Number 10

The Pearl: "Lumbee Tribe Students Envision Future Healthcare Careers at The Pearl"

"As a longtime educator and leader with the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Rita Locklear knew that she wanted a hands-on, science-focused experience for the group of high schoolers she led as part of a Lumbee summer camp called Project CREATE, which is short for “Career Readiness and Educational Advancement Through Native Youth Empowerment.” Her interest in The Pearl, Charlotte’s first innovation district, grew from conversations with the district team and learning more about their commitment to healthcare education for all ages.

This summer, The Pearl was proud to host eight of Rita’s students for a visit across several parts of the district. The July 15 tour included an interactive case study at the Siemens Healthineers Experience Center, career Q&A, a tour of the Howard R. Levine Center for Education building, and hands-on activities in the K-12 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Lab.

A part of the Project CREATE programming, Locklear’s camp, called “Remedies: Nature, Health & Science Camp Careers,” offers opportunities for Indigenous youth to explore future career in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). Project CREATE is a five-year grant extended to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina from the United States Department of Education.

The Lumbee Tribe is one of the largest tribal nations in the U.S., with deep roots in southeastern North Carolina. Engaging Lumbee youth in the immersive science, technology and healthcare innovation at The Pearl opened their eyes to career possibilities in STEAM – an industry where Native Americans have been historically underrepresented."

Read the full article here.

Number 9

EdNC Perspective Piece: "Investing in Teachers Strengthens Communities"

"It is not hyperbole to say North Carolina’s future depends on great teachers for our public schools. Every day, they prepare young people for the workforce that will drive our state’s economy, strengthen our communities, and shape North Carolina’s next generation of leaders. When teachers understand the industries transforming their regions, they bring that knowledge back to the classroom, helping students connect what they are learning to the opportunities waiting for them close to home.

That connection matters because many teachers — particularly in rural and less populated communities — work in professional isolation. They often have limited opportunities to engage with local employers, researchers, and innovators or to see firsthand the careers their students may one day pursue. ...

The Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at NC State University was designed to change that. Since its beginnings in 2000 as a community response to the challenge of retaining math and science teachers, the Kenan Fellows Program has become a nationally recognized model that connects educators with industry, higher education, and community partners."

Read the full perspective piece here.

Number 8

2027–28 FAFSA Now Open

The 2027–28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open. Students planning to attend postsecondary education should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to be considered for federal, state and institutional grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities and loans.

For North Carolina public high school seniors, FAFSA completion is an important next step after exploring NC College Connect, which provides eligible seniors with direct admission to colleges and universities where they already meet admissions requirements without the traditional application process. After reviewing and accepting their college offers, students should consider exploring the FAFSA to learn what financial assistance may be available to help make college more affordable.

Find the 2027-28 FAFSA application here. 

Learn more about NC College Connect here. 

Number 7

Register for 2026 Character Education Summit

At this inaugural event, Leading With Character Summit attendees will:

• Gain insight into the 11 Principles of Character Education and practical ways to apply them in your school
• Be inspired by success stories from State and National Schools of Character and learn how they revitalized their school communities
• Connect with experts and fellow school leaders to deepen your understanding of Character Education

The 2026 Leading with Character Summit will be hosted on Dec. 9 at the Friday Institute in Raleigh. Learn more and register here. 

Number 6

District Highlight: Surry County Schools - "Surry Central FFA Receives $15,000 Grant to Create Outdoor Agricultural Learning Center"

"Surry Central High School’s FFA program has been awarded a $15,000 North Carolina Agricultural Education Program Improvement Grant to support the development of an outdoor community learning center for students. The grant is funded through the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission’s Agriculture Program Improvement Grant program, which supports projects designed to strengthen agricultural education and North Carolina’s agricultural industry.

The $29,000 outdoor learning center will provide Surry Central agricultural education students with a dedicated, year-round space for hands-on instruction, FFA activities, and agricultural learning experiences. Riverside Metal Structures is generously donating approximately half of the project’s total cost, allowing the grant funding to go even further in creating this valuable resource for students. The space will also welcome students from feeder schools as they participate in plant and animal unit studies.

'This grant will give our students another opportunity to learn by doing,' said Mr. Andy VonCanon with North Carolina FFA. 'The outdoor learning center will provide a space where students can apply what they are learning in the classroom while also giving younger students the opportunity to experience agricultural education firsthand.'”

Read the full press release here. 

Number 5

2027-28 Kenan Fellows Program Accepting Applications

Applications are open for the 2027-28 Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership, a yearlong fellowship offering immersive professional development, hands-on industry experience and a lasting statewide network.

The fellowship is open to K-12 public and charter school teachers across North Carolina. Fellows are matched with local organizations for projects in fields such as agriculture, biotechnology and energy, gaining firsthand knowledge of regional careers and bringing those insights back to their classrooms.

Selected fellows receive:

• A $5,000 stipend
• 80 hours of alumni-led professional development
• Connections with educators, employers, nonprofits, community colleges and universities

Learn more and apply for the 2027-28 Kenan Fellows Program here. Applications close on Jan. 11, 2027.

Number 4

Public Ed Works: "Public Ed Works Hosts NC Public Education Forum" Featuring Superintendent Green and Previous State Superintendents

"Nearly 100 people joined Public Ed Works for a panel on the future of North Carolina’s public schools, featuring current and former state superintendents.

The discussion was moderated by Public Ed Works Board Member Doug Shackelford, who previously served as Dean of the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

With almost 1.5 million public school students currently enrolled in North Carolina, panelists shared how important supporting public education is."

Read the article and find a full recording of the panel here. 

Number 3

NCSSA: Regional Nominees Compete for North Carolina’s 2027 Superintendent of the Year Award

"Exceptional school district leaders have been chosen as regional Superintendents of the Year to compete for the Burroughs Wellcome Fund 2027 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. The award will be presented in a ceremony beginning at 11:45 a.m. at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro on Oct. 8.

The North Carolina A. Craig Phillips Superintendent of the Year is chosen jointly by the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA) and NCASA’s core affiliate, the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA), with support and sponsorship from Burroughs Wellcome Fund and worldwide education leader Scholastic Education. The honor is awarded to a superintendent who exhibits outstanding leadership in service to

K-12 public schools and is named in honor of the late A. Craig Phillips, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction who served from 1969-1989. The 2027 Superintendent of the Year Award will be presented via livestream on the NCASA YouTube channel on October 8th, beginning at noon. 

The regional winners and 2027 A. Craig Phillips Superintendent of the Year nominees are as follows:

• Dr. Matt Lutz, Currituck County Schools
• Dr. Brad Breedlove, Pender County Schools
• Dr. Steve Ellis, Nash County Public Schools
• Dr. Jamie King, Sampson County Schools
• Dr. Stephen Gainey, Randolph County School System
• Dr. Mike Swan, Burke County Public Schools
• Mr. Chad Calhoun, Mitchell County Schools"

Read more here. Congratulations to the finalists! 

Number 2

NCDPI Celebrate the Good Blog: "P.W. Moore Elementary: Where School Feels like Family"

"Walk through the front doors of P.W. Moore Elementary in Elizabeth City, NC and you'll notice something right away: it doesn't just feel like a building where kids learn their ABCs. It feels like home.

Here, school is not just books and desks. It's a place where families find a helping hand, neighbors become partners and the whole community shows up to make sure every single child has what they need to shine.

PW Moore is a community school, which is really just a fancy way of saying they know that kids do their best when they have a whole team behind them. It's about realizing that a child can't focus on a math problem if they're worried about things at home, and that a child’s school can do so much more to support students when parents and local leaders are in the trenches with them.

It's a simple idea: when we take care of the family, we take care of the student. By opening the school to the Elizabeth City community, P.W. Moore is making sure every child has a robust network of adults they can trust and rely on."

Read the full blog post here. 

Number 1

North Carolina Awards $1.2 Million for Innovative Digital Teaching and Learning

"Seventeen North Carolina public school districts and charter schools will receive more than $1.2 million in grant funding during the 2026-2027 school year to support innovative digital teaching and learning initiatives across the state. The State Board of Education (SBE) approved the funding through North Carolina’s competitive Digital Learning Initiative Grant Program.

"The goal of the program is to identify, elevate and share effective models of instructional innovation that demonstrate digital leadership, strengthen educator practice and improve student learning," said Dr. Vanessa Wren, chief information officer for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). "Through statewide collaboration and sharing of promising practices, these locally developed models can inform and inspire high-quality digital teaching and learning across North Carolina’s public schools."

Each grant supports a local Public School Unit (PSU) by addressing emerging instructional challenges, purposefully integrating innovative technologies, strengthening educator capacity and developing new approaches that improve student learning experiences and outcomes."

Read the full press release here.