Perspective | Charter community stays strong in the aftermath of Helene

Western North Carolina (WNC) is experiencing a generational tragedy. Amidst this tragedy, it is inspiring to see how the charter school community is coming together to support schools impacted by Hurricane Helene. 

There are 209 charter schools in North Carolina serving over 150,000 students — of these, 20 charter schools are located in WNC. Some schools sustained structural damage, with one school’s entire K-4 building destroyed. Schools in the Asheville area cannot reopen as they are without water. The destruction of roadways has created transportation challenges for schools across WNC. Schools have students and staff that have been displaced from their homes. 

The NC Association for Public Charter Schools (NCAPCS), joined by the NC Coalition for Charter Schools, launched an Adopt a WNC School Initiative to find schools and businesses interested in adopting a WNC charter school affected by Helene. WNC schools have communicated their needs and those adopting them are sending those items to the schools in need.

To date, 10 schools have been adopted and 11 charter schools are ready to adopt more schools in need. Serdar Yuksekkaya, principal of The Math and Science Academy in Apex, is participating “because this initiative aligns with our core values, offering our students a meaningful opportunity to give back. By assisting schools in WNC, we are not only helping to rebuild and provide essential resources, but also teaching our students the importance of empathy and civic responsibility. We hope this effort fosters a sense of unity and demonstrates the power of coming together to support those facing hardship.” 

NCAPCS has organized daily check-in calls for WNC school leaders and charter community members to get and give support, ask questions, and lean on each other. On one of these calls, we learned about Jamie, a 5th grader at Brevard Academy in Transylvania County. He faced a life-changing experience during Helene. When the storm hit, Jamie and his family lost everything. Their home was destroyed, and Jamie was trapped under debris for several hours as the hurricane unleashed its devastation.

The family’s rescue came in the form of a swiftboat team, bringing them to safety amidst the chaos. Jamie was located by the family dog who guided the rescuers when they could not find him visually. The local hospitals, overwhelmed by the hurricane’s impact, couldn’t accommodate him, so he was airlifted by helicopter to Charlotte.

As Jamie recuperates, he and his family have been adopted by the PTO at a charter school in Charlotte, Community Public Charter School, who have launched a campaign to support Jamie and his family. When Jamie’s family was not able to immediately join him in Charlotte, Monica Dellinger, executive director of the school, visited with him in the hospital. 

In discussing the motivation for their school to assist Jamie and his family, Dellinger shared, “What our school did seems unusual to those that are not in the education field. But this is what we do daily. We’re moms. We’re dads — or aunts, grandparents, neighbors, we are the village.”

Charter school administrators and staff, many evacuated from their homes themselves, have spent the past few weeks calling to check on their students and their families. As a staff member from Brevard Academy was displaced in Tennessee she was utilizing both phone calls and social media messaging to help locate students to ensure they were safe. Even without power and water, many charter schools have opened their doors for respite care for families. 

The recovery process will take years for WNC, and NCAPCS is committed to being a partner on this long journey. As I visited schools in WNC, I was amazed by the resilience displayed by our charter school leaders, staff, students, and families during this challenging time.