Yes, public education is political. But it does not have to be partisan. Yet, in the last few years, more and more local school board elections are becoming partisan races steering school systems by a GPS system based on political dogma and controlled in Raleigh rather than what is best for the local school system. … Continue reading Local School Boards Should Not Be Partisan

The following screenshots display questions from a form questionnaire that were sent by representatives from a variety of extreme interests to all NC General Assembly members. It came with this note: "Dear Representative, Happy New Year! We, Christian Perspective Representatives, Moms for Liberty North Carolina, and Pavement Education Project, sincerely hope this email finds you … Continue reading A Group Aligned With Moms For Liberty Sent This Questionnaire To Every NCGA Member. Hypocritical And Pharisaical Only Begin To Describe It.

In the state of North Carolina, over 56% of the state budget is dedicated to public education, most of which goes to K-12 (and pre-K) education. It’s specifically stated in Article IX of the state constitution that the state establish a free and viable means of educating school age-children. Sec. 2.  Uniform system of schools. … Continue reading Teachers Should Vote As If Their Jobs Depended On It (Because It Does)

The next step in undoing the Leandro decision started today. Because it’s part of a bigger plan that deliberately coincides with the expansion of vouchers. It is not difficult to see that the NCGA was waiting for the state supreme court to become an extension of the political powers in Raleigh after the last election … Continue reading Overturning Leandro Is Next

Dear Fellow Educator, I first want to tell you that I admire what you have chosen to do as a possible career. Teaching in today’s public schools is not easy. I know as I just finished my 25th year of teaching. I still love my job. I still love being with the students. Outside of my … Continue reading An Open Letter From a Veteran North Carolina Teacher to Young Teachers – Some Advice If This Is The Career You Want (Because You Will Have To Fight For It)

Sen. Phil Berger and his cronies including people like Tricia Cotham have had 12 years to “improve” our public education system. 12. The number of grades in a standard progression through a public school. Here are a few of the actions taken in those 12 years. 1. Teacher Pay Kept Well Below National Average 2. Removal of … Continue reading You Can’t Put “Kids First” If You Put Teachers Last

Here is the salary schedule that is in place for the 2023-2024 school year. For those who are not teachers, make sure to pay attention to years 15-24. Frozen. 10 years of the same. There is no longevity pay during these years as well. Someone who has been teaching for 24 years makes the same … Continue reading 10 Frozen Years: The NCGA’s Plan To Eliminate Career Teachers

In the summer of 2017, BEST NC released an op-ed on EdNC.org about Shamrock Gardens Elementary School and their use of “advanced roles” for educators. And the piece made reference to BEST NC’s Education Innovation Plan, a bit of which is outlined below. It’s an ingrained part of the new teacher licensure path as proposed by The … Continue reading Stop Making Excuses For Not Paying Us More – Teachers Already Have “Advanced Roles”

The Economic Policy Institute releases a report every year that tracks what is called the “teacher pay penalty.” What is that? EPI says it occurs when teachers “are paid less (in weekly wages and total compensation) than their nonteacher college-educated counterparts, and the situation has worsened considerably over time. And NC doesn’t fare well. The … Continue reading Do You Know What NC’s Teacher Pay Penalty Is?

Over a course of ten months, North Carolina public school teachers are officially employed for 215 days. Students in North Carolina typically go to school at least 180 days a school year. Most LEA’s define a contracted day of work as being eight hours for a teacher. Imagine what would happen if educators only worked … Continue reading What If Teachers Only Worked The Hours They Were Contracted For?