Last week this electronic interactive flyer was sent out to many in the state: What's TeachNC? It's to recruit teacher candidates for our public schools. It began here: In March of 2019, then state Superintendent Mark Johnson released his budget recommendations for the next two-year cycle for the North Carolina General Assembly to use in … Continue reading If New Teachers Got Now What Veteran Teachers Got Then, NC Would Not Need To Recruit Teacher Candidates

Okay. I have said it before – even before this pandemic but… I want the seven-period school day back. It’s better for schools. It’s better for teachers. But most of all, it is better for students. In years past, winter weather and Winter Break obviously dictate a great amount in the time I see students … Continue reading This Pandemic Reinforces That We Should Go Back to the 7-Period School Day

Let's state the obvious. For many, Teacher Appreciation Week is nothing more than a warranted time for leaders to issue empty platitudes for the public to see and hear when the realities of their actions and policies are far from appreciating the teaching profession. If you follow the twitter account of the State Superintendent and … Continue reading If Education Leaders Really Appreciated Teachers, Then They Would Take A Public Stance On Some Pressing Issues

From the N&O: “This bill creates an avenue for teachers to be able to utilize their personal leave benefit without being docked $50 a day from their pay,” Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, a Wilkes County Republican and the bill’s primary sponsor, said Thursday.But if House Bill 362 becomes law, teachers who don’t provide a reason would be charged … Continue reading You Want Me To Give A Reason For Taking A Personal Day? Actually, That’s Personal

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

It's House Bill HB755. Look at that a little more closely. Just think. They want all of it to be posted. any materialstextbooksreadingsvideosdigital materialswebsitesonline applicationsall lesson plans It's rather insulting to think that my preparation and my continued development in my profession, my expertise in my field of study, and my years of experience have … Continue reading Pass This Bill And You May See The Largest Teacher Walkout This State Will Have Ever Seen

Supt. Truitt, I read the open letter to teachers you recently posted on EdNC.org entitled "A note of praise for our teachers" and I tried to appreciate your words during this Teacher Appreciation Week. You are right; this school year has been like no other. This pandemic has been unprecedented. Teachers and other educators have … Continue reading Dear Supt. Truitt – About That Rather Empty “Note Of Praise For Our Teachers”

Every year, the National Education Association releases a report called the Annual Teacher Salary Benchmark Report sometime in the spring. This year it was dropped on April 26th. North Carolina is mentioned specifically in the first part of the report. According to the report, all of NC's 115 LEAs were able to have all 93,462 … Continue reading Why NC’s “Average” Teacher Salary Is Horribly Overstated

We have no new budget. Still. And we are still in an unprecedented pandemic which has altered the landscape of education for a time. But there is a lot of hope with vaccines and science. If people get vaccinated and stay vigilant. For fourteen months, educators have adapted, invented, created, and constructed ways and means … Continue reading It’s Teacher Appreciation Week – How About Restoring Respect For The Teaching Profession

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