Education Matters

The North Carolina State Health Plan is managed by the State Treasurer of North Carolina Dale Folwell. His office has been engaged in a bitter battle with the state’s hospitals and healthcare networks over pricing and the contract dispute has more than 700,000 teachers, state employees, retirees and their dependents caught in the middle. This week we talk to Treasurer Dale Folwell about his plans and we meet two educators very concerned about the impact this fight could have on them and their families. Guests: • Dale Folwell, Treasurer, State of North Carolina • Susan Ringo, Librarian, Wilkes County Schools • Mike Landers, Teacher, Cabarrus County Schools

Last year, students from Wake County’s Middle Creek High School, along with students from two other local schools, worked with the Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative to document the only confirmed lynching case in Wake County. Following this transformative work, students began working with the Wake County Truth and Reconciliation Commission's ongoing efforts to bring a memorial marker and other activities to the area to shed further light on that event. We’ll hear from two of the students and the teacher who inspired them to embark on this journey. Guests: • Matt Scialdone, English Teacher, Middle Creek High School, Wake County • Destinee Eaton, Student, Middle Creek High School Class of 2018 • Yancy Greer, Student, Middle Creek High School Class of 2019

Just one day after the General Assembly passed a new state budget, Governor Roy Cooper announced he was vetoing it, citing lack of investment in public education and failure to expand Medicaid to provide health coverage for low income North Carolinians. So what happens next? We’re joined today by two top political reporters to discuss. We’re also going to continue our series of interviews with candidates for State Superintendent when we’re joined by a former director at the Department of Public Instruction, Amy Jablonski. Guests: • Will Doran, NC Politics Reporter, News & Observer • Lauren Horsch, Reporter, N.C. Insider • Dr. Amy Jablonski, Candidate, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Some of North Carolina’s top rated high schools are what are commonly referred to as early college high schools. These schools allow students to earn college credits while working towards graduation and are typically paired with a local community college or university. The North Carolina Senate now wants to end funding for them. This week we talk to early college leaders and advocates about the plan to defund them including the 2019 Principal of the Year, Matt Bristow-Smith, who leads one of these schools in Eastern North Carolina. Guests: • Matt Bristow-Smith, Principal, Edgecombe Early College High School, 2019 NC Principal of the Year • Dr. Beth Glennie, Senior Education Research Analyst, RTI International • Bharadwaj Chintalapati, Graduate, Wake Early College of Health and Sciences • Aaron Penny, Graduate, Johnston County Early College Academy

The State of North Carolina is fortunate to be home to thousands of exceptional public school teachers. In fact North Carolina leads the nation in the percentage of Nationally Board Certified teachers, the gold standard for professional excellence in teaching. This week on the show you’re going to meet three rock star teachers including the new 2019 NC Teacher of the Year Mariah Morris from Moore County and the 2018 NC Teacher of the Year and Western Region Teacher of the Year Freebird McKinney and Julie Paige Pittman. We’ll introduce you to Mariah Morris and talk teacher leadership with Freebird and Julie. Guests: • Mariah Morris, 2019 NC Teacher of the Year • Freebird McKinney, 2018 NC Teacher of the Year • Julie Paige Pittman, 2018 Western Region Teacher of the Year

E-cigarettes, Vaping. Juuling. Whatever you know it by, their use is skyrocketing among students. Last week North Carolina became the first state in the country to file a lawsuit against popular e-cigarette maker Juul Labs alleging the company is downplaying the potency and danger of nicotine and illegally targeting young people through its marketing and advertising. This week we’re joined by North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein to discuss the lawsuit his office filed against Juul and what he hopes to accomplish. Then we’ll talk to one the state’s top public health officials about the growing use and risks associated with vaping and to a Wake County Schools District leader about how they are tackling this epidemic in our schools. Guests: • Josh Stein, NC Attorney General • Dr. Susan Kansagra, Section Chief - Chronic Disease and Injury, NC Division of Public Health • Brian Glendenning, Senior Administrator - Healthful Living, Wake County Public Schools

The school year may be nearing an end, but education policymaking is heating up in Raleigh. For the second year in a row, thousands of teachers marched and rallied outside the General Assembly. At the very same time House lawmakers were passing their proposed state budget for the next 2 years including many key education provisions. This week we recap the teacher rally with our interviews from the march and then we discuss the House budget with two leading education policy experts on what’s in, what’s out and what’s next. Guests: • Dr. Lauren Fox, Senior Policy Director, Public School Forum of NC • Matt Ellinwood, Director, Education & Law Project, NC Justice Center

The rate of teen suicide in North Carolina has doubled in the last 10 years. Self-harm among 10- to 14-year-old girls in the U.S. has nearly tripled since 2009. Nearly one in seven U.S. children and adolescents has a mental health condition and half go untreated. This week we explore this often difficult topic with a panel experts to try to understand the real facts and where to go from here. We’ll also meet a Wake County mother who lived through the unthinkable when her middle school age son took his own life. This special 100th episode panel discussion was recorded with a live studio audience. Guests • Dr. Carrie Brown, Chief Medical Officer for Behavioral Health & IDD, NC Dept. of Health & Human Services • Dr. Mitch Prinstein, Director of Graduate Studies, UNC-Chapel Hill and author of "Popular: The Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World" • Shannon McDonald, Wake County parent • Symone Kiddoo, School Social Worker, Durham Public Schools

On May 16th last year, nearly 20,000 North Carolina teachers descended on Raleigh for a march and rally outside the NC General Assembly asking for more support for public schools and respect for the teaching profession. Teachers are planning another rally on May 1 this year asking the General Assembly to fully fund public education. This week we’re joined by Mark Jewell, President of the NC Association of Educators that organized these marches to discuss what teachers hope to accomplish this year. Then we’ll be joined by two leading journalists to talk about the teacher march, education policy, the state budget and more. Guests: • Mark Jewell, President, NC Association of Educators • Kelly Hinchcliffe, Education Reporter, WRAL News • Jeff Tiberii, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC Radio

Our state’s public schools are facing critical teacher shortages and longer term teaching vacancies. At the same time, enrollment in the state’s teacher preparation programs continue to lag. In response, state leaders have been looking at ways to expand the teacher pipeline including recruiting more out-of-state teachers and adding new pathways to teaching careers. This week we talk with several education leaders who are at the center of these efforts to discuss the challenges and the most promising solutions. Guests: •Dr. Patrick Miller, Superintendent, Greene County Schools •Dr. Aaron Fleming, Superintendent, Harnett County Schools •Dr. Anthony Graham, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Winston-Salem State University •Dr. Diana Lys, Assistant Dean for Educator Preparation and Accreditation, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Education

There appears to be a growing bipartisan consensus that we’re over-testing our state’s public school students. There’s also increasing scrutiny over how those standardized tests are being used to assign A-F letter grades to schools and to set pay for teachers and principals. This week we talk with two legislators who are both NC classroom teachers and are backing efforts in the House for changes. We also continue our State Superintendent candidate interviews with James Barrett, a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. Guests: • Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (R), District 94 – Alexander, Wilkes • Rep. Ashton Wheeler Clemmons (D), District 57 – Guilford • James Barrett, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board

Two years ago, Roy Cooper was elected Governor of North Carolina as a champion for teachers and public schools. He’s just unveiled his proposed state budget to a more balanced General Assembly than the Republican supermajority of his first two years, but one where the GOP remains firmly in charge. Governor Cooper joins us this week for the full show to talk about his education priorities and what he hopes to accomplish over the next two years.

This week on Education Matters we welcome two educators who are making news. First up is Leigh Kokenes. She’s a School Psychologist in the Wake County Public Schools System and was recently named the National School Psychologist of the Year. We’ll talk to Leigh about role of a school psychologist and what our students and schools need. Then we’ll continue our series of State Superintendent candidate interviews by welcoming Dr. Jen Mangrum. She’s a professor in teacher education at UNC-Greensboro who last year ran a high profile campaign for the State Senate against Senate President Phil Berger. Guests: • Leigh Kokenes, Wake County Public Schools, National School Psychologist of the Year • Dr. Jen Mangrum, Associate Professor in Teacher Education, UNC-Greensboro

It’s been more than two years since Mark Johnson was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He’s just unveiled a new initiative that aims to make North Carolina the best place to learn and teach by the year 2030. Superintendent Johnson joins us this week for the full show to talk about the new effort and his legislative agenda. We ask him about everything from private school vouchers to the best way to fund our state’s significant public school needs. Guest: Mark Johnson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

The history of school desegregation includes many important stories of courageous African American families and their children who were the first to attend previously whites-only schools. But there’s another history that often goes untold. That one is about the rich history of education provided by the historically segregated black schools. Innovative and creative leaders, many of them born in slavery, created schools that would transform and inspire subsequent generations. This week we’re telling part of their story through a new initiative from Wake County Schools to chronicle the rich history of Wake’s historically segregated schools. Guests: • Dr. Jim Martin, Chairman, Wake County Board of Education • Natalie Perkins, Former Washington Elementary Student • Mary Linda Hall Jordan, Former Apex Consolidated High School Student • Deborah Beckwith, Former Holly Springs & Apex Consolidated Student

A study released this week by the Public School Forum of NC shows a growing gap in public school funding between the highest and lowest-wealth counties in the state. These funding disparities have a real impact on education, including the ability of lower wealth counties to fund local supplemental pay to attract and retain teachers. We talk to the study’s lead, plus two NC school superintendents, about how funding affects educational opportunity in their communities. Guests: • Lauren Fox, Senior Director of Policy, Public School Forum of NC • Dr. Tim Markley, Superintendent, New Hanover County Schools • Dr. Valerie Bridges, Superintendent, Edgecombe County Public Schools

According to the Institute for Emerging Issues at NC State, people in North Carolina are feeling more disconnected than ever and they want to do something about it. So IEI launched a three-year initiative called ReCONNECT NC and this week hundreds of people convened in Raleigh to focus on reconnection between rural and urban areas. The Institute’s Director Leslie Boney joins us talk about the challenges and what they’ve learned so far. We also talk to Wake County School Board Member Keith Sutton who makes some news with an announcement on the show. Guests: • Leslie Boney, Director, Institute for Emerging Issues, NC State • Keith Sutton, Wake County School Board

The State Treasurer of North Carolina has broad responsibilities over the finances of the state that have big implications for public education including state employee retirement and pension plans, the State Health Plan and how the state finances school construction. This week we talk with State Treasurer Dale Folwell about these topics and more. We also talk with an NC State Professor, Dr. Michael Maher, about why he wants to be the next State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Guests: • Dale Folwell, State Treasurer of North Carolina • Dr. Michael Maher, Assistant Dean of Professional Education, NC State

North Carolina’s public schools are becoming increasingly diverse with students of color now making up more than 50 percent of total enrollment. The state’s teaching workforce, however, does not reflect that diversity, with about 80 percent of teachers both white and female. Does it matter, and if so what do we need to do about it? Guests: • Kelly Hinchcliffe, Education Reporter, WRAL News • Lena Tillett, Reporter, Anchor/Reporter, WRAL News • Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent, Vance County Public Schools • Patricia Harris, Director of Recruitment, UNC-CH School of Education

This week’s show was recorded live at the Public School Forum of North Carolina’s Eggs & Issues Breakfast. A panel of award winning educators and students discuss the top education issues facing the state in 2019. Guests: • Beth Embree, 2018-19 NC School Counselor of the Year, Catawba County • Alexa Jimenez, 2018 Latinx 20 Under 20, Wake County • Freebird McKinney, 2018 NC Teacher of the Year, Alamance County • Tabari Wallace, 2018 NC Principal of the Year, Craven County

When the new NC General Assembly was sworn in last week, about 1/4 of the 50-member Senate were new faces. On the House side, 26 brand new members joined, about 20 percent of the 120-member chamber. That group included 17 Democrats who helped end the Republican’s supermajority, but a legislature where the GOP remains firmly in the majority. This week we’re joined by four of those Freshmen, 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans, to discuss their views on education and their goals for the new session. Guests: • Rep. Julie von Haefen (D) Wake • Rep. Rachel Hunt (D) Mecklenburg • Sen. Jim Burgin (R) Harnett, Johnston, Lee • Rep. Chris Humphrey (R) Lenoir, Pitt

As a new NC General Assembly returns to Raleigh without a Republican supermajority for the first time since 2012, we’re joined by three respected journalists to discuss what to expect in 2019 in terms of education policy and how the new balance of power might shape the debates and key issues. Guests: • Rob Christensen, Former Chief Political Writer, News & Observer • Liz Schlemmer, Education Policy Reporter, WUNC Radio • Billy Ball, Managing Editor, NC Policy Watch

Peter Hans became the ninth president of the NC Community College System in May. He now oversees 58 community colleges that educate more than 700,000 students every year, the 3rd largest community college system in the country. This week we talk with Peter about the opportunities and challenges for community colleges and education overall here in North Carolina, as well as his goals for the new year.

Education research has shown the single most important school-based factor student’s academic success is the classroom teacher. But research also shows that perhaps the next most important factor is the school principal. Most teachers will tell you that the kind of school climate and vision the principal sets is what makes or breaks their success with students. Guests: • Tabari Wallace, 2018 NC Principal of the Year • Dr. Shirley Prince, Executive Director, NC Principals & Assistant Principals’ Association

Satana Deberry campaigned to become Durham County’s next District Attorney advocating for reforms in the criminal justice system, including how students are treated. She’s now one of several new District Attorneys and Sheriffs elected in November in North Carolina and across the U.S. who believe overzealous policing and prosecution has exacerbated a school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately affects poor and minority children. Her election, and this debate, comes at the same time there are calls for increased police and security presence at our schools in the wake of recent shootings. Can we do both – protect children and also make sure all students are treated fairly? Guests: • Satana Deberry, District Attorney-Elect, Durham County • Peggy Nicholson, Co-Director, Youth Justice Project

The NC General Assembly may have stripped the North Carolina State Board of Education of much of its power, but a new chairman and several new Board Members appointed by Governor Roy Cooper are charting their own path and priorities for education in our state. This week we talk to the new chairman and two of the newest Board members about where they are focusing their attention. Guests: • Eric C. Davis, Chairman, State Board of Education • James E. Ford, Southwest Education Region, State Board of Education • J.B. Buxton, Member-At-Large, State Board of Education

North Carolinians began casting ballots on October 17th at early-voting sites across the state and Election Day is next week. This year’s election in North Carolina is being called a “blue-moon” election because it’s a rare cycle when there’s no statewide race for Governor or the U.S. Senate on the ballot. But every seat in the General Assembly is on the ballot, as well as a Supreme Court seat and 6 proposed amendments to the NC Constitution. This week we’re joined by two respected journalists to discuss the election and what it could mean for education policy and other key issues in North Carolina. Guests: • Colin Campbell, Editor, The Insider • Jeff Tiberii, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC Radio

Carver Heights Elementary School in Wayne County has been picked by the Innovative School District to become the 2nd NC school to be taken over by the state-run program created by the General Assembly in 2016. That takeover will not happen if district leadership and many in the Goldsboro school’s community have their way. This week we talk to Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore, as well as parents and community leaders, on how they plan to respond to the state’s plan to take over Carver Heights. Guests: • Dr. Michael Dunsmore, Superintendent, Wayne County Public Schools • Sylvia Barnes, President, Wayne County NAACP • Iris Robinson, Grandparent, Carver Heights Elementary School

Our guest this week is best-selling author Richard Rothstein. He’s a Senior Fellow at the Haas Institute at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law and a Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Policy Institute. His research focuses primarily on the history of segregation in the United States in education and housing. In his latest book, “The Color of Law”, he tackles what he says is the myth that America’s cities came to be racially divided through de facto segregation from personal choices and individual prejudices. Instead, he details how laws and policy decisions made by local, state, and federal governments that promoted the discriminatory patterns that continue to this day. Guest: Richard Rothstein, Distinguished Fellow, Economic Policy Institute

“America To Me” is a new documentary series currently airing on the Starz cable network that was screened this week at events in Durham and Charlotte. Directed by the award-winning director of “Hoop Dreams” Steve James, the series follows a diverse group of students at a suburban Chicago high school as they navigate issues of race and life. One of the student stars of the series, Tiara Oliphant, joins us to talk about her experience. We also visit Enloe High School in Raleigh to learn more about a student-led effort at the school focused on race and equity. Guests: • Tiara Oliphant, Former Student, Oak Park and River Forest High School, Oak Park, Illinois • Jordan King, Senior, Enloe High School, Raleigh • Jose Espinal, Assistant Principal, Enloe High School, Raleigh

Nikole Hannah-Jones is one of the country’s most respected and influential voices on issues of race and education. She was named a 2017 MacArthur Genius Grant Fellow (one of only 24 people chosen globally) for “reshaping national conversations around education reform” and for her reporting on racial resegregation in our schools. She’s won a Peabody, a Polk and in 2017 a National Magazine Award for her story on choosing a school for her daughter in a segregated city. She was in NC this week to kick off Color of Education, a new initiative aimed at addressing racial equity issues in NC schools. Guest: Nikole Hannah-Jones, Journalist, The New York Times Magazine

In 1997, the NC Supreme Court held unanimously in the landmark Leandro case that North Carolina public school students are entitled under the state constitution to the “opportunity to receive a sound basic education” and therefore the state’s responsibility to provide it. In November 2017, more than 20 years after the initial ruling, Governor Roy Cooper formed the Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education in the latest and perhaps most ambitious effort to date to ensure that the state meets its constitutional obligation when it comes to public education. Guests: • Brad Wilson, Chair, Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education • Melody Chalmers, Principal, E.E. Smith High School, Fayetteville • Melanie Dubis, Partner, Parker Poe • Debra Dowless, Assistant Superintendent, Hoke County Schools

Mark Johnson was elected nearly two years ago as State Superintendent of Public Instruction. For much of his tenure he was engaged in a power struggle with the State Board of Education over who’s in charge of public education. Now that the NC Supreme Court has sided with Johnson and the General Assembly, he’s moved quickly to restructure the Department, creating new leadership positions, replacing senior staff and pushing ahead on several key initiatives. As the new school year begins, we sit down with Superintendent Johnson to discuss his top priorities and the key issues facing education in North Carolina.

This week 1.4 million North Carolina children returned to class for the start of a new school year. The new year begins just a little over three months after an estimated 20,000 teachers marched in Raleigh asking the General Assembly for more support for public education. This week we talk to the president of the NC Association of Educators, the group that organized the march, on what was accomplished and what he believes still needs to be done. We also talk to the superintendent of one of the state’s fastest-growing school districts, Johnston County Public Schools, about the challenges and opportunities he sees as the new school year begins. Guests: • Mark Jewell, President, NC Association of Educators • Dr. Ross Renfrow, Superintendent, Johnston County Public Schools

Employers across the U.S. and here in North Carolina report they have more jobs available than the number of qualified applicants to fill them. Work-based learning opportunities have been expanding here for both students and educators to give them greater exposure to the rapidly changing workplace. This week we explore some promising efforts to help close the skills gap by linking business and education to benefit both employers and our students. Guests: • Tracy Bell, NBCT Hope Street Group NC Teacher Voice Network Fellow • Albert Eckel, Board Chair, NC Business Committee for Education • Dr. Matthew Meyer, Associate Vice President, NC Community • Molly Osborne, Director of Policy and Engagement, EdNC

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. Losing a child for any reason is devastating, but when it’s suicide, family and friends are not only grieving the unexpected loss, they often find themselves confused and guilt-ridden wondering why they were unable to prevent it. In North Carolina, suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 17 — and the numbers are rising. On this week’s show, we’re going to look at the trends and data on youth suicide with state experts and then hear from a prevention specialist about the warning signs as well as what our schools are doing – and what we can do – to keep our children safe. Guests: • Michelle Hughes, Executive Director, NC Child • Kelly Lister, Crisis Intervention & Prevention Specialist, Wake County Public Schools

Carroll Middle School in Raleigh is scrapping letter grades for a new approach that is gaining traction nationally known as competency based learning and grading. We talk to the school’s principal Elizabeth MacWilliams on why they are making the switch. We also meet the 2018 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Teacher of the Year with an unforgettable name, Freebird McKinney of Alamance County. Guests: Elizabeth MacWilliams, Principal, Carroll Middle School, Raleigh Freebird McKinney, 2018 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Teacher of the Year

The phrase "fake news" was declared the official Collins Dictionary Word of the Year for 2017. Nearly 1 in 4 Americans visited a fake news site in the month leading up to the 2016 presidential election. With technology and social media becoming nearly a ubiquitous part of our children’s lives, what do parents and educators need to know to help students navigate this new media landscape? Also on this week’s show, we introduce you to North Carolina’s new Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green. Guests: • Dr. Adria Shipp Dunbar, Assistant Professor, College of Education, NC State University • Dr. Meghan Manfra, Associate Professor, College of Education, NC State University. • Jaki Shelton Green, North Carolina Poet Laureate

Cathy Moore was named Superintendent of Wake County Public Schools in May. It’s the largest school system in the state and the 15th largest in the country. She is the first woman and first Hispanic to hold the district’s top job and we talk to her on this week’s show. We also take a look at a new partnership in Johnston County aimed at recruiting more home-grown teachers. Guests: • Cathy Moore, Superintendent, Wake County Public School System • Brandon Garland, Innovation Officer, Johnston County Public Schools • Dr. Mary Ann Danowitz, Dean, NC State College of Education

The General Assembly just wrapped up its short session for 2018 with a return date of November 27th after the fall election. This week we take a look at what happened in the short session in terms of education by talking to some key stakeholders. We’ll get their take on the hits and misses and what it all might mean for education in North Carolina. Guests: • Justin Parmenter, 7th Grade Teacher, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools • Dr. Shirley Prince, Executive Director, NC Principals & Assistant Principals’ Association • Rob Thompson, Deputy Director, NC Child • Alexandra Sirota, Director, Budget & Tax Center

Education has been a mainstay in the headlines in recent years here in North Carolina. This week we talk to one of the education newsmakers, Judge Bob Orr. He’s a former NC Supreme Court Justice who recently represented the State Board of Education in its lawsuit over a law passed by the General Assembly shifting much of the Board’s powers to State Superintendent Mark Johnson. We also talk to two journalists who work hard every week covering the rapidly changing news in policy and education. Guests: • Bob Orr, Former NC Supreme Court Justice • Colin Campbell, Editor, NC Insider • Liz Schlemmer, Education Reporter, WUNC Radio

The General Assembly is considering a Constitutional amendment to permanently cap income tax rates in North Carolina. If approved, it would appear on the November ballot along with other Constitutional amendments being proposed this week. With education making up more than half of the state budget, what impact could this amendment have on the state’s ability to fund public schools, community colleges and universities? Guests: • Dr. Patrick McHugh, Economic Analyst, Budget & Tax Center • Richard Bostic, Government Relations, NC School Boards Association • Vicki Lee Parker, Executive Director, North Carolina Business Council • Kel Landis, Principal, Plexus Capital

Two new reports are out exploring our state’s Opportunity Scholarship or private school voucher program. One study looks at the academic achievement of students who left public schools to attend private schools using state-funded vouchers. The other examines the type of curriculum being used by the private voucher schools. We talk to the authors of both studies on this week’s show. Guests: • Dr. Trip Stallings, Director of Policy Research, Friday Institute, NC State University • Dr. Anna Egalite, Assistant Professor, College of Education, NC State University • Bonnie Bechard, Study Author, League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear • Dr. Mary Kolek, Education Action Team Lead, League of Women Voters of North Carolina

North Carolina public schools have about $8 billion dollars in construction, renovation and repair needs. Cracked walls, outdated inefficient heating and cooling systems and school grounds that look like trailer parks due to the number of mobile classroom units are all too common. And now new school building requirements are being proposed to enhance school security. Will the General Assembly put a statewide school building bond on the ballot in November? How will all these needs be funded? Guests: • Dr. Rodney Shotwell, Superintendent, Rockingham County Schools • Sheriff Sam Page, Rockingham County • Dr. Aaron Fleming, Superintendent, Harnett County Schools • Mark Richardson, Education Steering Committee Chair, NC Association of County Commissioners

Last year the average pay for a principal in North Carolina ranked 50th nationally. The General Assembly responded with new investments and a new plan for how principals are paid. That plan has drawn a lot of criticism because, if unchanged, it will result in big pay cuts for experienced principals and perhaps a disincentive for talented principals to help turn around struggling schools. This week we’re joined by two former Principals of the Year and a district superintendent to discuss. Guests: • Dr. Stephen Gainey, Superintendent, Randolph County Schools • Dr. Carrie Tulbert, Principal, Concord Middle School, Cabarrus County • Melody Chalmers, Principal, E.E. Smith High School, Cumberland County

A new commission created last year – My Future NC – wants to develop a broad-based education agenda for North Carolina aimed at making the state more competitive. The cross sector group representing business, education, government, nonprofits and philanthropy plans to craft key goals for the state, along with policy proposals on how to achieve them. This week we’re joined by one of the My Future NC co-chairs as well as Commission’s Executive Director to talk about what they’ve learned so far and what comes next. Guests: • Kristy Teskey, Executive Director, My Future NC Commission • Dale Jenkins, CEO, Medical Mutual Holdings, Co-Chair, My Future NC

A legislative task force created by the General Assembly in 2017 is considering overhauling the way North Carolina funds public schools. This week we talk with the co-chairs of that task force, Senator Michael Lee from New Hanover County and Representative Craig Horn from Union County. We’ll discuss what they’ve learned so far and what’s next. Guests: • Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) • Rep. Craig Horn (R-Union)

The General Assembly is exploring breaking up the state’s largest school districts. At the same time a bill introduced last year would allow two communities outside Charlotte to create a system of separate public charter schools for their residents. This week we explore what’s next and the possible impact on school districts, students and the state. Guests: • Monika Johnson-Hostler, Chair, Wake County Board of Education • Rep. Chaz Beasley (D-Mecklenburg) • Mark Dorosin, Co-Director, Julius L. Chambers Center for Civil Rights

One is a brand new partnership between our state university teacher prep programs and K-12 public schools, while the other started in 1980 in Durham, but is now expanding to Western NC. This week we explore NC Lab Schools and the NC School of Science & Mathematics. Guests: • Dr. Todd Roberts, Chancellor, NC School of Science & Mathematics • Dr. Melissa Thibault, Vice Chancellor for Distance Education and Extended Programs, NCSSM • Dr. Sean Bulson, Interim Vice President for University & P-12 Partnerships, UNC System • Dr. Grant Hayes, Dean, East Carolina University College of Education

Black students are being suspended at rates three to four times higher than other students in school districts across North Carolina. Why is this happening and what can be done to address it? Guests: • Keith Sutton, Wake County Board of Education • Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards, Samuel D. Cook Center on Social Equity, Duke University