Perspective | Why NC public schools matter — from a principal’s view

I believe in North Carolina’s public schools because they believed in me. 

I was raised by a N.C. public school teacher who graded papers at our kitchen table every night. I married a N.C. teacher who “loves her kids.” Both our children are products of N.C. public schools. How proud I am now to watch my oldest daughter studying in college to become a N.C. public school teacher. 

Our N.C. public schools sent me to Appalachian State University on the N.C. Teaching Fellows Scholarship, and later I earned my masters degree from N.C. State University through the North East Leadership Academy. 

I have worked my entire career as a N.C. public school educator — the first half as a teacher and the second half as a principal — all 28 years right here in Edgecombe County Public Schools. 

As our 2019 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, I have traveled our state from Murphy to Manteo. Despite our differences, one thing is constant: Public schools across N.C. are changing lives. We may not be perfect — but we are irreplaceable. 

Public schools are the backbone of our communities 

Public schools are one of the rare spaces where people from all backgrounds learn and grow together. We teach not only reading and math but also how to listen, how to lead, how to resolve conflict, and how to show up for others. 

Our public schools sometimes provide the only consistent meal a child receives. We connect families to mental health services, housing support, and job resources. We identify early signs of learning differences or trauma and step in with support. We offer structure for young people who crave it, encouragement for those who doubt themselves, and second chances for those who have made mistakes.

When a hurricane drops trillions of gallons of water upon our community, we stage Red Cross and FEMA relief efforts from our cafeterias. When a 500-year flood displaces entire neighborhoods, we step in to pick each other back up. When a pandemic forces kids to learn from home, we show up on their doorsteps with breakfast and lunch. We attend funerals, write letters of recommendation, and cheer our teams on to state championships. 

And we never, ever, ever give up. 

We do all of this with grace while navigating complex policy environments, worsening staff shortages, and a growing wave of skepticism about our value. We see the power and potential within each child, and we fully embrace our Constitutional responsibility to educate each and every child, even when others may not. 

If you want to strengthen North Carolina’s communities, invest fully in our N.C. public schools. 

Teachers deserve our full attention — and our full support 

Every day, we work alongside some of the most dedicated professionals you will ever meet. Our teachers do not just clock in and out. They show up with heart, with purpose, and with a fierce belief in their role as change makers in the lives of their scholars. 

Our teachers come in early to prep and stay late to tutor. They carry with them not just lesson plans but the stories, strengths, and struggles of the children in their care. They are mentors, counselors, coaches, and advocates. Our teachers are committed at a level that goes so far beyond contractual duties. 

There is no doctor, engineer, artist, legislator, or entrepreneur who did not first sit in the classroom of a teacher who helped them believe they could be something more. Teachers shape every profession that builds and sustains our society. And yet, we are still fighting for teacher pay that reflects the value of their work. We continue to watch hundreds of millions of tax dollars flow toward private school vouchers, even as we fail to fully fund our public schools. 

This disconnect grows deeper when we vilify the very values upon which our schools thrive. Despite our national motto — E pluribus unum, meaning “Out of many, one” — and our state motto — Esse quam videri, “To be rather than to seem” — we have seen growing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion. These are not political buzzwords; they are principles that ensure every teacher feels seen and supported, and that every student experiences belonging, dignity, and opportunity.

We must restore the dignity of this work. Because when we invest in teachers, we invest in every student, every family, and every future in North Carolina. 

Principal leadership matters 

If teachers are the heart of a school, principals are the backbone. 

Principals serve as instructional leaders, culture keepers, crisis managers, mentors, and community liaisons — often all in the same day. We create the conditions that enable students and teachers to thrive. 

We walk the halls with purpose. We coach teachers. We meet with parents, comfort students, and advocate for what schools need — sometimes before the sun comes up and almost always after the sun has set. 

At our best, we are servant leaders. We champion student needs, protect teacher time, and nurture school cultures grounded in belonging, rigor, and joy. We show up because we know the stakes for our kids are so high. 

If you want strong schools, invest in strong principals — and then trust us to lead. Over the next year, the North Carolina Principal of the Year network will be lifting our collective voices, sharing a series of monthly perspective pieces. Each one will spotlight the challenges we face, the innovation we lead, and the hope we hold for the future of our public schools. 

The stakes are higher than we think 

If we continue to erode public confidence in public schools, we risk losing more than enrollment or test scores. We risk losing the shared belief that every child deserves a fair shot, no matter their ZIP code. 

We must remind ourselves, and each other, that public schools are not the problem. They are the best solution we have for preparing our children for the future, for strengthening our communities, and for preserving what is good and possible in North Carolina. 

We need lawmakers who see public schools not as a political battlefield but as a public trust. We need a commitment from every elected public leader to make our N.C. public schools first in the nation — no matter what it takes. 

We need families and community members to speak up for their schools and partner with their educators. We need to respect, retain, and reinvest in our educators — not only financially, but with dignity, time, and voice. We need to listen to principals and superintendents who are navigating these challenges with courage — and give them the flexibility, time, and support to lead. 

A call to believe again 

At Edgecombe Early College where I am principal, our school motto is “Be Yourself; Leave Completely Changed.” We believe that every child arrives with something to offer and with the potential to be transformed. We challenge, support, and believe in each and every one of our scholars. 

This is what public schools do at our best: we validate identity and nurture growth. We say, “Be yourself” — and then we help you become your best self. 

Our public schools are worth fighting for. We are deserving of your trust. We are worth the investment. 

Because when a teacher stays late to help a struggling reader, or a counselor helps a teen apply to college, or a principal makes a home visit — that is public education at work. 

And when our young people succeed — enrolled in college, enlisted in the military, employed in the workforce — they carry all of us with them. 

Let’s continue to believe. Let’s continue to invest. Let’s continue to ensure that public schools in North Carolina are not just open — but thriving.