Let us know what you think! Overseeing student accountability, achievement, and success are core parts of being a local school leader. Although this principle is simple enough at face value, it can be complicated to put into practice. On this episode, we are joined by an expert who is known for bringing practical solutions to the world of student support and achievement. Dr. John Hodge is the Chief Inspiration Officer of An Achievable Dream, a nonprofit organization that partners with public ...

Let us know what you think! Respect, trust, and teamwork. These three words are taught and lived out every day in our public schools but often get lost in business between school boards and county boards. What can local leaders do to overcome differences, align their priorities, and – most importantly – get results for students in their district? In Dare County, they have answered this question through a series of meetings they call the 5-on-5 Committee. Dare County School Board Chair David T...

Let us know what you think! The best leaders know how to make the right connections and build strong networks in order to get the best results. This is especially true in the work of a school board member, where partnerships mean success for your district and better outcomes for students. To zoom in on one example of a North Carolina school district partnering with other local leaders and entities, we’re joined by Wade Auman, a deputy superintendent with Montgomery County Schools. Wade discus...

Let us know what you think! Are you prepared to respond to a reporter’s phone call about a polarizing post made on your school district’s Facebook page? Does your school board have a plan for communicating with your community about upcoming district budget cuts? How will you talk with the students and families affected by the proposed closing of their school? Are there issues that concern you—even if they haven’t yet reached the public eye? To answer those questions and more, we’re joined by ...

Let us know what you think! While many schools take a break for summer, hunger never takes a day off. That is why you’ll find approximately 3,000 meal sites operating in communities across North Carolina during summer breaks. These meal sites serve students over 80,000 meals on a daily basis to those in need and, in turn, give families full stomachs and peace of mind. In this episode, guests from the NC Department of Public Instruction’s Office of School Nutrition and Auxiliary Services join ...

Let us know what you think! In a time when opinions are polarized, headlines are muddled, and unity seems like a bygone idea, how is anyone supposed to get a persuasive message through to people? When narratives cast public schools as “failing” and families feel that they are in need of alternatives, how can local school district leaders and public education supporters make a stand? One school district in North Carolina has found a way to establish their voice and cut through the noise, resul...

Let us know what you think! To lead effectively, you’ve got to know who you’re leading. Where are they from? Where are they going? What brings them to your community? In order to make sound policy decisions and forecast budgets that respond to the evolving needs of students and their families, local leaders need objective and reliable data. This information is critical in explaining why many school districts are experiencing shrinking enrollment numbers. On this episode of The Board Table, D...

Let us know what you think! Each state in the union has outlined their own set of foundational liberties, rights, and opportunities that guide the everyday lives of generations to come. Though each state contains its own distinct set of obligations for its respective government, there are common threads, and an important commonality is that of education. In all 50 states, each constitution establishes the promise of an education for each of its residents and cements the importance of access t...

Let us know what you think! What if there was an approach that could lessen the current challenges in setting school district budgets while also making the most of local taxes by using a more efficient process? In this episode, NCSBA Assistant Director of Communications Ben Christoph talks with Earnest Winston about the current authority to levy local taxes to support public schools, the pros and cons of the idea of school boards having independent taxing authority, and the complexities of ho...

Let us know what you think! In this special election series of The Board Table, we sit down with Maurice “Mo” Green, candidate for North Carolina’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Green's prior experience includes leading the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, serving as superintendent of Guilford County Schools, and working as general counsel for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In this conversation with NCSBA's Ben Christoph, Green shares his thoughts on the current state of public edu...