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Number 10
Register for READBowl 2026 📖
Get ready to join Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Mitchell for READBowl 2026, kicking off Jan. 12! Students from around the world will track reading minutes for a chance to be crowned the Overall World Champion of Reading, while also competing for state and national championships. Even better—the top 25 North Carolina teams will be recognized and celebrated by the Read with Malcolm - Share the Magic Foundation.
Classrooms (in-person, virtual or hybrid), after-school programs, community organizations and youth groups are all eligible. The competition runs from Jan. 12—just ahead of the College Football National Championship—through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8, when Malcolm will officially crown the champions.
Register your class and learn more here.
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Number 9
EdNC: "‘Achieving Educational Excellence’: Strategic Plan for Public Schools Takes Hold Across North Carolina"
"Following the launch of a strategic plan calling for North Carolina public schools to be the best in the nation, Superintendent Mo Green embarked on a tour of the state in fall 2025.
The biggest surprise? Green excels at drone soccer, garnering local support for him to join the Asheboro High School team.
Green and leaders from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI) traveled 1,413 miles, visiting 21 districts, 26 schools including one charter, five construction sites, three community colleges, and two four-year universities, according to a summary report of the tour.
At each stop, Green asked educators and stakeholders a simple question: 'Where do you see yourselves in the plan?'
The answers to that question were important because, as the superintendent told those he met along the way, 'It’s not just Mo Green’s plan.'”
Read the full story here.
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Number 8
Golden LEAF Schools Initiative Request for Proposals
The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative's Personalized, Competency-Based Education, Cohort #2, is live now. Eligible schools are invited to apply through 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18.
The RFP includes details about the initiative and cohort, application materials and links to upcoming informational webinars.
Find the RFP and additional information here.
Questions? Email rachel.wrightjunio@dpi.nc.gov or jay.johnson@dpi.nc.gov.
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Number 7
Celebrate the Good Blog - "Celebrating Award-Winning School and Summer Nutrition Programs"
"The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Office of School Nutrition and the Carolina Hunger Initiative recently recognized North Carolina Summer Nutrition Champions for their efforts with NC SUN Meal Programs last summer. Over 850,000 North Carolina K-12 public school students rely on the nutritious meals and snacks served during the school year through the school breakfast, school lunch and afterschool meals programs. NC SUN Meal Program sponsors provide nutritious meals and educational enrichment to youth ages 18 and under when school is out.
N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs, SUN Meals and SUN Meals To-Go, are administered by the NCDPI Office of School Nutrition, with federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). NCDPI collaborates with public school units, charter and non-public schools, public and private nonprofit organizations and other community partners to serve as program sponsors. Sponsors are eligible to receive federal reimbursement for all qualifying meals and snacks served to children."
Read the full blog post here.
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Number 5
EdNC Perspective Piece from State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis: "We Need You to Help Us Have the Nation’s Best Local Public Schools"
"As we head into 2026, for the first time in nearly a decade, a unified step has been taken to declare our commitment to our children — the adoption of the North Carolina Public Schools Strategic Plan: Achieving Educational Excellence — in which we dare to proclaim our commitment to have the finest schools in our nation by 2030.
The task of building educational excellence for all lies with all leaders across our state, in roles large and small. In this effort, none of us can remain unaligned. To reach educational excellence, none can be uncommitted. It will take a different way of working together. Instead of burying one’s adversary, we must work collaboratively and leverage our differences, because we achieve so much more when we work as a team.
In fact, educational excellence will not be achieved by dramatic victories. Educational excellence is a daily, monthly process — steadily growing our educators’ skills and constantly increasing access and opportunities for all students."
Read the full article here.
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Number 4
Character Education Webinar: February Kindness Campaign
Join NCDPI's Office of Academic Standards as they launch February’s Character Challenge: #KindnessMattersNC — a month-long celebration dedicated to spreading kindness, compassion and positivity across North Carolina schools and communities. This initiative helps teachers, leaders, students and families weave kindness into everyday life.
Learn how to:
- Integrate daily acts of kindness into morning meetings and content-area classes
- Use daily videos and journal prompts for reflection and writing activities
- Encourage students to create and share kindness stories of their own
Register for the webinar here.
Learn more about the February Kindness Matters campaign here.
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Number 2
Finalists Announced for NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award
Twenty-seven educators from across North Carolina have been selected as finalists for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award:
- Anna Sophia Steinki, Alamance-Burlington Schools
- Lindsay Annis, Beaufort County Schools
- Sarah Hersee, Brevard Academy
- Kennedy Elmore, Cabarrus County Schools
- Georgia Juhnke, Caldwell County Schools
- Zoe Couloumbis, Capital Encore Academy
- Amanda (Mandy) Rundgren, Carolina Charter Academy
- Emma Poovey, Catawba County Schools
- Arjge Brothers, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Morgan Dudley, Cherokee County Schools
- Amber Autry, Cumberland County Schools
- Lydia Surprenant, Currituck County Schools
- Kaitlyn Fletcher, Davie County Schools
- Lena Dallas, Haywood County Schools
- Sarah Schwartz, Henderson County Public Schools
- Marquitta Lassiter, Hertford County Schools
- Lillian (Lily) Hartsell, Lenoir County Public Schools
- Caroline Beam, Lincoln County Schools
- Erica (Sydney) Puente, Nash County Public Schools
- Allison Hancock, New Hanover County Schools
- Rebeckah Goras, Orange County Schools
- Sophia Foster, Pender County Schools
- Ashley Hutchins, Randolph County Schools
- Rhyane Jacobs, Public Schools of Robeson County
- Molly Todd, Wake County Schools
- Hester Claire Linville, Watauga County Schools
- Ellie McPherson, Whiteville City Schools
Congratulations to the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year finalists!
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Number 1
Celebrate the Good Blog - "2025 Points of Pride" and "2026 New Year's Resolutions"
As last year came to a close, we asked our North Carolina Teacher and Principal of the Year networks to share their highlights from 2025.
Read their 2025 Points of Pride here.
The new year ahead offers limitless possibilities for North Carolina public school students, educators and staff members. Below, our North Carolina Teacher and Principal of the Year networks are sharing what they have in store for 2026.
Read their 2026 New Year's Resolutions here.
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