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DRIVE Coalition releases action items and resources for NC’s educator workforce

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On Aug. 20, the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity (Flood Center) issued a press release that included resources pertaining to “building and sustaining a diverse, well-supported educator workforce.”

Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education Coalition (DRIVE) is a statewide effort to diversify the educator workforce, originating from a task force launched by Gov. Roy Cooper in December 2019.

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After about a year of research and development, the task force released a final report, which included 10 recommendations to “increase the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of North Carolina’s educator workforce.”

Stemming from the recommendations generated by the task force, the effort continued with a statewide DRIVE tour aimed at learning about programs and practices across regions that promote and advance the educator workforce in alignment with the task force’s goals.

Following the tour’s conclusion in 2023, a statewide DRIVE Coalition formed, focused on developing measurable actions for the recommendations. 

DRIVE Summit celebrates legacy of Black education and announces new fellowship for educators of color

In the recent press release, the Flood Center lists three major resources for accelerating the educator workforce: 

  • The DRIVE Year One Impact Report, which offers insight regarding the DRIVE Coalition’s first year. It highlights several milestones, including the implementation of leadership committees throughout the state, partner support and engagement, legislative monitoring, the launch of an annual summit, and more. 
  • According to the press release, DRIVE Progress Monitoring Dashboard is a “centralized, equity-focused data system designed and maintained by the Flood Center to track progress on key metrics related to educator diversity.” 
  • Lastly, Teacher Pay Equity Issue Brief provides a detailed analysis and identifies “equity gaps in North Carolina’s teacher compensation system.” As articulated in the press release, the brief “details how outdated salary structures and disparities in local pay supplements disadvantage educators in under-resourced districts — especially in Leandro-designated counties — and offers actionable, equity-centered policy recommendations.” 

“These are not just reports — they are living tools for systemic change,” said Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith, senior director of the Flood Center, in the press release. “The DRIVE Task Force laid the blueprint; now, with these resources, we’re building the future.”

As detailed at the conclusion of the impact report, the DRIVE Coalition’s focus is to “deepen alignment, build regional capacity, and connect our data to real change” as it transitions into its second year.

Here’s more information about the DRIVE Coalition.