Number 10

October is National Principals Month

October is National Principals Month! To all our principals, from Murphy to Manteo, we appreciate your dedication and commitment to your staff, students, families and the communities where you serve. You are admired, respected and valued.

Be sure to take time this month to show some love to your principals for all they do!

Number 9

EdNC: "The 2026-27 FAFSA is Open. Here’s What You Need to Know"

"The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form opened on Sept. 24, one week ahead of the anticipated Oct. 1 launch. The application will be open until June 30, 2027, but colleges and states often award aid on a first-come, first-served basis.

For priority consideration, submit your FAFSA form by June 1, 2026 for UNC System institutions, by Aug. 15, 2026 for North Carolina community colleges, and as soon as possible for private institutions, according to studentaid.gov.

Completing the form makes current and prospective college students eligible for need-based financial aid including federal Pell Grants, work-study programs, and student loans. Beginning in July 2026, Pell Grants can also be used to cover tuition, fees, and other expenses for short-term workforce training programs.

Many states, including North Carolina, also use the FAFSA to award state grants, and colleges use the FAFSA to award their own scholarships. In North Carolina, submitting the FAFSA is a prerequisite for receiving the Next NC Scholarship, which covers full tuition and fees for all North Carolina community colleges and more than half the cost for public universities for most families making $80,000 a year or less.

Students should complete the FAFSA form every year they plan to receive aid."

Read the full article here.

Number 8

PIO Office Hours Oct. 9

Public Information Officers and Communications Leaders are invited to join open office hours hosted by NCDPI's communications team next Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10 a.m.

Some possible topics of discussion are below, but all topics are welcome!

• 10 Million Books Initiative
• Strategic Plan Regional Tour
• Legislative Updates

If you did not receive an email with meeting information, including the Zoom link, please reach out to communications@dpi.nc.gov. 

Number 7

Register to Crunch! 🍎

Plan ahead for the 2025 #NCCrunch - registration is now live! Through the NC Crunch, kids and adults can taste and learn about North Carolina-grown fruits and vegetables with their schools, early care and education sites, organizations, families and communities for #FarmtoSchoolMonth in October. The NC Crunch is also an opportunity to thank all those involved in feeding our communities.

Sign up to receive a free guide with tips and resources to help you plan for the NC Crunch. In addition to the guide, the NC Crunch logo, flyer, “I crunched” sticker template, social media graphics and more are available at the link below.

Learn more, access free resources and register for the #NCCrunch.

Number 6

Celebrate the Good Blog: "One Year After Helene: From Checkmarks to Tomorrows"

"A year ago, I found hope in the shape of a checkmark beside a name – 475 names in all. Our staff and students, safe after Helene.

Now, one year later, time feels surreal. A reopened gallery signals progress, but one block away a gutted building keeps us captive in September 27, 2024. A sudden loss of cell signal or a flicker of power pulls us back into the silence and panic of those first days. Storm clouds, the smell of wet earth, the empty space where the forest canopy once stretched – time insists on reminding us.

And yet, alongside the weight of grief, there has been so much resilience. Our school, like so many in Western North Carolina, has been carried by an outpouring of love and support. We have dug out of the mud, step by step, arm in arm, finding ways to serve one another even as we grieved ourselves."

Read the full blog post, written by Dr. Sarena Fuller, executive director of ArtSpace Charter School in Swannanoa. Dr. Fuller is the 2024 Wells Fargo NC Charter School Principal of the Year

Number 5

Applications Open for 2025-26 Purple Star Award

In 2019, The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction launched the Purple Star Award Designation initiative to recognize the state’s strong military presence and its support for military families. The Purple Star designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate military-friendly practices and a commitment to military students and families.

Applications for the 2025-25 Purple Star Awards are due on February 1, 2026.

To learn more about the Purple Star Award Designation, email Howard.Lattimore@dpi.nc.gov or visit the Purple Star Award webpage.

Number 4

Register for 2025 Character Education Summit

At this inaugural Character Education Summit on Nov. 3 in Raleigh, attendees will:

• Gain insight into the 11 Principles of Character Education and practical ways to apply them in their school.
• Be inspired by success stories from State and National Schools of Character and learn how they revitalized their school communities.
• Connect with experts and fellow school leaders to deepen their understanding of Character Education.

Learn more and register here.

Number 3

District Highlight: Alexander County Schools - Alexander Central High Educator Wins $50,000 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence

Congratulations to Alexander Central High's (Alexander County Schools) Scottie Cook, who was named a winner of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence on Tuesday morning. Cook, an Agricultural Mechanics teacher, won $35,000 for his school’s program and $15,000 for himself.

A total of $1.5 million was awarded to 25 public high school skilled trades teachers and their programs across the United States. Mr. Cook is the ONLY teacher in North Carolina to receive the award this year.

Watch a video of Mr. Cook being surprised with the award here!

Read the press release from Harbor Freight and learn more about the award here. 

Number 2

Celebrate the Good Blog: "One Year After Helene: Resilience, Step by Step"

"One year ago, Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, leaving behind destruction and heartache that we will never forget. In those first days, it felt as if the storm had taken so much from us: homes, routines and, for a while, our sense of normalcy.

But even in the midst of the storm, something powerful began to emerge. Neighbors became family, strangers became friends and our community showed a kind of resilience that no hurricane could wash away. Helpers showed up from states away to deliver school supplies, clothing, food and cleaning supplies for our families. I’ll never forget the outpouring of love that came to ensure that our children knew they were safe and loved.

One of the most touching moments was when a school team delivered food to a hard-hit neighborhood. As they pulled in, a student standing in the street with friends shouted with joy, 'It’s my school! I told you they would come!' That simple statement captured so much! It demonstrated the trust our students place in us and the deep connection between schools and the communities we serve."

Read the full blog post, written by Karley Wells, Haywood County Schools’ elementary supervisor here. Ms. Wells is the 2025 Wells Fargo Western Regional Principal of the Year.

Number 1

NCDPI Partners with AI Innovation Index, Becoming First State Partner in the Nation

"The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is partnering with the national AI Innovation Index, an initiative of AI for Equity, to measure and accelerate artificial intelligence literacy among PreK-12 students and staff.

This partnership makes North Carolina the first in the nation to establish a statewide program as part of the AI Innovation Index. In addition to AI for Equity, there are 22 nonprofit research and education advocacy organizations supporting the effort.

'This is an exciting step in North Carolina’s journey to having the best public schools in the nation,' said State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. 'NCDPI has been on the forefront of understanding and implementing artificial intelligence in education since its emergence, as have many of our schools and districts. Now, we will be able to measure that innovation and work toward achieving AI literacy for every student and staff member.'

Participation in the AI Innovation Index is voluntary and public school unit (PSU) leaders must opt in via a form on the project’s website, innovate-ai.org."

Read the full press release here.