In September and October, State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green and other leaders are hosting launch events in each region of the state for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education’s joint strategic plan, “Achieving Educational Excellence.”
Educators in each region are sharing their reflections about the tour stops, which include several school visits during the day and a public presentation on the strategic plan in the evening. Learn more about the plan by visiting the NCDPI website.
Ronnie Hewitt
Hewitt is the principal of E. Lawson Brown Middle School (Davidson County Schools) and the 2025 Wells Fargo Piedmont-Triad Region Principal of the Year.
Last week was a remarkable reminder of the excellence, innovation and passion that define public education across the Piedmont-Triad Region. As the Piedmont-Triad Principal of the Year, I had the incredible opportunity to travel throughout the region to witness firsthand the great things happening in our schools and districts. From Guilford to Asheboro to Rockingham, it was a celebration of learning, leadership and the limitless potential of our students.
The journey began on Thursday evening, October 16, in Guilford County Schools, where we gathered to hear State Superintendent Mo Green share his Strategic Plan for North Carolina’s Public Schools. The evening opened with energy and excitement — a powerful performance from the Guilford County Schools drum line, an enthusiastic cheer team and an inspiring dance movement that captured the spirit of the event.
Superintendent Green shared a clear and forward-thinking vision for the future of education in North Carolina. His presentation was not only informative but deeply personal, emphasizing collaboration, equity and innovation. His approachable and welcoming style made the event feel like a true gathering of passionate educators united by a common purpose.
The next morning, Friday, October 17, began at the Asheboro City Schools Welcome Center and Global Innovation Center; a true showcase of 21st-century learning in action. From robotics and video game design to a state-of-the-art recording studio, this center represents the future of hands-on learning and student engagement. The visit aligned directly with Strategic Plan Pillar 6: Lead Transformative Change, demonstrating how innovation can transform learning opportunities and prepare students for a global workforce.
From there, we visited Asheboro High School’s Zoo School, the only high school in the nation located inside a zoo. Students led the tour, sharing their studies of animal habitats, pollination and ecosystems. Seeing students learning science through real-world experiences was both inspiring and unforgettable.
Our next stop was Southeastern Randolph Middle School, where Superintendent Green and our team were greeted by an enthusiastic group of students and staff. Students asked thoughtful questions, shared their learning experiences and highlighted the creative ways their school is achieving academic excellence. It was clear that learning and student voice were at the forefront of everything happening at Southeastern Randolph. The pride and purpose among students and teachers alike reflected the strong culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
The final stop of the day took us north to Rockingham Community College’s Center for Workforce Development. After a delicious lunch prepared by school nutrition staff, Superintendent Green continued to emphasize the importance of connecting education to career readiness. We toured several programs that showcased how Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities align with Strategic Plan Pillar 1: Empower Students to Learn, Grow and Thrive.
Students demonstrated skills in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and other high-demand fields — proof that North Carolina’s schools are equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to succeed beyond the classroom.
As I traveled across the Piedmont-Triad region, I was reminded of why we do this work. Every school, every student and every conversation reflected the heart of public education — preparing students not only for today but for the future. This regional tour was more than a visit; it was a vision in motion. Together, we are leading transformative change, empowering students and celebrating innovation across the Piedmont-Triad region.
Chanel Jones
A sixth-grade social studies teacher at Broadview Middle School (Alamance-Burlington School System), Jones is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Piedmont-Triad Region Teacher of the Year.
For the past nine years, I’ve had the honor of teaching in the same county that raised me. My roots run deep here. These are the hallways that shaped who I became, and now I get to help shape the next generation walking through them. But one of the greatest privileges of serving as the Piedmont-Triad Region Teacher of the Year is that I get to experience education beyond the four walls of my own classroom. I get to see the heartbeat of our region, the powerful work happening in schools and communities across North Carolina.
Touring Asheboro City Schools’ Global Innovation Center, Asheboro High Zoo School, Southeastern Randolph Middle School and Rockingham Community College with Superintendent Mo Green reminded me just how extraordinary this work is.
At the Global Innovation Center, students had access to technology that lets them dive into their creativity without limits. Watching them explore and build in real time made me think, “I wish I’d had this growing up.” Their confidence and curiosity filled the space, and it was impossible not to imagine the innovators, engineers and leaders they’re becoming.
The energy at the Zoo School at Asheboro High was nothing short of electric. Here, learning isn’t confined to four walls, it lives and breathes in the world around them. Students spoke passionately about conservation and science, their voices full of excitement and purpose. It felt like stepping into a place where education isn’t just taught, it’s experienced.
When we arrived at Southeastern Randolph Middle School, something special happened. Students led the conversations with bright eyes and bold ideas. Classrooms buzzed with joy, hope and engagement. Their excitement wasn’t rehearsed, it was real. And when I stepped into the cafeteria, the smell and warmth pulled at my heartstrings. It made me think of my own students, my babies, and how much these spaces mean to the lives we shape each day.
Our final stop, Rockingham Community College, left me in awe. Stepping into the robotics lab, I could feel the future humming around me. I watched students design their own business cards, practice interview skills and prepare for the world beyond the classroom with confidence. The opportunities they have, the access, the pathways and the preparation are nothing short of thrilling. Education has transformed into something more dynamic and alive than ever before: rooted in a strong foundation, yet blooming with endless opportunities.
As the sun set on our day, I carried home a heart overflowing with pride and hope. This region, this little heartbeat of North Carolina, is proof that Superintendent Mo Green’s vision for our public schools to be the best in the nation by 2030 isn’t just a dream, it’s already in motion.
What I saw wasn’t just great teaching. It was community, it was joy, it was home. And as someone who grew up in these same hallways and now has the privilege of teaching in them, I know with every part of me that North Carolina is on its way to becoming a national model for what education can and should be.
Dr. Darrell Harris
Dr. Darrell A. Harris Jr. is the principal of Eastern Guilford High School and the 2025 Guilford County Schools Principal of the Year.
Our mission at Eastern High is to provide our students with a rigorous and relevant education anchored in excellence and tradition. "Rising to Excellence; Right Here, Right Now!" That mission has been our North Star for years, and tonight, we heard how Superintendent Green's strategic plan, Achieving Educational Excellence, calls all of North Carolina to rise to that same standard of excellence. What we've been doing here at Eastern is now part of a statewide movement.
This building holds a special connection to the work we just heard about. Almost twenty years ago, in 2006, Eastern Guilford High School burned to the ground. Our community was devastated. The school moved to temporary pods while the whole community waited for this building to rise. And when the new building was finally ready, when it was time to transition from those pods to our new home, there was Superintendent Green, at that time, the superintendent of Guilford County Schools, walking in wearing his polo and khakis, asking, "What do you need?" He didn't just lead from a distance. He came with his sleeves rolled up, ready to work, ready to help us move in and begin again.
And here we are, nearly twenty years later, in this building that rose from that fire. Tonight, Superintendent Green returns, not to help us unpack boxes, but to unpack a strategic direction that will help build the future of public education for all North Carolinians. The symbolism is not lost on us. Just as he showed up for Eastern then, he is now leading all of us toward a shared vision of excellence.
At Eastern Guilford High School, we are living out the work you just heard about. One example that we are incredibly proud of is how we are leading with Pillar 6: Leading Transformative Change through collaborative networks and shared purpose. We believe that when educators come together across school boundaries, when we unite as a community with a common mission, that's when transformative change happens, and that's exactly what we're doing here in Gibsonville.
Everyone in Gibsonville knows they are part of the Eastern Community. We don't just serve high school students in this building. We see ourselves as part of something bigger: a network of schools united in purpose. For the past two years, we have hosted a back to school gathering at the beginning of the year to kick off the school year; bringing together over 500 staff members from across the Eastern feeder pattern: our 4 elementary schools, our middle school, and our high school. We had well over five hundred educators come together to build relationships, share best practices, and recommit to our shared mission of serving our collective school community with excellence.
We've also created events throughout the year that bring students from all grade levels together, helping our youngest learners see the pathway ahead and understand that from the moment they enter one of our elementary schools, they are part of the Wildcat family. This is exactly what the strategic plan calls us to do: foster collaborative networks and ensure continuous improvement across our entire educational community.
Schools should be the center of a community, and here at Eastern, we are showing our community that we are united in purpose. That no matter what level you teach, no matter which building you work in, we are all here for the same reason: to ensure that every single student knows that they are loved, they are appreciated, they are important, and there is nothing that they can do about it.