Funny to see this tweet from the other day posted by a DPI official who has been touting the new teacher licensure / pay proposal from PEPSC. She's making reference to that proposal and a veiled attempt to curb the deserved criticism of the actual plan and how it was put together. “Together.” “#Diplomatsnotdetractors” To … Continue reading #Diplomatsnotdetractors? I’m No Detractor; I’m A Public School Advocate In A State That Attacks Public Education

This is what the NC State Constitution states: (1) General and uniform system: term. The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months in every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students. There is … Continue reading What Lawmakers Are Really Showing Is That They Actually Fear A Well-Educated General Public

“[If] we do a proof of concept demonstration that works by piloting this in districts across our state, that will create a much stronger argument to win the day [for funding], State Board of Education chairman Eric Davis said during Wednesday’s discussion of the new model. Hate to break this to the state board, but … Continue reading Pilot A New Teacher Pay Plan? Exactly How Long Would That Take?

It launched in August of 2019. A superfluous program that even the idea of would have never been needed if North Carolina had not done so much damage to the teaching profession in the last ten-plus years. It’s called Teach North Carolina. Remember back in May of 2019 when then State Superintendent Mark Johnson printed … Continue reading What TeachNC Really Does Is Show How Badly NC Has Treated Its Teachers

Did you know that North Carolina has more Nationally Board Certified Teachers than any state in the country? Simply go to this site and compare – https://www.nbpts.org/support/in-your-state/. This past week score reports for those who were seeking/renewing certification were released. If you succeeded, I congratulate you. It’s not easy to become certified. Less than five percent … Continue reading National Board Certification Score Release Day – An Argument to Invest More in Teachers

The GOP-led NC legislature’s 2013 decision to end graduate degree pay bumps for new teachers entering the teaching profession was not only misguided, but another wave in the assault on public education that continues here in the Old North State. And the very person who has influenced more policy on public education since 2013, Sen. … Continue reading Graduate Degrees Do Matter & NC Should Restore Graduate Degree Pay

Think of these actions over the last ten years in North Carolina as far as public education is concerned: Teacher Pay  Removal of due-process rights for new teachers Graduate Degree Pay Bumps Removed  Push for Merit Pay  “Average” Raises Health Insurance and Benefits Changes Attacks on Teacher Advocacy Groups (NCAE)  Revolving Door of Standardized Tests  … Continue reading North Carolina Still Has a Severe Teacher & Teacher Candidate Shortage That Raleigh Deliberately Created – The New PEPSC Proposal Won’t Help It

She's innocent until proven guilty as far as any actions are concerned in the "deliberate attack" of two power substations, but her words say so much. And Emily Grace Rainey's words have made national news. From Newsweek: A drag show was scheduled at a venue in Southern Pines (in Moore County) around the same time … Continue reading What Moore County Students (And Others) Learned This Week

Our public schools are better than many lawmakers portray them to be – lawmakers who have never spent time as educators. A lot better. And the problem is not the schools. The problem is the lawmaking body that controls the narrative of how schools are performing. With the constant dialogue that “we must improve schools” … Continue reading Our Public Schools Are Better Than The North Carolina General Assembly Wants You to Believe