Number 10

2026 Student Advisory Council Applications Due Tomorrow, May 1

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 tomorrow, Friday, May 1.

Number 9

CFNC: "Financial Aid Champions Bring College Within Reach"

"For Elizabeth Navel, a high school counseling coordinator for Cabarrus County Schools, her motivation is crystal clear: making sure students know about their post-secondary possibilities.

Her district is one of 70 schools, districts, or organizations who have received CFNC’s Financial Aid Champion designation, and the whole point is to celebrate those who bring financial aid best practices to the students they serve.

'Ability is not the reason students don’t go to college. The biggest barrier is the perception that college is too expensive, or just not knowing how to manage all the different aspects of an application and the FAFSA,' Navel said. 'I just want to make sure students are getting information and getting the opportunity to ask questions.'

The Financial Aid Champion designation celebrates educators for their hard work using some of the best methods for helping students access financial aid."

Read the full article here. 

Number 8

EdNC: "Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee Discusses Research on Teacher Retention"

"At a quarterly meeting on Tuesday, members of the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee discussed efforts to study teacher retention and provided updates on their advocacy priorities this short session.

The committee is composed of active educators who have been tasked to spend two years advising Gov. Josh Stein and his office on a wide range of educational issues, per an executive order.

The committee met with researchers Jeni Corn and Lam Pham from the North Carolina Collaboratory, a research funding agency that partners with academic institutions to find applications for their findings that can be relayed to lawmakers.

The Collaboratory is in the midst of expanding its K-12 portfolio. Corn said they are kicking off their inquiry into what can be done to retain teachers in North Carolina. During their presentation, researchers said teacher retention is a complex issue, and that persistent issues and resolution efforts are often disconnected between stakeholder groups."

Read the full article here. 

Number 7

Applications Open for 2026-27 NC Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) AI Fellows

Middle and High School Educators: Applications for the 2026-27 cohort of NCBCE AI Fellows are now open! Twenty outstanding middle and high school educators will be selected to serve as AI leaders and mentors in their school communities.

Selected Fellows will receive AI-related virtual and in-person trainings throughout the academic year, ongoing leadership support, a technology mini-grant and be among a strong community of like-minded educators.

Applicants may teach in any subject area. Learn more and apply here. The application closes May 15.

Number 6

English Language Development (ELD) Recognition Award Nominations Due May 17

The NCDPI ML/Title III Team invites districts and charter schools to nominate an outstanding ESL/ELD teacher for the 2025-2026 English Language Development (ELD) Recognition Award (ERA). Now in its third year, the ERA honors NC public school ESL/ELD teachers who have demonstrated excellence in their practice.

Each district or charter school uses an internal selection process to identify one nominee and complete a portfolio packet, which must be submitted via the nomination form on or before May 17, 2026. Portfolio Guidelines and a Rubric are available to guide the process.

The ERA winner will be announced by Chief Academic Officer Dr. Stacey Wilson-Norman at the NCDPI Growing Success for MLs Summer Conference in Johnston County, June 23-25, 2026.

Learn more about the ELD Recognition Award and access key nomination materials here.

Number 5

"Friday Institute to Serve as Administrative Lead and Strategic Research Partner for Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education"

"The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation will serve as the administrative lead and strategic research partner for the newly formed Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education, supporting the coordination, convening and evidence development behind its work. The Commission is an historic bipartisan coalition studying the structure and implementation of public education in North Carolina. They are tasked with examining teacher training and student advancement, administrative operations, educational leadership and accountability.

The 29-member Commission was jointly authorized and appointed by Gov. Stein through Executive Order No. 34 and by President Pro Tempore of the Senate Phil Berger and Speaker of the House of Representatives Destin Hall through an authorization letter. The Commission is co-chaired by Anne Faircloth, president of Buffalo Investments & Lafayette Farms, and Don Martin, chair of the Forsyth County Commissioners and former school superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools."

Read more here. 

Number 4

NCDPI Leader Published in North Carolina Medical Journal: "From Pilot to Infrastructure: How North Carolina’s Project AWARE/ACTIVATE Is Transforming School-Based Mental Health"

NCDPI's Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) Director, Dr. Heidi Austin, was recently published in the North Carolina Medical Journal, highlighting the transformative work happening in school behavioral health. 

"Youth mental health needs are increasing, and access to services remains uneven across North Carolina. Schools represent a critical access point for prevention, early identification, and intervention. North Carolina implemented Project AWARE/ACTIVATE to build coordinated school-based mental health infrastructure across diverse districts. This commentary includes a policy and implementation analysis that integrates program documentation and evaluation findings from six pilot Local Education Agencies participating in Project AWARE/ACTIVATE."

Read the full publication here. 

Number 3

NC Association of School Administrators (NCASA) Video: "A Golden Celebration: Five Decades Of Service To Public Education"

The North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA) produced an informative documentary outlining the evolution of public education in North Carolina from 1976 through 2026. From desegregation to the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, this documentary highlights the major issues that have shaped the state’s public schools the past 50 years and features some of the key leaders who have been involved with each wave of changes affecting K-12 staff and students.

Watch the video here. 

Number 2

Nearly 600 NC Schools Receive Recognition for Extraordinary Support of Military Students, Families

"North Carolina has long been home to a large population of active duty, guard, reserve and veteran armed service members. In recognition of the state’s rich military history, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is pleased to recognize hundreds of schools as part of its Purple Star Award Designation initiative which first launched in the 2019-20 school year.

For the 2025-26 school year, 598 schools, including 15 charter schools, received Purple Star recognition, an increase of 143 schools over last year’s total awardees. In all, 34 districts across North Carolina are represented and 145 schools are first time awardees.

Award recipients were honored April 24 at a ceremony that included remarks from North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice "Mo" Green; Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, and Colonel Timothy Drieselein, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station – Cherry Point.

Public school units who have received the award for five to seven consecutive years were also honored at the ceremony. Harnett County Schools, Alpha Academy and Anderson Creek Academy received legacy plaques for receiving the award for seven consecutive years since the program’s inception in 2019-20."

Read the full press release and see the full list of awarded schools and districts here. Congratulations and thank you to all our PSUs who make this extra effort for their military-connected students and families! 

Number 1

Onslow County High School Teacher Named 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year

"Cason Justice, a history teacher at Swansboro High School, was named the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made today at an awards luncheon honoring Justice and eight other regional finalists at the Umstead Hotel in Cary.

State Superintendent Maurice 'Mo' Green said educators like Justice exemplify North Carolina’s commitment to make our public schools the best in the nation.

'Mr. Justice approaches teaching with a level of dedication and excellence that creates results,' Green said. 'Through his intentional lessons and investment outside of the classroom, Mr. Justice encourages his students and colleagues to reach their full potential.'

A National Board Certified Teacher and North Carolina Teaching Fellow, Justice inspires his students to be active participants in their education by 'doing' history with lessons such as an archeology dig and a 'WWI Dodgeball Battle.' A 13-year veteran educator, Justice serves beyond the classroom as a mentor teacher, strategic planning team chair and teacher leadership council member at Swansboro High School. As the advisor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since his start at Swansboro High School, the program has grown from 15 to 250 students where he encourages them to be strong student leaders."

Read the full press release here. Congratulations, Mr. Justice!