Number 10

Register for the 2026 North Carolina Comprehensive Arts Education Conference

Join the NCDPI Arts Education Team at the North Carolina Comprehensive Arts Education Conference (CAEC) on Saturday, September 26 in Greensboro.

This day-long conference serves as a statewide professional development opportunity for dance, music, theatre and visual arts educators, district arts education leaders, teaching artists, arts integration specialists and pre-service teachers from across North Carolina working in K-12 programs, independent studios, performing arts organizations and higher education institutions.

The mission of this conference is to support the three essential components of the North Carolina Comprehensive Arts Education Model: Arts Education, Arts Integration, and Arts Exposure. Sessions will be centered on the four K-12 Arts Education Standards core strands of Connect, Create, Present and Respond.

Learn more and register for the 2026 CAEC here.

Number 9

Professional Development for Educators Teaching Economics and Personal Finance (EPF)

North Carolina educators who teach or plan to teach Economics and Personal Finance (EPF) can complete the state-required 40-hour professional development this summer through the North Carolina Council on Economic Education.

Led by experienced classroom educators, the EPF Institutes provide practical, standards-aligned instruction, a certificate of completion, a $500 stipend, an opportunity to earn the W!SE Financial Literacy Certification, classroom resources and more for eligible participants.

Click here for information on dates, locations and registration.

Number 8

East Carolina University: "PIRATE Program Builds Community of Future Educators"

"One year ago, Barrett Morris was a recent high school graduate attending the East Carolina University College of Education’s Pirate Institute for Regional Aspiring Teachers and Educators (PIRATE) program. This year, he experienced the other side of the program as a student leader.

'This has been one of the most rewarding opportunities that I have had here at ECU,' said the English education major and Honors College student. 'My favorite experience has been helping the students plan their mini lesson plans. They all are so eager to get in the classroom, and it makes me feel proud for our future generation of teachers.'

Large group of students wearing matching purple T‑shirts gathered outside in front of a campus building, posing around oversized concrete letters 'E C U.' Many people are raising one finger in a hook gesture.
This year’s PIRATE program was attended by 99 high school students from 63 high schools, representing 31 North Carolina counties. (Photos by Kristen Martin)

For three days, almost 100 rising high school juniors, seniors and recent graduates from 31 North Carolina counties immersed themselves into life as an education major at ECU. Participants experienced all facets of college life including spending the night in Clement Residence Hall, eating meals in West End Dining Hall, playing games in the Eakin Student Recreation Center, and going to presentations and classes."

Read the full article here. 

Number 7

EdNC: "What’s Next on North Carolina’s Literacy Journey?"

"Mary Derfel, assistant director of early literacy at North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Office of Early Learning, recently heard Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen describe the dream that shaped his childhood.

'As a kid,' Derfel recalled Hansen saying, “' knew I wanted to go to the moon. What I learned is that I can’t get there by myself, but I can get there with a team.'

Derfel smiled as she shared the story because, in many ways, it captures where North Carolina’s literacy work stands today.

'No one organization can carry this work by itself,' she said. 'Not a school, not a district, not a university, and not even the Department of Public Instruction can do this work alone. If every child is going to become a successful reader, it will take everyone moving in the same direction.'

North Carolina’s literacy journey has reached an important transition point. Over the past several years, much of the state’s energy has centered on implementation. Educators immersed themselves in LETRS training. District leaders examined curriculum and instructional materials. Schools adjusted classroom practices to better reflect decades of reading research, while Early Literacy Specialists worked alongside education leaders to help translate that research into everyday instruction."

Read the full article here. 

Number 6

NCVPS In-Real-Time (IRT) Program - New Course Offerings, Informational Webinar

The North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) In-Real-Time (IRT) program is a synchronous instructional model designed to deliver live, whole-class middle school courses taught by certified North Carolina teachers. 

Courses Currently Available:

• 8th Grade Science, Math, English Language Arts
• 7th Grade Science, Math, English Language Arts
• NC Math 1 (Middle and High)

The IRT program includes the following:

• Partnering schools have the option of selecting from 5-pre-defined, 75-minute session windows to occur 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Partnering schools will be able to personalize the start time of the 45-minute synchronous session within the selected 75-minute window.
• Synchronous instruction taught by a certified NCVPS instructor.
• Accompanying asynchronous modules taught by the same instructor in our Canvas system.
• Continuous student feedback, grading, instructional support, additional resources, etc.

Learn more at the informational webinar on July 30 at 11 a.m. Register for the webinar here. 

Find additional details on the IRT program, including an interest form, here. 

Number 5

District Highlight - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: "School Nutrition Association’s Annual Conference Session Shines a Light on CMS School Nutrition Services"

"The School Nutrition Association hosted its Annual National Conference 2026 in Charlotte from July 12-14, bringing together more than 6,000 school nutrition professionals from across the nation to learn, network and discover new tools, ideas and inspiration needed to elevate school meal programs and support student success.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ School Nutrition Services team hosted a pre-conference session titled “Harvest It. Store It. Serve It. Carolina Style!” on Saturday, July 11, giving participants an inside look at how CMS and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services work together to bring farm-fresh, locally made products to students.

'This pre-conference event is such an honor for CMS to showcase what we do best and what we do every day,' said Ashley Lovetere, registered dietician/menu specialist for CMS. 'As one of the biggest districts in the country, people don’t realize that even though we’re huge, we’re still serving local items, local produce to our students every day.'

Sixty attendees had an opportunity to visit McClintock Middle School and tour the CMS Food Distribution Warehouse. At McClintock, guests heard presentations on sourcing, promoting and menus integrating Farm to School and state-made products. There were also product displays and cooking demonstrations for participants to see and taste a meal CMS students are served."

Read the full article here. 

Number 4

Rural Teacher Leader Network 2026-2028 Cohort Accepting Applications

Did you know that 78 of North Carolina’s 100 counties are classified as rural, and our rural public schools serve approximately 40% of students across North Carolina? Geography and resources for our rural educators, however, too often serve as barriers to community building and professional learning opportunities. To address these barriers, the Public School Forum of North Carolina, in collaboration with Appalachian State University’s GEAR UP program has developed the Rural Teacher Leader Network (RTLN).

RTLN was created for rural educators who want to develop as teacher leaders and seek to improve their practice, foster community with teacher leaders developing their own leadership capacity to guide other teachers in their schools. Topics will include but are not limited to opportunities/access, student-centered approaches, policy and teacher leadership in order to provide access and opportunity to all students.

RTLN will bring together up to forty western NC educators with strong potential to create, build upon and accelerate growth in leadership.

Learn more about the RTLN, including eligibility requirements, and apply here. The deadline to apply is July 31. 

Number 3

Appalachian Today: "App State Awarded $1.4M Grant to Strengthen Special Education Workforce in Rural Appalachia"

"This fall, over 100 teacher's assistants, educators and school administrators from Watauga, Caldwell and Catawba counties will take part in a new career pathways program at Appalachian State University that aims to address the shortage of special education teachers in rural Appalachia. The program, which is supported by more than $1.4 million in grant funding through the U.S. Department of Labor, provides tuition assistance, stipends and professional development to support and grow the region’s special education workforce.

According to the latest North Carolina Department of Public Instruction State of the Teaching Profession report, released in April, there were 1,544 K–12 Exceptional Children (EC) teacher vacancies across the state during the 2023–24 academic year — a 28% increase from the previous year. Special education teachers work with students with a wide range of learning, intellectual, emotional, neurological and/or physical disabilities, providing specially designed instruction that meets the students’ individual needs.

'This program represents a transformative opportunity for our region,' said Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of the Reich College of Education. 'By investing in the development of a strong, well-supported special education workforce, we are not only addressing a critical need in our rural communities, we are also creating meaningful career pathways for individuals who are passionate about making a difference.'"

Read the full article here. 

Number 2

NC School Superintendents Association (NCSSA): "Currituck County Schools Superintendent Selected as 2026 NCSSA Dr. Dwayne Stallings Leadership (NERESA) Award Winner"

"The North Carolina School Superintendents' Association (NCSSA) has announced the selection of Dr. Matthew Lutz, Superintendent of Currituck County Schools, as the recipient of the Dr. Dwayne Stallings Leadership Award. The award is presented in honor and recognition of a superintendent who has demonstrated a strong dedication to public education, commitment to academic excellence, and a continual focus on professional growth and student learning.

This award is presented to a superintendent serving a school district in northeast North Carolina who is a member of the Northeast Regional Education Service Alliance (NERESA). NERESA is a professional alliance that supports and enhances educational services and resources for the member districts. These include facilitating professional development opportunities and promoting communication between the districts and state agencies, professional organizations, elected officials, and educational leaders.

The award is named in honor of Dr. Dwayne Stallings who was serving as the Executive Director of the NERESA at the time of his death on August 9, 2020 at the age of 63. Dr. Stallings began his career in education teaching in the Chowan, Gates, and Pasquotank school districts. He later served in the Perquimans County School System as the Assistant Principal of the High School, Principal of Central Elementary School in Winfall, Principal of the High School, Assistant Superintendent, and lastly as Superintendent. Dr. Stallings also served as an Adjunct Professor at East Carolina University (ECU) after his retirement from superintendency."

Read the full press release here. Congratulations, Dr. Lutz! 

Number 1

Innovative NC K-12 Culinary Institute Increases School Meal Appeal

"School nutrition professionals from across North Carolina have the opportunity to participate in regional NC K-12 Culinary Institute workshops this summer. The institute was developed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Office of School Nutrition in cooperation with a team of registered dietitians and chefs to increase the availability of fresh, appealing, nutritious meals at school.

The Office of School Nutrition worked with Chef Cyndie Story and the nationally-accomplished K-12 Culinary Team to develop the Institute to meet four core objectives:

• Improve student health, well-being and academic success through nutritious, appealing meals at school;
• Expand capacity of local school nutrition programs to purchase, prepare and serve fresh, locally grown produce;
• Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grain-rich foods; and
• Provide continuing education opportunities for our talented school nutrition personnel.

Providing school nutrition professionals with equipment, educational resources and culinary skills can positively impact the preparation, service and consumption of school meals. Since the NC K-12 Culinary Institute was launched in 2016, more than 1,520 school nutrition professionals have graduated as culinary specialists from School Food Authorities statewide, including traditional public school units (PSUs), charter schools, non-public schools and residential child-care institutions."

Read the full press release here.