North Carolina has long been home to a large population of active duty, guard, reserve and veteran armed service members. In recognition of the state’s rich military history, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is pleased to recognize hundreds of schools as part of its Purple Star Award Designation initiative which first launched in the 2019-20 school year.
Press Releases
New data about educators who completed the Rethink Education Facilitator Badge professional development program reveals the program's transformative impact on their teaching and student learning outcomes across North Carolina.
Rachel Candaso, a Pitt County Schools middle school teacher and AVID coordinator, is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made today at an awards luncheon honoring Candaso and eight other regional finalists at the Umstead Hotel in Cary.
The 2023-24 State of the Teaching Profession report, presented to the North Carolina State Board of Education today, shows an improved attrition rate for teachers in public school districts for 2023-24 over the previous year.
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) proudly announces Summer Espinosa, a kindergarten teacher at W.R. Odell Primary School in Cabarrus County Schools, as the NCCAT 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year.
While five high school finalist teams competed in the annual North Carolina Jr. Chef cook-off this month to create unique school lunch entrée recipes, the “Knights of Culinary” team from Durham Public Schools’ Northern High won first place in the 2025 NC Jr. Chef Competition.
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) proudly announces Tyler D’Angelo, an agriculture teacher at CE Jordan High School in Durham Public Schools, as the NCCAT 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career & Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year. The award was presented at a special ceremony held at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University on Thursday, February 20th.
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green’s “Mo Wants to Know” tour is coming to all eight regions of North Carolina this March and April.
Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green shared the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s (NCDPI) legislative priorities and budgetary asks for North Carolina’s public schools at the February State Board of Education (SBE) meeting. During this meeting, the SBE officially adopted the NCDPI’s legislative agenda, marking the first time in several years that the two have shared a joint set of legislative priorities.
RALEIGH – Nine North Carolina educators have been named regional Teachers of the Year in recognition of their outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching.
Five North Carolina teachers were honored last month as recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest award K-12 teachers can receive for instruction in those two subjects by the federal government.
North Carolina public school units reported decreases in school violence and high school dropouts in the 2023-24 academic year, according to the annual Consolidated Data Report presented today to the State Board of Education.
Five teams of high school students from across the state will cultivate culinary creativity in the 2025 North Carolina Jr. Chef Competition this spring. Based on applications and recipes submitted, teams from Ashe County High (Ashe County Schools), Garinger High (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools), Martin County High (Martin County Schools), Northern High (Durham Public Schools) and Thomasville High (Thomasville City Schools) will compete as finalists in the statewide cook-off.
Nine principals across North Carolina have been selected as North Carolina Regional Principal of the Year finalists. On May 16, one will be named the 2025 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year at a ceremony hosted at The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is seeking schools and fiscally responsible community organizations to serve as sponsors for Summer Nutrition Programs in 2025 to help ensure children who have limited access to food at home get the educational enrichment and nutritious meals they need for optimal growth, development and overall well-being.
Data released today by the U.S. Department of Education shows that North Carolina students are ahead of the nation in eighth grade math and tracking with their peers in other tested subjects.
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green announced the final hire to his executive leadership team today. Dr. Stacey Wilson-Norman will serve as the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s (NCDPI) Chief Academic Officer.
Continuing to build a team focused on achieving educational excellence, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green named three additions to his executive leadership team today: Mark Dessauer, Dr. Derrick Jordan and Dr. Michael Maher. Maher and Jordan will assume their new roles at NCDPI on January 20, and Dessauer will begin his role on February 10.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction unveiled a $25 million initiative today, funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation, aimed at improving school performance through innovative educational strategies. The announcement was made during the State Board of Education meeting, and the board will hold its vote on two contracts and a Request for Proposals (RFP) to support the work of the grant on Thursday.
State Superintendent Mo Green announced two new hires for the Government Affairs team at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) today. Geoff Coltrane will serve as the Senior Director of Government Affairs and Strategy and Elizabeth Yelverton will serve as legislative liaison. Both will also support the State Board of Education’s legislative efforts.