Number 10

Complete the 2026 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey by March 31

The 2026 NC Teacher Working Conditions (TWC) Survey is now open and will close on Tuesday, March 31. As a reminder, schools must reach a 50% completion rate to receive data back.

Educators will take the survey using a unique survey code that they will receive from their school-level coordinator. 

Find additional information on the 2026 NC TWC Survey here. 

Additional information on the 2026 NC TWC Survey can be found at nctwcs.org.

Number 9

CFNC Resources for Decision Day

Decision Day is coming up on May 1, and College for North Carolina (CFNC) has resources to help you prepare!

Whether students have decided to go to college, enlist in the military or enter the workforce, high school seniors deserve to celebrate their choices. 

CFNC has put together a handy toolkit with event ideas and templates for invites, celebratory social media posts, and a blank pennant.

If you want to highlight your seniors but don't know what to do, check out the toolkit.

And if you need other ideas, we have two articles to help you out. One gives an overview of Decision Day, along with some examples from real schools. The other is a profile of a Decision Day event held at the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (Glow Academy) last Spring.

Number 8

NC House and Senate Programs Accepting Applications

North Carolina high school students can experience state government up close through the NC House and Senate Page Programs for the 2026 Session. This four-day program gives students the opportunity to learn how laws are made and see the legislative process in action. Current sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply.

Learn more about the Senate Page Program and apply here.

Learn more about the House Page Program and apply here. 

Number 7

Apply to Teach at North Carolina Governor's School

The North Carolina Governor's School is accepting applications for a variety of teaching and support positions for the 2026 summer session which runs from June 21 to July 18, with staff arriving one week before students to begin orientation.

Position availability, job descriptions and the application are available on the NC Governor’s School website.

If you have employment questions, contact ncgovschool@dpi.nc.gov.

Number 6

Excellence in North Carolina Public Schools: Celebrating Three Historic Achievements

Statewide milestones are built by local school communities – and North Carolina broke not one, not two, but THREE academic records last school year!

In 2024-25, NC students achieved:
🎓 Highest cohort graduation rate in state history: 87.7%
📚 Record AP participation/performance: 90,000 testers; 72.1% qualifying for college credit
🛠️ Record CTE participation/credentials: 36.1% participation; 380,000 credentials earned

Thank you to the students, staff and families of North Carolina for investing in our schools and helping our state achieve educational excellence.

Number 5

Video: Find Your Fit, Build Your Future - How High School Sports Help Students Reach Goals

A passion discovered in public school can lead anywhere. Jennifer Chang found her fit at Athens Drive High (Wake County Public School System) —and now she’s a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.

Watch the video and hear from Jennifer here. 

Number 4

2026 Student Advisory Council Applications Now Open

Calling all rising juniors (current 10th graders) in high school! Apply today to serve as a Student Advisor on State Superintendent Mo Green's Student Advisory Council. If you are interested in state K-12 education issues, advocating on behalf of peers and serving as an advisor to decision-makers in K-12 education, this opportunity is for you!

Learn more about the Student Advisory Council and apply here. The application closes on May 1. 

Number 3

Catawba County Schools CTO Named 2026 North Carolina Technology Director of the Year

Congratulations to Marty Sharpe, Chief Technology Officer for Catawba County Schools, on being selected as the 2026 North Carolina Technology Director of the Year. The announcement was made at the NCTIES Conference, March 3-5, in Raleigh.

Sharpe also received the ISTE "Making IT Happen" Award, honoring educators who demonstrate extraordinary commitment and innovation in transforming education through technology.

Sharpe's impact reaches far beyond his district. He shares ideas openly, leads conversations on responsible AI in classrooms, and models what thoughtful EdTech leadership looks like — helping shape how educators across the state think about technology in teaching and learning.

Number 2

Celebrate the Good Blog: "Where NC Public Schools Can Take You"

"As we close out Find Your Fit, Build Your Future: Celebrating Choice in NC Public Schools, we’re ending where this initiative has pointed all along: North Carolina public schools are launchpads.

Every day across our state, students walk into classrooms, labs, studios, gyms and auditoriums that open doors. They explore Career and Technical Education pathways, audition for specialized arts programs, compete in athletics, earn industry credentials and college credits — all at local public schools, completely tuition free.

When students find their fit, incredible things can happen.

A student in Catawba County Schools can grow up to star in a global streaming series, like Drew Starkey of Outer Banks. A student in Cumberland County Schools can channel creativity into a music career that resonates worldwide, like J. Cole. A student from South Caldwell High can turn a love of music into a nationally recognized career, like Eric Church. A graduate of A.C. Reynolds High in Buncombe County can do the same, like Luke Combs.

Students in Wake County, Guilford County, Durham Public Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and districts across the state have gone on to excel in film, television, music, athletics, writing and public service. From Ken Jeong (Walter Hines Page Senior High School) to Reneé Rapp (Northwest School of the Arts), from Michael Jordan (Emsley A. Laney High School) to Drake Maye (Myers Park High School), from leaders like Governor Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson (both Chapel Hill High School) — their journeys began in local public schools surrounded by educators who saw potential and programs designed to nurture it."

Read the full blog post here. 

Number 1

"Wake County Teacher Named NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year"

"The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) proudly announces Molly Todd, a special education teacher at Panther Creek High School in Wake County Public Schools, as the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year. The award was presented at a recognition event held on March 12 at Brendle Recital Hall on the campus of Wake Forest University.

'Molly Todd proves that being a public school educator is not just a job — it is a calling,' State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green noted. 'Great educators give students a grand vision of who they might become, challenge them to do their best and embrace them with unconditional support. All of this year’s finalists deserve to be celebrated, respected and revered for the incredible difference they make in the lives of their students, colleagues and communities.'

Now in its seventh year, this award honors promising beginning educators in North Carolina’s public and charter schools. Prior to the ceremony, finalists attended a week of professional development at the Truist Leadership Institute in Greensboro, NC."

Congratulations, Molly! Read the full press release here.