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Number 10
District Highlight: Public Schools of Robeson County - EdNC: "In Robeson County, Closing Gaps in Student Learning is a Team Effort"
"Now in his 27th year in education, Aaron Locklear is the assistant principal of Piney Grove Elementary School.
He began his career with the Public Schools of Robeson County (PSRC) as a seventh grade math teacher. Earlier in his journey as a classroom teacher, Locklear recalled an assistant principal stating that their duties as an administrator consisted of 'buses, books, and discipline.'
Now, Locklear’s position as assistant principal does include responsibilities such as coordinating buses, testing, and other tasks. However, he the role is also actively engaged in instruction, pushing into classrooms just as much as academic coaches and principals.
'We have more of a strategic role in being a part of the instructional leadership, not just the managerial piece,' Locklear said.
This shift is in alignment with one of the county’s initiatives to develop principals as instructional leaders, as noted in the 2023-28 PSRC strategic plan."
Read the full story here.
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Number 9
Applications Open for the North Carolina Holocaust Educator Seminar in Poland 2026
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) will sponsor five teacher spots to attend the Holocaust Educator Seminar in Poland, scheduled for July 19-27, 2026. Most expenses for the trip, including flights, lodging, some meals and activities, will be included. Selected participants would return with significant expertise in the fields of Holocaust and Genocide Education. Preference will be given to middle and high school English and social studies educators.
The deadline to apply is January 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Find the application here. Selected teachers will be notified by February 2, 2026.
For additional details on programming, last year's schedule can be found here. Please direct any questions to Karen Sumner at karen.sumner@nccat.org.
Find more information on this program here.
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Number 8
K-12 Math Standards Draft 1 Stakeholder Review and Feedback - Deadline Dec. 17
The NCDPI K-12 Math team is excited to announce the release of the first draft of proposed revisions to the K-12 Math Standard Course of Study. North Carolina State Board of Education policy specifies that the NC Department of Public Instruction will formally collect feedback on the proposed draft standards from educators, administrators, parents, students, institutions of higher education, business/industry representatives, national organizations and other education agencies.
The purpose of this survey is to obtain input from all stakeholders regarding the proposed K-12 Math Standards and to inform any additional revisions, which may include changes, clarifications, additions, deletions or replacements to the draft standards.
Provide feedback on the proposed K-12 Math Standards here.
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Number 7
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.
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Number 6
District Highlight: Bertie County Schools - CBS Mornings: "High School Coach in North Carolina Helps Tackle Mental Health"
Check out this story from CBS Mornings featuring mental health coach Rwenshaun Miller, who's working hard to help the Bertie High School football players win on and off the field.
Watch the video news segment here.
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Number 5
NCVPS Expands Course Offerings for Spring 2026
NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is expanding its catalog for the Spring 2026 semester to give districts additional options in world languages and advanced coursework. These updates are designed to support schools facing staffing gaps or looking to broaden opportunities for students.
Three new world language courses—Arabic I, Japanese IV Honors and Korean I—have been added to the Spring Standard Start calendar and are now available in the registration system. These additions strengthen access to less commonly taught languages and help districts meet growing demand for global studies.
Two new Advanced Placement courses are also being offered: AP Computer Science A will be offered for both Spring Early Start and Spring Standard Start, and AP Precalculus for Spring Standard Start.
These new offerings expand pathways for students statewide and provide districts with more flexibility in meeting local academic needs.
For more information, visit the NCVPS full catalog webpage.
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Number 4
Governor Stein Proclaims Dec. 8-12 Computer Science, IT and Technology Education Week
Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed that Dec. 8-12 is Computer Science, IT and Technology Week. This call-to-action spotlights how computer science powers AI innovation—and why tech skills are essential as AI reshapes our world.
Read the full proclamation here.
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Number 3
NCDPI Office of Exceptional Children Consultant for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Virginia Madorin Featured in UNCG Magazine: UNCG Deaf Education Alumna Makes an Impact
"With at least 1,500 deaf students throughout North Carolina, Virginia Madorin ‘11 serves the Deaf community in her role with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Madorin is currently an IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) consultant in the Office of Exceptional Children and co-director of the North Carolina DeafBlind Project.
In her role with the Office of Exceptional Children, Madorin acts as a Consultant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, providing technical assistance and professional development to educators in the field working with this population. She works closely with districts and individual schools to answer policy questions and with teachers and staff to learn how to close language gaps with deaf students.
Deaf students can find themselves cut off from their families, peers, and even their entire school community because of communication barriers. Her work allows her to try to eliminate, or at least alleviate, those barriers."
Read the full article here.
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Number 2
Celebrate the Good Blog - Reflections from the Strategic Plan Tour
This fall, State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green and other leaders hosted launch events in each region of the state for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education’s joint strategic plan, “Achieving Educational Excellence.” Educators in each region are sharing their reflections about the tour stops.
Find the two most recent reflection posts below:
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Number 1
Perquimans County Schools teacher named NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career & Technical Education Teacher of the Year
"The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) proudly announces Michaelle Overman, a Health Science teacher at Perquimans High School in Perquimans County Schools, as the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career & Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year. The award was presented at a special ceremony held at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
Now in its fourth year, this award recognizes outstanding CTE educators who demonstrate excellence in their profession. Finalists from across North Carolina gathered for a week of professional development prior to the event.
Overman integrates industry recognized certifications and digital badges into her courses to better prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce. One of her students noted, 'she is dedicated to educating students and staff and serving our community.'
Overman doubled participation in her school’s Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA) as an advisor focused on health awareness and community engagement. A member of Perquimans County Emergency Services said, 'What makes Mrs. Overman truly special is her ability to challenge students while meeting them where they are. Her courses are not easy - she pushes students beyond their comfort zones, encouraging them to reach their full potential in ways that are individualized and inspiring.'"
Read the full story here. Congratulations, Mrs. Overman!
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