Department of Public Instruction superintendent Catherine Truitt’s team continued its District Visits and Voices initiative in Northwest North Carolina, visiting Burke County on April 21.
Wednesday’s visit to Burke County began with a tour of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) in Morgantown, where N.C. Chancellor and Chief Campus Officer Kevin Baxter showed the DPI team around the site. Mirroring the curriculum offered at the Durham campus, NCSSM-Morgantown will foster connections between high school students and both postsecondary and career opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
Thank you Kevin Baxter & @tomwilliams777 for sharing the vision of @NCSSM #Morganton campus! Standing up curriculum connected to regional industry targets Data Science layered in STEM and Humanities. Exciting times ahead for the first residential class Fall 2022! @FreebirdsShire pic.twitter.com/2U7rSF19Bi
— Stephanie Dischiavi (@StephDischiavi) April 21, 2021
Throughout the DPI staff’s time at Mountain View Elementary and Robert Patton High School, student support was an emphasis at all levels to keep students engaged through graduation, resulting in a positive district transformation, and interconnectivity between schools and the community.
While in Burke county, the team met Mr. Ted Pedro, a former parent who serves as a family engagement specialist. From Mountain View Elementary School’s STEPS academy and onward, Pedro helps build connections between Latinx and Hispanic families and schools to help bridge the communication and cultural gaps. Pedro’s position as a family engagement specialist is a fully-funded position to provide student support for Burke county students and has led to incredible outcomes, especially during the pandemic when communication was of utmost importance.
At the high school level, Truitt’s team engaged with students in a variety of career and technical education, including culinary arts, fire academy, live construction projects and health sciences. After hearing from principals and holding conversations with district leadership, the DPI team wrapped up the day with a robust teacher leadership forum. Through inclusive development initiatives, a culture of leadership was evident from students, to teachers and administrators. Because of this pathway, students become school ambassadors, teachers are given the autonomy to lead from their classrooms, and principals are developed and sustained through specific leadership training. In addition to enhancing job fulfillment for staff, these opportunities empower students and teachers to lead within the classroom.
CTE Programming @BurkeCoSchools showcased @PattonHigh is providing students hands on experiences, life skills and preparing for the work force! Not to mention having fun while learning! #DistrictVisitsVoices pic.twitter.com/VImhEW5dJ8
— Stephanie Dischiavi (@StephDischiavi) April 22, 2021
Now what? This week’s visits emphasized principal and teacher leadership and the importance of investing in the human capital pipeline in North Carolina’s education system. Robust leadership training fosters strong relationships with students and parents to better the local community. The comprehensive implementation of leadership training in Burke county inspires a model for scaling leadership trainings across North Carolina.