News

EdNC | Bryan Hassel and Sharon Contreras Are school districts that face a shortage of qualified teacher-leaders simply stuck? For districts using Opportunity Culture strategic staffing models, not anymore. Leaders in Edgecombe and Rockingham county districts, supported by our organizations, are collaborating and expanding the reach of excellent teachers. Opportunity Culture roles, created by Public […]

EducationNC | Sharon Contreras and Bryan Hassel No school wants to gamble with their students’ futures. But when teacher shortages loom — with educators leaving the profession and fewer graduates opting to make the classroom their career — schools confront tough odds. Too often, schools are trying to find great teachers to serve every student […]

The News & Observer | T. Keung Hui The U.S. Department of Education announced it had terminated more than $600 million in federal grants that it said were being used to train teachers in “divisive ideologies.” The impact is being especially felt in North Carolina, where educators said it would hurt efforts to recruit teachers […]

AP News | Annia Ma Recent cuts to federal teacher training grants are straining rural school systems that depend on this funding to address teacher shortages. The U.S. Department of Education  slashed $600 million in grants last month, citing concerns over “divisive ideologies.”  With federal funding playing a crucial role in many rural districts, Dr. […]

The74 | Chad Aldeman In the recent article “Which School Districts Do the Best Job of Teaching Kids to Read?” by The 74, Tyrrell County Schools—one of The Innovation Project’s member districts—was highlighted as a bright spot in North Carolina. Despite a poverty rate of 27%, Tyrrell achieved a third-grade reading proficiency rate of 60%, […]

EdNC | Katie Dukes TIP member district Elizabeth City/Pasquotank Public Schools (ECPPS) is led by TIP  Board Member, Dr. Keith Parker, who serves as the ECPPS superintendent.  Under Dr. Parker’s leadership, students have shown impressive academic gains.  As ECPPS Board of Education ChairAngela Cobb says, “When you have all the right ingredients together and all […]

WUNC | By Brianna Atkinson A new scholarship program at North Carolina Central University is paying for local teachers to become principals. It includes 16 educators from across the state. All currently teach elementary, middle or high school students in rural districts. The scholarship will cover the teachers’ master’s degrees and give money to their school districts […]

EdNC | by Mebane Rash In recognition of her distinguished career in public education, Dr. Sharon Contreras was honored in June 2024 with the Voice4Equity Lifetime Achievement Award, according to a press release. In announcing the award, Voice4Equity, a national organization, said, “Dr. Contreras has led large complex school systems placing children at the center of her […]

EdNC The Innovation Project (TIP) is proud to announce the recipients of its first-ever awards for educational excellence, shining a spotlight on the exceptional public school educators and leaders who are driving innovation and transformation in North Carolina, according to a press release. “The recipients of these inaugural awards represent the pinnacle of leadership and innovation in […]

News & Observer | By T. Keung Hui RALEIGH  More than two dozen Wake County schools will test different ways of paying teachers more money as part of an effort to help the district recruit and retain educators.  Wake County recently won a federal grant for $13.5 million over the next three years to pilot the […]