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.
Rachel Candaso
A middle grades elective teacher and site coordinator for the AVID program at Wellcome Middle School (Pitt County Schools), Candaso is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Teacher of the Year.
There could not have been a more fitting place to begin Superintendent Mo Green’s “Achieving Educational Excellence” strategic plan launch than at C.S. Brown High School STEM. Once the first Black high school in North Carolina and alma mater of Dr. Dudley Flood, C.S. Brown stands as both a monument to our history and a mirror of our progress. As Rupen Fofaria once wrote, “C.S. Brown isn’t just a school — it’s a legacy.” Walking its halls, I felt that legacy pulsing through the present as students coded robots and built 3D-printed designs, showing us that innovation and heritage can thrive side by side.
We were welcomed by the Hertford County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Jesse J. Pratt, who shared his vision for the district’s continued growth. At Ahoskie Elementary, that vision was tangible. Through partnerships with county commissioners, the community has created a vibrant, modern campus that truly reflects pride in place. In the auditorium, State Board Member Wendell Hall delivered a speech that left us breathless. His words are a reminder that in our rural counties, progress is a shared mission carried by church leaders, local officials and educators alike. The unity in that room was a powerful testament: Hertford County believes in its schools.
Our tour continued in Perquimans County, where Missy Swain, North Carolina’s first ever NCCAT CTE Teacher of the Year, showed us what happens when educators dream boldly. Her CTE Business Advisory Council and new Student Advisory Council are connecting classrooms to careers, giving students a voice in shaping their own future. This kind of leadership captures the spirit of the Northeast, where educators are building opportunities despite limited resources.
For me, the highlight of the day was welcoming Superintendent Green to my home district of Pitt County Schools. There, I had the honor of sharing the work of our Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council, where every school’s Teacher of the Year serves as a direct voice to district leadership. Teachers like Elyse McRae, who also serves on the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Council, spoke passionately about the desire to connect with NCDPI and turn the goals of the strategic plan into action. Their words reminded me that the strength of our schools lies in the collaboration between teachers, leaders and policymakers who share a common mission: ensuring every child in North Carolina has access to an excellent education.
The day concluded with Superintendent Green’s official launch for the Northeast Region. It was a gathering of superintendents, educators and community leaders from Elizabeth City-Pasquotank to Bertie County. Standing among them, I felt immense pride for this corner of our state. I moved to Eastern North Carolina through Teach For America, drawn to its spirit of resilience and possibility. To now stand here as the Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, alongside leaders who share that same commitment, was a full-circle moment.
The Northeast may be rooted in history, but it is rising with innovation, collaboration and heart. Like Dr. Flood before us, we continue to build bridges for those who will follow, because every student, in every county, deserves to see the promise of their future reflected in the schools that serve them.