New from EdNC

Academic performance of charters and traditional schools is similar, DPI report says
From 2019 to 2022, charter school enrollment in North Carolina increased 19% – the fifth highest growth rate in the nation, according to the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) annual report to the General Assembly.…

Equity and belonging: CREED hosts its 2023 #TeachingInColor Summit and Fest at Durham Tech
The Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED) hosted its 2023 #TeachingInColor Summit and Fest in April at Durham Technical Community College.…

Zucchini and a goal of zero hunger: This school opened a community garden just in time for summer break
West Oxford Elementary School celebrated the grand opening of its community garden this week. “I chose to create this garden to help our community have access to healthy fresh produce at no cost to them and in an effort to reduce hunger for some of our families facing food insecurity,” said teacher Sonia Hernandez, who led the project. …

Perspective | Child care crisis? Legislative budgets don’t move the needle
In an interview with three Biden administration debt-ceiling negotiators, MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell, who once worked on the U.S. Senate staff, got the nation’s budget director Shalanda Young talking about child care. …

Perspective | From a retiring superintendent to his seniors
Editor’s Note: The following is a transcript of Transylvania County Schools Superintendent Jeff McDaris’s remarks at the district’s June 9 graduation ceremony.…
The Editor’s Notes
Word is that President Biden will be at Nash Community College today.
And now a note from our mountain philosopher:
“Welcome to Week 40 and the final week of The Journey – A Weekly Reckoning for 2022-2023. It is the last week of school for students here in Transylvania.
It is not the end of the journey. It is merely the start of a new one. I give my last address to the graduates of Brevard High School tonight, June 9. You can read those remarks on EdNC today.
Five additional songs were added to the final list this school year. Listen and look for the encore listing for the last three weeks of June, June 12 – 30. But for now, as Alice Cooper would say, “School’s Out for Summer.”
Later this month I retire after 14 years as superintendent 40 years as an educator employed by our NC Public Schools. It has been an honor. I hope you have enjoyed this weekly list.
EdNC will be sharing “The Reprise – A Journey’s End,” beginning next week for three weeks. It will have my personal favorite top 14 songs from my three years of the weekly playlist…and one new one never before on the lists. Care to make a guess? If you really know me, it’s easy.
And beyond June 30? The voices of music never are lost. They live within the whispers of the mountain breeze. And old philosophers never truly stop speaking music. New journeys begin soon. Stay tuned.
Thank you for supporting NC Traditional Public Schools.”
Superintendent McDaris, we are thankful for you and your leadership and your music. Shout out for including a song in this week’s list from “Speak Now.”
Need to know
Governor Cooper Urges Legislators to Invest in Public Schools and Teachers, Stop Plans to Dismantle Public Education
Governor Roy Cooper sent a letter to all state legislators in the House and Senate urging them to make meaningful investments in North Carolina’s public schools. Read more.... Read the rest