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To Doc Angie, with love

If you don’t know Dr. Angie Mullennix, she is the director of innovative practices and programs for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

If you do know Angie, you know her as an “educational pioneer,” Army wife and veteran, mom to Garrett and Leah, and Ironman finisher (x 7!!!).

While training for the Ironman Texas last week, Angie was hit while riding her bike. As she said on Twitter, “Life had other plans for me.”

https://twitter.com/DocAngMullennix/status/1510724682886090767

Meet Angie

A year ago, David Stegall, Angie, and I started traveling together to learn more about how our most innovative schools in North Carolina were iterating instructional practice during the pandemic.

Angie designed the research protocol. Once we were in the classrooms and schools, she listened. She analyzed and synthesized what we were hearing and seeing. She helped us think about how practice could inform policy going forward. And she assessed whether promising practices could be replicated and scaled in other classrooms, schools, and districts.

Always on the lookout for authentic student learning experiences, Angie lights up in the classroom. She loves connecting with the students, educators, and school leaders. Take a look…

Listening to teachers and students at Evergreen Community Charter School in Asheville
Learning from school and student leaders at Charlotte Lab School
At South Rowan High School with Principal Amanda Macon, educators, and students

Angie’s belief

Angie’s belief — informed by being a mom — is that “in a rapidly changing world, the role of an educator is ever-evolving, that no two children are alike in their learning styles and interests, and that educators must act as pioneers in the journey toward fostering student growth and development.”

Angie has been a teacher, an academic coach, an instructor/professor, and a researcher and evaluator.

In August 2020, as we came back to school in the pandemic, she authored an article with Stegall entitled, “What to do when there is not one right.” Here is not just what they say they do, but what I have seen them do over and over, day in and day out.

“We communicate, collaborate, innovate, advocate, and serve.”

— Angie Mullennix and David Stegall

Another adventure

Angie, I am already dreaming up the school we will visit together next, and I can’t wait to see my phone light up as you are leaving a school only to hear your excited reflections.

For now, another adventure. You’ve been training for this.

We are with you.

From our visit to Evergreen Community Charter School

You can follow Angie — and send her some love — on Twitter @DocAngMullennix.

https://twitter.com/DocAngMullennix/status/1511117380050636808
Mebane Rash

Mebane Rash is the CEO and editor-in-chief of EducationNC.