... drying up and losing numbers. Unlike most parents of students, citizens who graduated decades ago, or taxpayers who never sent their children to public schools, the people who have gotten the most intimate view of how public school teachers in North Carolina have been really been (dis)respected by lawmakers are those students who matriculated … Continue reading Students Have Been Watching How This State Treats Teachers For Years. No Wonder The Teacher Pipeline Is …

Here is the link to House Bill 1173. The text for the second addition is not long. Actually, it’s very straightforward. Simply put, the bill will make the leader of the Department of Public Instruction also be the chair of the State Board of Education. If this constitutional admendment passes in November, then it would bring … Continue reading House Bill 1173 – A Gerrymandered Power Grab To Avoid Honoring LEANDRO

There is a reason why this happened recently. Why? Because that group is pushing a really bad plan. Please consider signing this petition to send a message - especially if you are an educator. Here is some text that accompanies the petition. I signed a petition on Action Network telling PEPSC, the State Board of … Continue reading Want To Stop This New Teacher Licensure / Pay Proposal Plan? Sign This Petition.

From John deVille, a fierce public school advocate and my friend: "It’s summer after that year from hell. You’re worn out, I’m worn out — these precious weeks are sacred moments of relaxation and restoration. And it is a devilish thing indeed that NC public school teachers' entire compensation and advancement model is being finalized … Continue reading MOUNTAIN PHILOSOPHER: A Podcast For The NC Public School Advocate

Liz Schlemmer's report on WUNC.org today highlighted the shrinking number of teacher candidates in schools of education in North Carolina should not be a surprise. There were a couple of surprising (not really if you followed public education for the last few years) graphics. Here's one: That's over a 100% growth in vacancies. In just … Continue reading “Teaching college enrollment has plummeted.” Of Course It Is. All Part Of The Plan.

The following is from a presentation by the House Select Committee on an Education System in North Carolina on May 9th, 2022. That committee is meeting to redefine education in NC. All of their graphics are in the public domain. When a policymaker in North Carolina rells you that teachers in NC have a great … Continue reading When NC Policymakers Brag, “But Look At The Benefits Teachers Get,” Then Tell Them This.

So before some select few want to try this to recruit and retain teachers: They might want to do this:

Below is the salary schedule set for a teacher in North Carolina for the 2022-2023 school year. It was just approved by the governor when he signed off on the state budget. Any teacher new to the profession in the last eight years would never be on the second schedule because newer teachers are not … Continue reading Part Of The Reason NC Has Thousands Of Classroom Teaching Vacancies – Comparing NC Teacher Salaries Now to 2008-2009

This is what the Human Capital Roundtable with the Department of Public Instruction, SREB, and the public relations firm Eckel & Vaughn is trying to sell to public teachers and this state. They believe that it looks good and that people will buy it. But what that licensure / teacher pay proposal really looks like … Continue reading As Appetizing As Meat Seltzer – The Proposed Pathways To Excellence For Teaching Professionals

It was a rather trying year for teachers and other educators in public schools at this time of the pandemic. It is all a continuing reminder of what all goes into this job that most of us do not actually call a job, but maybe a calling. And it makes me again ask that question: … Continue reading Dear DPI & The Human Capital Roundtable – Exactly What Is The Job Description Of A Public School Teacher?