Number 10

Mo Wants to Know - Superintendent Green's Listening and Learning Tour

State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green’s “Mo Wants to Know” tour is coming to all eight regions of North Carolina this March and April. 

The superintendent is hosting listening and learning sessions with community stakeholders statewide, including the eight public events. All parents, students, educators, school and district staff, public officials and other community members are invited to attend.

Please join Superintendent Green for one of the remaining three Mo Wants to Know sessions: 

• March 31, 6 p.m. - Southeast Region – John J. Blair Elementary School (New Hanover County Schools)
• April 7, 6 p.m. - North Central Region – Northern High School (Durham Public Schools)
• April 9, 6 p.m. - Northeast Region – Northeastern High School (Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools)

Find additional details on the Mo Wants to Know sessions or submit your input online here.

Number 9

Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund

The "Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund" is a program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), in partnership with PBS North Carolina (PBS NC), that provides reimbursements to public schools throughout North Carolina to engage in enriching, experiential field trips at DNCR's 100+ locations around the state!

The Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund will help ensure students from all regions of the state have the opportunity to engage in memorable educational experiences while cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation of North Carolina’s rich history, culture, arts, science and natural resources. By providing financial support through reimbursements for schools to visit DNCR locations around the state, the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund empowers students to connect to what it means to live in and love North Carolina, ultimately helping to cultivate our state’s future leaders and innovators.

Learn more and apply here.

Number 8

Register for NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Summer Opportunities

Join the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) this summer for transformative professional development. These residential programs provide educators with the tools, strategies and support to elevate their teaching. Each week, teachers engage in content-rich instruction, explore proven methodologies and receive coaching to implement new insights effectively. The goal is to empower educators to create classrooms where students are more engaged, self-motivated and successful.

Learn more about the professional development opportunities available at NCCAT this summer and register here.

Number 7

WRAL: "Stein, Green Call for More Public School Investments at Educator Conference"

"North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green took their calls for more public school investment to hundreds of public school leaders Thursday at the Raleigh Convention Center.

This week, the 2025 Conference on Educational Leadership is hosting more than 300 public school administrators from across North Carolina, including superintendents, principals and district-level leaders.

On Thursday morning, Stein presented his education agenda, as outlined in his budget proposal and State of the State address, to applause.

'Where you come from should not limit how far you can go,' he said. 'To deliver on that promise starts in North Carolina's public schools.' ...

Stein called Green 'the champion for public education that we need.'

Green told attendees he wanted to bring 'gratitude, vision and advice' for leaders amid "headwinds" of politics. The U.S. Department of Education has cut half of its employees, as well as hundreds of million dollars in education research and teaching training and recruitment grants. The Trump administration has vowed to close the department and has begun to transfer responsibilities for federal student loans and aid, as well as programs for students with disabilities, to other federal agencies."

Read the full story here.

Number 6

NCVPS: A Solution for Teacher Vacancies in Your District

NCVPS knows that teacher vacancies are a growing challenge across North Carolina, and finding qualified replacements quickly can be a significant strain on resources. NCVPS is here to offer a proven solution: NCVPS' teacher-driven online courses.

When a district faces unexpected teacher losses, NCVPS can step in immediately to ensure students remain on track. These highly qualified North Carolina-certified teachers deliver high-quality instruction in over 135 courses, including core, AP and elective options. These courses provide continuity and stability for students during transitions, preventing disruptions to their learning experience.

With over 750 teachers each semester, NCVPS' teaching pool is deep and well-qualified: 67% with master’s degrees, 69% are national board certified and 100% are highly qualified.

Districts that partner with NCVPS benefit from personalized support, flexibility in enrollment and the assurance of working with an organization nationally recognized for quality by Quality Matters. Whether it’s a single course or an entire section, NCVPS can quickly group students with experienced teachers to meet your immediate staffing needs.

NCVPS would love to hear from you. Contact NCVPS at info@ncpublicschools.gov.

Number 5

Watauga Democrat: "Playmakers Shine in National Spotlight, 'Surge' Wins Most Awards in WHS History"

"At the historic Lyric Theatre in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, the lights had yet to fade on the final tableau of Watauga High School’s production of 'Surge' when the entire audience leaped to their feet in a spontaneous standing ovation.

The audible sniffles and sobs from attendees were replaced by whistles and cheers as the applause continued well after the house lights came up.

This was the seventh and final performance of the original work devised in the fall of 2024 by the Pioneer Playmakers in the weeks following Hurricane Helene and the third time in four years that WHS has been selected to represent North Carolina at the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC), the 'strongest and broadest network of theatre practitioners in the United States.

At the Secondary School Gala 'Surge' captured five awards including three 'All Star Acting and Composition' awards for students Kyleigh Hogan, Clara Lappan, Liliana Lemus; 'Best Original Play Concept' and the coveted 'Excellence in Ensemble Acting,' which was the only one presented to any of the 18 schools participating in the festival.

The play was co-directed by WHS drama teachers Sarah Miller and Zach Walker.”

Congratulations, Watauga High Pioneer Playmakers! Read the full story here.

Number 4

NCDHHS Partners with Hazel Health to Provide Virtual Mental Health Services for K-12 Students in North Carolina

"The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced students across North Carolina will soon have access to high-quality, virtual mental health care through Hazel Health. This initiative, supported through an investment by UnitedHealthcare, is part of a broader effort announced last year to provide virtual school-centered mental health care for up to one million students across select states nationwide.

Through this initiative, nearly 400,000 students – amounting to almost 30% of North Carolina’s K-12 student population – will have access to Hazel Health’s mental health services. Once Hazel is implemented, any student who is enrolled within participating districts will be able to access one of Hazel’s on-staff, licensed therapists before, during and after the school day. Hazel Health services will go live in late March 2025, beginning with Harnett County Schools and Durham Public Schools, with more districts to be added in the coming weeks."

Read the full press release here.

Number 3

EdNC: "ApprenticeshipNC Explores Ways to Expand the State’s Labor Market"

"Over 250 apprenticeship stakeholders gathered in Durham March 10-11 for the 2025 ApprenticeshipNC Conference. The two-day event provided opportunities for leaders to “share best practices and explore strategies to expand North Carolina’s labor market through Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs,” a press release says.

This year’s keynote speaker was North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein. During his address, Stein said the goal is to set the national base for growing more skilled workers for businesses and more career opportunities for young people.

'No state will outwork North Carolina in workforce development while I am your governor,' Stein said.

During Stein’s recent State of the State address, he listed several goals and priorities related to apprenticeships in North Carolina, including doubling the number of apprentices over the next four years and the creation of a Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships 'to unite our community colleges, public schools, and local businesses around our shared goal of getting more people access to good jobs with good wages.'”

Read the full story here.

Number 2

Northern High Team Wins 2025 North Carolina Jr. Chef Cook-Off

"While five high school finalist teams competed in the annual North Carolina Jr. Chef cook-off this month to create unique school lunch entrée recipes, the “Knights of Culinary” team from Durham Public Schools’ Northern High won first place in the 2025 NC Jr. Chef Competition. Their chipotle beef and sweet potato Skillet won top honors in the competition and a silver medal.

The Northern High team worked to create a hearty, tasty and nutritious recipe that they and their student peers would love. The Jr. Chefs sauteed ground beef, onions and peppers with a variety of spices and added roasted corn, collard greens and sweet potatoes. They topped off the recipe with cheese and a homemade avocado jalapeno crema. The recipe featured North Carolina-grown beef, onions, peppers, collard greens and sweet potatoes."

Congratulations to the "Knights of Culinary" team from Northern High! Read the full press release here.

Number 1

Statement from State Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green on the Executive Order to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

"President Trump's recent executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education and "return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely", if effectuated, has significant implications for North Carolina's public schools. While education funding in North Carolina is primarily provided at the state and local levels, federal funding provides 10.9% of the state's budget for public schools. The federal government provides over $1 billion to support public school students, including services for students with disabilities, children from low-income families and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Those federal dollars fund more than 14,000 teacher and other educator positions (7.6% of our education workforce) across the state.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is continuing to monitor federal executive orders and actions, maintain regular communication with districts and schools to understand and assist with immediate needs and concerns, and advocate for continued federal funding without disruptions.

While I fully acknowledge that this executive order, especially when coupled with other federal pronouncements and actions impacting public education, is unsettling, my commitment to North Carolina's 1.5 million students remains unwavering. I am confident that by working together – educators, families, communities and policymakers – we will continue advancing educational excellence for every student in our state."