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Dear Charter School Leaders and Communicators,
Last month, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice "Mo" Green wrote to public school leaders across the state about the 10 Million Book Challenge and the part every public school will play in it. I am following up directly with our charter school community, because this effort only works when charters are fully a part of it.
Here is where we stand. As of today, 29 charter schools have signed on. Our goal is to pass 100 by July 15. North Carolina's 1.5 million public school students include the students you serve every day, and a statewide reading celebration cannot truly be statewide without out you all included in it.
Thank you,
Mark Dessauer
Chief Communications Officer
mark.dessauer@dpi.nc.gov
Molly McGowan Gorsuch
Strategic Partnerships Manager
molly.mcgowangorsuch@dpi.nc.gov
10 Million Book Challenge recap and Activator sign-up
The 10 Million Book Challenge launches in January 2027. The goal: 1.5 million North Carolina public school students, from pre-K through 12th grade and across all 100 counties, read 10 million books together in one year. This is not an instructional mandate. It is not tied to compliance, assessment or individual student tracking. It is a voluntary, joyful, statewide reading celebration built on a simple premise: reading together is something North Carolina can do at a scale no other state has attempted.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) will manage the Challenge Hub platform, the statewide campaign and all statewide marketing. What we need from you is local leadership: a coordinator who connects your school, families and community partners to the statewide effort.
What we need from you: one request
Please designate your school’s Activator team before July 15. For many charter schools this is just one or two people, such as a literacy or curriculum lead and your communications or social media coordinator. Larger schools and networks may add a media or library coordinator. Whoever you choose becomes NCDPI's primary point of contact for toolkit materials, training webinars and platform onboarding.
NCDPI will handle training, materials and support. Your team's job is to know the Challenge is coming, help your school and families hear about it, and celebrate when your school hits milestones.
To register your Activator Coordinator team, send them this link or contact Molly McGowan Gorsuch at molly.mcgowangorsuch@dpi.nc.gov.
Correct QR code for the Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council
Earlier this month, NCDPI announced the launch of the North Carolina State Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council, a statewide group of parent and caregiver leaders who will advise on key priorities and help strengthen family engagement under NCDPI's Strategic Plan. Applications are open now through September 15, 2026, with selected members serving two-year terms and meeting quarterly beginning in November 2026. We would value your partnership to identify, encourage and recommend strong parent and caregiver candidates from your community, and to share this opportunity with families across your school.
You can share this link to the application or the QR code above for parents to apply.
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Update on NCDPI Accountability and Testing Leadership
Dr. Kinge Mbella has been named Director of the Office of Testing, where he will lead the state's testing programs and the development, administration and analysis of our assessments.
Mr. Curtis Sonneman has been named Director of the Office of Accountability, where he will lead school performance reporting, accountability policy and implementation, and our ongoing reform efforts.
Please join me in congratulating Kinge and Curtis on these well-deserved new roles. Thank you for everything you bring to your communities every day.
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