Number 10

Apex High Team Wins 2023 North Carolina Jr. Chef Cook-Off

"Eight high school finalist teams competed in the annual North Carolina Jr. Chef cook-off this month to create unique school lunch entrée recipes. The “Waffle House” team from Apex High with Wake County Public Schools won first place in the 2023 North Carolina Jr. Chef Competition. Their Sweet Potato Waffle with Maple Barbecue Chicken and Apple Slaw won top honors and a silver medal.

The Apex High team worked to create a healthier version of fried chicken and waffles, a student favorite. They made sweet and savory waffles from scratch incorporating sweet potatoes and chives. Baked maple-barbecue glazed chicken and a fresh slaw with cabbage, apples, and carrots accompanied the waffles. The recipe featured North Carolina-grown sweet potatoes, cabbage, apples, chicken, and milk."

Read the full press release here.

Number 9

Integrated Academic & Behavior Systems (IABS) Consultants Can Help with District & School Improvement

IABS consultants are excited to facilitate and plan for upcoming administrations of the NC Facilitated Assessment of MTSS now through June 30, 2023. The district-level (FAM-D) and school-level (FAM-S) tools measure implementation of NC Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) and help teams identify and prioritize implementation and sustainability steps. The FAM tools are aligned with NCStar and provide relevant and useful data for school and district improvement.

NC MTSS is a school improvement framework that is connected to and supports Operation Polaris 2.0, State Board of Education Strategic Plan, ESSA, Read to Achieve legislation, and many other policies, initiatives and legislation that can be found here. Most importantly, MTSS is a framework of systems that help ensure EACH and EVERY student in your school or district receives the support needed in an efficient and effective way.

You can find more information in the NC MTSS Professional Learning Center. Please contact your IABS consultant for additional support.

Number 8

Portrait of a Graduate Playbook - Empathy

This month’s Portrait of a Graduate Playbook focus is Empathy. The updated playbook includes new activities by grade span to reinforce this competency. Each month, another competency will be added until all seven are reflected in the document.

For additional resources including a video, graphics and English/Spanish versions of the Portrait, please visit the NC Portrait of a Graduate webpage.

Number 7

Leading with Character: Nurturing the Climate and Culture of Your School Workshop

On April 20, join Person Early College, a state and national school of character, and NCDPI for a free workshop to:

• Learn how to use the 11 Principles of Effective Character Education as a tool to evaluate your school, district and/or community climate
• Understand how State and National Schools of Character have implemented effective initiatives and practices and develop a "plan of action" for your school

The deadline to register is April 14. Register here. If you need funding for a substitute to attend the workshop please contact Justyn Burgess at Justyn.Burgess@dpi.nc.gov. 

Number 6

Governor's School of NC Hiring for Summer 2023 Session

Are you interested in working with exceptionally talented, intellectually engaged high school students in a thriving learning community this summer? If so, come join the NC Governor’s School! NCDPI has openings in a variety of positions ranging from Instructors to support staff to Teacher Assistant/Counselors (TACS).

Being on staff allows you to play a role in a life-changing summer for amazing students. It’s an opportunity to work with students in an environment where creativity and curiosity are valued and learning takes place without the pressures of grades or tests.

The summer session will be from June 12-July 15 for staff (June 18-July 15 for students) and will be at two campuses: Meredith College and Winston-Salem State University.

NCDPI will be reviewing applications and conducting interviews through an on-going process. Position availability, job descriptions, and application are available here. If you have questions regarding any openings, please contact ncgovschool@dpi.nc.gov.

Number 5

Sign Up for New Parent Newsletter from Superintendent Truitt

Superintendent Truitt is starting a parent newsletter that will help parents and guardians stay in the know on education happenings in our state. 

Sign up for the newsletter here by entering your email address and selecting "Superintendent Truitt's Parent Newsletter" under the "Internal Lists" section and keep an eye out for the first edition this spring!

Number 4

District Highlight - Pitt County Schools: Grow Local Initiative Teaches Thousands of Students About Careers They Can Cultivate Close to Home

"Brian Henning can stand in the classroom at Ayden-Grifton High School and tell his automotive students that, in terms of their potential careers, the sky’s the limit. But to prove it, he took them to Pitt-Greenville Airport on Monday.

While being shown the airport’s newest hangar, about three dozen automotive technology students heard that their current training could grow into a career in aircraft mechanics. The tour was part of Grow Local, a weeklong initiative designed to introduce students to careers they could cultivate close to home. Since its launch in 2018, the effort, hosted by the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Catalent, the Greenville-ENC Alliance, Pitt County Economic Development, and Pitt County Schools, has reached more than 6,000 students."

Read the full article here.

Number 3

CFNC Supporting Students in Unique Circumstances Webinar Series

This webinar discusses how education professionals can support students in unique circumstances, including students with mixed immigration statuses. NCSEAA and CFNC assist students and families as they plan, apply, and pay for college.

Watch the webinar here. To learn more about additional resources, click here.

Number 2

NC Teaching Fellows Program Welcomes Largest Class of Students Since 2017 Restart

"The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission has selected a record 132 individuals to receive North Carolina Teaching Fellows awards for the Class of 2023.

The Teaching Fellows program is a competitive, merit-based forgivable loan program providing tuition assistance of up to $8,250 per year for qualified students committed to teaching special education, science, technology, engineering or math in a North Carolina public school. The purpose of the program is to recruit, prepare and support future teachers who attend institutions of higher education in North Carolina.

These 132 awards are the largest number given since the reconstitution of the program in 2017. The group includes 75 high school seniors, 34 college transfer students and 23 licensure-only students. Award recipients hail from 90 different cities and towns representing 53 counties across the state."

Read the full press release here.

Number 1

New North Carolina School Behavioral Health Action Plan Aims to Address Youth Health Crisis

"The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, today released the North Carolina School Behavioral Health Action Plan to address the urgent mental and behavioral health crisis facing youth through key investments in our schools.

Schools play a critical role in supporting the health of students by providing convenient access to behavioral health supports for youth. This is particularly important in North Carolina, as more than half of its youth with mental health disorders do not currently receive necessary care and more than half of the state’s counties do not have a child psychiatrist."

Read the full press release here.