Professional Development: Writing Your Best Character Application
• National Bullying Prevention Month 

• National Service-Learning Conference

• Resources for Virtual Service-Learning

School of Character Application Is Now Open    Has your school or district cultivated a supportive and caring community? Do you think your staff, students, and the larger community have successfully implemented the 11 Principles of Effective Character? Apply this fall for State and National School of Character to receive valuable feedback for improvement whether you reach School of Character status this year or not. Remember the application is extensive, so it’s good to get started early.  All applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm (EST) Friday November 19, 2021   Learn More and Get Started!

Apply for the United States Senate Youth Program

Application materials are now available for the upcoming United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP).

The USSYP provides an educational opportunity for juniors and seniors interested in pursuing college coursework in history or political science to spend a week in Washington D.C. meeting Senators, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and officials from various federal agencies and the White House.   

• Two student winners will be selected to represent North Carolina. 
• These two winners will each attend the Washington Week program, March 5-12, 2022, and receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.

North Carolina application materials can be found on the North Carolina Senate Youth website August 1, 2021 – October 3, 2021.  http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/

Grants 

You(th) Matter Youth Voices Contest - Deadline: November 15

You(th) Matter invites you to express your views on the relationship between policing and democracy, in a national competition to win cash prizes. The Youth Voices contest will showcase youth writing, film, and artwork from communities nationwide.
www.youthmattersfy.org

On Demand Professional Development: Writing Your Best Character Application   Watch this recorded presentation to help you complete the application for the State and/or National School of Character.  The webinar will help you navigate the application.  Participants will also understand how to write the best narrative and provide the best artifacts that support the schools implementation of the 11 principles of character education.    Register Here Password: Character1 (Case Sensitive)    Helpful resources included in the professional development include:  Action Plan for Writing Your Application  Scoring guide 11 Principles of Character Capsule summary sheet

October is National Bullying Prevention Month   Every October, schools and organizations across the country join STOMP Out Bullying™ in observing National Bullying Prevention Month. The goal of the Character Matters Anti-Bullying Campaign is to bring awareness to the issue of bullying and what schools and communities can do and are doing to stop it. We want to encourage students to share the message that Character Matters and bullying is not acceptable in North Carolina schools and communities.    October 20: #UnityDay--Wear Orange to Prevent Bullying and Promote Kindness  Access free distance learning resources to use in your virtual classroom or to continue engaging students in social-emotional learning and bullying prevention.   Below are resources to help you plan for National Bullying Month: Watch our documentary on bullying in North Carolina Character Matters NC Anti-Bullying Resources  Stomp Out Bullying Pacer National Bullying Prevention Center

National Service-Learning Conference

April 20-22, 2022

Whether you are a teacher, administrator, university faculty member, foundation program officer, or a youth leader, the National Service-Learning Conference is designed for you. Join the conference to engage in inspiration and learning for service-learning.  

Learn More 

Resources for Virtual Service-Learning

Use the link below for various trainings and resources to help you plan virtual volunteer, community service, or service-learning projects. 

Read more

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