Number 10

Truitt Announces New Parent Advisory Commission; Seeks Applicants

"Superintendent Catherine Truitt is launching a new Parent Advisory Commission to elevate the voice of parents in students’ education. The 48-member advisory board will include six parents or guardians from each of the state’s eight educational regions to ensure diverse geographical participation with the application available for parents today. Members will share their aspirations for public education in the state and discuss challenges it faces, helping to put together recommendations for elected officials and policy makers in North Carolina, while providing direct feedback to Truitt."

Read the full release here. If you or someone you know would like to apply but need a Spanish version of the application, please reach out to communications@dpi.nc.gov.

Number 9

NC School Psychology Association’s Legislative Award to State Superintendent Catherine Truitt

"The North Carolina School Psychology Association (NCSPA), a non-profit professional organization that supports and advocates for school psychologists across North Carolina, announced today that it has selected Catherine Truitt, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, as the winner of the NCSPA Legislative Award for 2021.

This award is given by NCPSA to an individual who influences legislative and public policy decisions, but it is not necessarily given every year. The legislative award is especially reserved for recognition of an individual’s contributions and shows thanks for efforts on behalf of school psychologists in North Carolina."

Congratulations Superintendent Truitt! For more information, click here.

Number 8

Internship Program at NCDPI

The Department of Public Instruction is excited to offer an internship program for undergraduate and graduate level students pursuing degrees in public policy, public administration, education, communication, business management and related fields into the heart of a state government agency. Interns can expect one-on-one guidance from agency staff, opportunities to meet with elected leaders, and the ability to contribute to the work of advocating for and supporting educators and students across North Carolina.

Those interested can learn more about the program and how to apply here. Please feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested!

Number 7

Guilford County High School Social Studies Teacher Wins Milken Educator Award

"When students and teachers at Guilford County’s Page High School gathered this morning for a school-wide assembly, they thought they were just getting a break from class to welcome a visit from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt and Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras. Truitt’s opening remarks, complimenting their school’s successes and achievements, hinted at nothing more."

Read the full release here.

Number 6

New NCCareers.org CTE Website

The new NCCareers.org Career and Technical Education Landing Page is now live! Users will find student testimonials, career clusters and stats that show the value of CTE learning in middle and high school. NCCareers is here to help users discover that path, so you can love your work and pursue a career.

To learn more about program areas, Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), and how CTE is an important part of every career journey, visit: www.nccareers.org/cte.

Number 5

299 NC Schools Receive Recognition for Extraordinary Support of Military Students, Families

"North Carolina has long been home to a large population of active duty, guard, reserve and veteran armed service members. In recognition of the state’s rich military history, the Department of Public Instruction is pleased to recognize hundreds of schools as part of its Purple Star Award Designation initiative which first launched in the 2019-20 school year.

For the 2021-2022 school year, 299 schools, including 5 charter schools and 7 Department of Defense Education Agency (DODEA) schools, will receive Purple Star recognition. These schools hail from 15 districts across North Carolina and represent an increase from the 13 districts in which schools earned this recognition in the prior school year."

Read the full release here. Congratulations and thank you to all of our Purple Star schools! The work you do for military-connected students and families is invaluable. 

Number 4

US ED College Scorecard Updates

Earlier this month, the US Department of Education released updates to the College Scorecard that make the interactive tool more useful for students and families weighing college options. The tool also features new and revised information that may be beneficial to school counselors, college access providers, researchers, and other critical stakeholders. These updates include restoring metrics that help compare institutions’ costs, graduation rates, post-college earnings, and more.

Number 3

Monthly NCDHHS-DPI Joint COVID Webinar

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Topics include: Latest Trends/Metrics, Vaccine Updates, K-12 Testing Program, Updates to the StrongSchools Toolkit

If you need the Zoom link to be emailed again, please reach out to communications@dpi.nc.gov.

Number 2

2022 North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey

The 2022 North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey will open on Tuesday, March 1 at 6:00 am. All schools should have received their information packets with all anonymous codes to take the survey.

As a reminder, there will be a $1,500 prize for the first school that reaches 100% completion, and all schools that reach 100% on the first day will be entered for a $1,000 prize drawing.

If your school has any questions or needs additional codes, please contact SurveySupport@adi.org or call 1-888-404-9704 (7:30am – 4:30pm).

Number 1

Black History Month

In honor of Black History month, NCDPI will share facts about North Carolina's African American history.

Harriet Jacobs was born in 1813 in Edenton, NC. During the course of her life, Harriet became a fugitive slave, writer and abolitionist. Her book — Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl — is one of the only written accounts of the Maritime Underground Railroad.

After suffering years of abuse at the hands of her slave owner, Jacobs fled in 1835 and went into hiding in the attic of her grandmother, a freed Black woman living in Edenton. After nearly seven years hiding above her grandmother’s home, Harriet secretly boarded a boat in Edenton, bound for Philadelphia, New York and, eventually, freedom. 

Harriet gained her full and legal freedom in 1852. By the time of the Civil War, as a free African American woman, she served as a relief worker dedicated to assisting the newly freed people of the South.

During a time when it was unusual for slaves to read and write, self-publishing a first-hand account of slavery’s atrocities was extraordinary - and it being written by a woman was unprecedented. Harriet Jacobs’ story is a remarkable piece of North Carolina's Black history. 

Learn more about Harriet Jacobs here.