NCDPI Partner Spotlight: Stay Connected & Inspired with Carolina K-12!

Carolina K–12 invites educators to stay connected through its growing community on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, where teachers can find classroom inspiration, professional learning opportunities, and updates on upcoming events. From fresh lesson ideas to timely resources and retreat announcements, these platforms help educators stay informed and supported throughout the year.

Educators are also encouraged to explore Carolina K-12’s free K-12 lesson database, which offers standards-aligned resources across content areas. 

NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Learning Happens Here: Teacher Ambassadors

Applications for the Learning Happens Here: Teacher Ambassadors program open this January, offering K–12 public school teachers across North Carolina a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with the state’s rich cultural and natural resources.

Through this program, educators partner with the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) to experience the educational power of historic sites, museums, state parks, aquariums, the zoo, the symphony, and more. Selected Teacher Ambassadors participate in exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences that deepen their understanding of how these institutions support teaching and learning beyond the classroom.

Ambassadors also receive:

• Stipends
• Travel assistance
• Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

The program is designed to help teachers bring history, culture, science, and the arts to life—creating meaningful, place-based learning experiences for students across the state.

Attention Teachers of American History: Civic Literacy

~Did you know that there are 13 Founding Principles required by N.C. law to be taught in the Founding Principles of The United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy?

~Are you currently teaching all 13 of the “Principles” which have been identified by the N.C. General Assembly?

If you would like to learn more about the Founding Principles contained in the legislation and discuss some ways in which you might be able to make sure all of them are incorporated in your curriculum, consider taking the Founding Principles course in Canvas. You will earn 2.0 CEUs and reflect on some of the Founding Principles you may already be teaching as well as plan ways to integrate those you are not currently teaching.

If interested, fill out this form. When asked the name of the course, put in “Founding Principles”. The course will run from Feb 16 - May 29.

Contact Tom Daugherty with any questions.

NC DNCR Workshop: RIVERS AND RESISTANCE: FREEDOM SEEKING IN EASTERN NC

Join the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources (DNCR) for a FREE, Immersive Teacher Workshop: RIVERS AND RESISTANCE: FREEDOM SEEKING IN EASTERN NC on Friday, April 10–Sunday, April 12 (with a Virtual Kick-Off on March 26). Middle and high school teachers of all disciplines are invited to an immersive, cross-disciplinary weekend exploring how enslaved people carved pathways to liberation through North Carolina’s waterways, swamps, and landscapes. Discover powerful stories of resilience and resistance through tours, discussions, and hands-on activities that integrate science, nature, history, and culture. Earn 2.0 CEUs in this new pilot (and FREE) experience offered by DNCR, in partnership with Carolina K-12. This place-based learning opportunity includes:

Private tours of DNCR's Historic Edenton & Somerset Place

Guided canoe tour on the Cashie River led by staff at DNCR's North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

• Private performance of spiritual and freedom songs by Mary D. Williams
• Foodways workshop and lunch with award-winning Chef Adé Carrena
•  Keynote by Antwain K. Hunter
• 2.0 CEUs, lodging & a $100 stipend
• Space is limited.

2026 Belfer National Conference for Holocaust Education

June 22–24, 2026

The 2026 Belfer National Conference will be held online from June 22 to 24, 2026. By attending his free online conference, you will gain impactful strategies for delivering accurate and meaningful Holocaust education to all students.

With guidance from experienced historians and educators, explore how to bring artifacts from the Museum’s collection into your classroom. Inspire all students to think critically about how and why the Holocaust happened using lessons and resources that support instruction across subject areas.

Conference sessions will cover a variety of topics, including teaching Holocaust history and literature using primary source artifacts, modifying instruction for different student needs, and examining new research that enhances our understanding of history.

Free Resources

You will receive books in the mail that will be referenced during the conference, along with other classroom resources. (Available for teachers with a US or US territory mailing address only. While supplies last.)

Benefits

• Participation is easy, free, and accessible for all.
• Real-time attendance isn’t necessary; participate during live sessions or watch recordings later. 
• Learning can continue after the conference, with six months to further explore featured content on your personal dashboard.
• Earn 24 hours of professional development.

Opportunities from the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources (DNCR) 

Planting the Seeds of Learning: Four Schools Win Heirloom Apple Trees

Each year, educators across North Carolina have the opportunity to apply for DNCR’s Horne Creek Living Historical Farm’s Apple Trees for Schools program. Winners of the essay contest receive four heirloom apple trees grafted from the site’s Southern Heritage Apple Orchard to plant at their schools.

As Kevin Hauser of Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery explains, “Instructional school gardens/orchards are a way of introducing children to the wonders of the natural world, the healthy eating habits of home-grown produce, and the joy of harvesting the fruits of their own labor. The costs are miniscule, and the benefits last for a lifetime.”

Interest in the program soared this year, with more than thirty educators submitting essays for the 2025–26 grant cycle. The quality of submissions was outstanding, making the competition fierce. Traditionally, one school is selected, but thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, four schools will receive trees this year.

North Carolina History Day Registration Now Open!

National History Day in North Carolina (https://www.dncr.nc.gov/nchistoryday) is a transformative project-based learning program engaging over 6,500 middle and high school students across North Carolina each year. Through hands-on historical research and innovative project-based learning, it fosters critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills. Registration is now open for all regional contests! Middle and high school students can compete in one of eight regions across the state, with the opportunity to qualify for the state and national level competitions later this spring. Are you interested in learning more about the program while supporting this year’s young historians?  Sign up as a judge at a regional or state contest this spring! No experience is needed and CEUs can be provided to teachers who participate as judges. To learn more about contest registration for students or about judging, please email nchistoryday@dncr.nc.gov.

Thomas Day State Historic Site Outreach Programs Are Now Available!

With over 200 years of history, Thomas Day State Historic Site tells the story of Thomas Day, a free Black cabinet maker who lived and worked during the mid-19th century in Milton, North Carolina. He relied on the labor of enslaved and apprenticed individuals to operate one of the largest furniture shops in the state.

The site is now offering standards-aligned programs for 4th, 8th, and 9th-12th grade levels, running for an hour and a half in length. Programs are centered around the following:

• Free Black North Carolinians
• Enslavement in North Carolina
• Black artisanship
• 19th-century woodworking techniques
• Primary source analysis

If you are interested in bringing Thomas Day State Historic Site to your classroom, or would like more information, please contact Education Coordinator Madison Gibbs at madison.gibbs@dncr.nc.gov or (336) 592-8125.

NC Council on Economic Education: K-12 Family Financial Fun Nights 

The North Carolina Council on Economic Education (NCCEE) offers Family Financial Fun Nights, interactive, school-based events that bring financial literacy to life for students and families. Typically held in the evening, these engaging sessions feature hands-on activities that introduce key financial concepts such as budgeting, saving, earning income, investing, and insurance in fun, age-appropriate ways for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, including those enrolled in the Economics and Personal Finance Course (EPF).

While students explore financial decision-making through games and activities, parents and caregivers gain access to practical resources on choosing bank accounts, reducing debt, building credit, and strengthening overall financial well-being. Each event is designed to ensure that every family member walks away with tools they can use right away.

Schools provide the audience, and NCCEE provides the experience. Family Financial Fun Nights can easily be paired with existing school events such as PTA meetings, STEM nights, seasonal festivals, or curriculum showcases. Schools interested in hosting an event are encouraged to contact NCCEE to learn more about bringing this engaging opportunity to their community.

Sign-up to be a North Carolina History Day Judge!

National History Day in North Carolina, managed by DNCR for over 30 years, is a transformative project-based learning program engaging over 6,500 middle and high school students across North Carolina each year. Through hands-on historical research and innovative project-based learning, it fosters critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills.

Are you interested in learning more about the program while supporting this year’s young historians?  Sign up as a judge at one of our eight regional contests or the state-level competition this spring! No judging experience is needed. CEUs can be provided to teachers who participate as judges. To learn more about judging please email nchistoryday@dncr.nc.gov.

Apply for the Gilder Lehrman History: Teacher of the Year Award

The  2026 Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year Award honors exceptional elementary and secondary school American history teachers (including state and local history). The national winner receives a $10,000 prize presented at an award ceremony in their honor in New York City. State winners receive a $1,000 prize, an archive of classroom resources, and recognition at a ceremony in their state.

Nominations for the Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year awards are now open. Students, parents, colleagues, and supervisors may nominate K-12 teachers for the award.

Key Deadlines for 2026 Nominations

Deadline for 2026 nominations: April 30, 2026

Spring Webinar Series: Implementing Standards-Based Instruction

Register for the Spring Webinar Series: Implementing Standards-Based Instruction hosted by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. 

The series includes three one-hour webinars:

• Foundations of Standards-Based Instruction- February 10, 2026, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
  Focuses on understanding the review, revision, and implementation phases of standards in North Carolina and creating a learning inventory to support aligned instruction.
• Differentiating Standards-Based Instruction- March 10, 2026, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
  Guides participants through key components of differentiation and strategies to support the needs of all learners.
• Aligning Standards-Based Instruction- April 14, 2026, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
  Supports educators in creating standards-aligned performance tasks and understanding how standards are addressed, taught, and assessed.

SBI Registration Flyer.pdf

• Achieving Educational Excellence: Connections to the North Carolina Strategic Plan
• Advocacy for MLs within the School System
• Assessment and Data
• Dual Language/Immersion
• Family and Community Engagement
• Harnessing AI to Support Language Acquisition
• Improving Language and Literacy Instruction for MLs
• Instructional Collaboration
• ML Leadership
• Newcomers and Specialized Populations

Questions can be sent to susan.walz@dpi.nc.gov. We truly appreciate your willingness to share your expertise with colleagues across the state and look forward to your participation!

State-Wide Professional Learning Micro-Credential Pathways for Educators

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Digital Learning and School Connectivity is opening an interest application for upcoming state-wide professional learning micro-credential pathways for educators. These pathways support job-embedded professional learning aligned to statewide priorities in artificial intelligence, data privacy, digital citizenship, and student knowledge construction.

Seats are limited, and this form is intended to gauge interest only; completion does not guarantee enrollment. To ensure equitable access, each Public School Unit (PSU) will be prioritized for one seat per pathway before additional participants from the same PSU are considered, based on availability. Educators will be asked to rank their pathway preferences to support placement if a first-choice pathway reaches capacity.

All cohorts will run from March 1 through May 31. Available Professional Learning Pathways include:

• Basic AI for Educators
• Basic AI for K–2 Classrooms
• Basic AI for 3–5 Classrooms
• Basic AI for 6–8 Classrooms
• Basic AI for 9–12 Classrooms
• Data Privacy for Educators
• Digital Citizenship in the Curriculum
• Student Knowledge Construction in the Curriculum

Please share this opportunity with educators in your PSU who may be interested and encourage them to complete the interest form.

Additional details, including selection notifications and next steps, will be shared after interest submissions have been reviewed.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting high-quality, flexible professional learning opportunities across North Carolina.

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