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WakeEd Wednesdays
WakeEd Wednesdays is a weekly series produced to simplify many of the complexities of North Carolina’s largest school district, the Wake County Public School System. With more than 180 schools, 160,000 students, and 11,000 teachers, WCPSS has a major impact on all Wake County residents regardless of whether they have children enrolled in the schools.
Attrition Report Ignores Serious ‘Brain Drain’ Among K-12 Teachers
According to a report about teacher attrition prepared for the State Board of Education this week, the fact only 7.5 percent of teachers have left the public schools to work in another industry or state is seen as an indicator of rising job satisfaction among teachers. It’s reasonable to draw that conclusion, but this is not a significant victory.
WakeEd Partnership Announces Leadership Change
Wake County Education Nonprofit Names Interim President, Begins Search for Leader in 2020 RALEIGH, N.C. — WakeEd Partnership (WakeEd), a business-backed nonprofit organization committed to supporting teachers and students in the Wake County Public School System...
Investing in Education is A Choice, Not An Invoice
The 25-year lawsuit to improve education funding in North Carolina reached a major milestone last week and reactions ranged from “I told you so.” to “How will we pay for it all?”
Building Healthy Communities Through Literacy
What comes to mind when you think of UNC REX Healthcare? Exceptional doctors and nurses, the birth of your children, or cutting-edge technology may be front of mind, but did you know that UNC REX Healthcare partners with WakeEd Partnership to help children learn to...
Boosting Hourly Pay is One Way to Ease School Bus Driver Shortage
For most people, the yellow school bus has a straightforward purpose: to get kids to and from school safely and in a timely manner each day. The concept is so simple it borders on mundane, but ask any school transportation official, bus driver, or school principal and it will be clear that the yellow school bus is perhaps the most crucial component of the school day for many kids.
National Reading Scores Show NC Literacy Instruction Needs Improvement
The disappointing news last week that the state’s overall reading proficiency of fourth graders has dropped since the start of the Read to Achieve law reveals some major flaws with that program, and it’s not with the teachers.
Even in large organizations like WCPSS focusing on finer details contributes to overall success
It can be easy to overlook details that tell a larger story while running a $1.6 billion organization with more than 19,000 employees, but as the saying goes: the devil is in the details.
Desegregation Efforts Taking an Important New Direction in WCPSS Schools
Wake County has been a national leader for its desegregation efforts for more than 40 years, and the Board of Education is poised to continue that leadership with a new approach to improving integration in its 191-and-growing schools
Stagnant School Performance Reveals It’s Time For A Change
The North Carolina school performance grades released last week continue to tell the same stories across the state: the schools with well off students perform better than schools with students from lower income families. That’s not what the school accountability is supposed to be telling us about our schools.
MVP Math = content + skills: A formula for workforce readiness and student success
There’s a common theme that comes through frequently as WakeEd interacts with dozens of business leaders around the Triangle: they need a ready workforce. Readiness means more than credentials and content knowledge, however. Business leaders almost unanimously say they need employees who can work in teams, convey information, perform analysis and solve problems.
BTLN: School Grade Versus Teacher Turnover
By: Margaret Borden | Math Teacher, Knightdale High School “Mrs. Borden, I know I want to study schools, but there are so many variables to choose from, how in the world will I narrow this down in time?” - Kiara Bush, May 17, AP Statistics class Since February, Kiara...
A 15-Point Win for School Report Cards
A bill on its way to the governor for signature will prevent a major upheaval in the way school performance is measured. It’s an issue that WakeEd and others have actively pursued for three years.
Wake’s Leaders Chose Wisely with New Tax Rate
This year’s Wake County tax increase was a big step in the direction of adequate funding because state leaders persist in approving austere budgets which have left large and small counties alike with picking up the tab for services traditionally funded by the state.
WCPSS is No Longer the Top Driver of Tax Increases in Wake County
This year’s budget process has marked a turning point in the discussion about local education funding. The school system is no longer the main driver of the proposed property tax increase.
Exceptional Educators, Meaningful PBL at Enloe High School
Grace Jackson, English teacher and PBL champion at Enloe Magnet High School, exemplifies excellence both in her classroom and throughout the Enloe community.
Investor Spotlight: First Citizens Bank
First Citizens has served North Carolina for 121 years, so we know the difference public education has made and is making in our communities. Vibrant public schools are a critical engine for furthering economic growth.
County Manager David Ellis Proposes $36.5 million more for WCPSS
In his second budget as county manager, David Ellis proposed a 6.36-cent tax increase that would send $36.5 million in additional spending for operations of the Wake County Public School System.
Link: Career-Focused PBL at North Wake College and Career Academy
This year, North Wake College and Career Academy engaged businesses from two different industries in providing hands-on PBL experiences for students.
Link: Capturing the Spirit of Lead Mine Elementary School
Lead Mine Elementary School leaders are collaborating with marketing professionals from Lifetouch and AlphaGraphics to help capture the spirit of Lead Mine students, teachers, and parents.
Link: Exploring Global Careers at Dillard Drive Middle School
Dillard Drive Middle School and LORD Corporation are collaborating to expose students to variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers.
Report: Teachers have the greatest impact on inspiring students to pursue STEM careers
There’s been a lot of buzz in recent years about exposing more K-12 students, especially girls and minorities, to STEM career fields. These fields are particularly male dominated, and they are among some of the highest-paying professions lately. However, the barriers...
Why Grade-Level Reading Matters
Being able to read on grade-level by the third grade can change a child’s life. For five years, WakeEd Partnership’s Partners Read program has placed mentors into Wake County Public Schools to read with developing first and second grade students and has provided...
Investor Spotlight: UNC REX Healthcare
For 125 years, UNC REX Healthcare has provided expert care to Wake County and surrounding areas. Our mission to inspire hope, improve health and heal communities is at the heart of what we do every day. UNC REX understands its role in being a leader in health and...
Kathy Hartenstine Memorial Fund Established
WakeEd is honored to announce the Kathy Hartenstine Memorial Fund to support childhood literacy through the Partners Read program. Kathy was a lifelong educator, dedicating more than 35 years to Wake County Public School System as a teacher and principal. Committed...
Several plans emerge to pay for statewide school construction and renovation
With four competing proposals, it is very likely North Carolina will have a plan for school construction by the end of this year’s legislative session. How it will be funded and how much Wake County might receive when everything is final is anybody’s guess at this...
Intern Profile: Hannah Naylor
Hi, I’m Hannah Naylor, a senior at Meredith College majoring in Mass Communication and Public Relations, with minors in Professional Writing and Presentation Media, and Sociology. While at Meredith I have served in leadership positions with Lambda Pi Eta Honor...
It’s Time for a Productive Conversation About Honoring Educator Professionalism
Regardless of the profession and above all else, employees want to feel respected and valued. How that respect and value is measured differs across the industry spectrum, but some common themes occur in all areas such as meaningful and productive work, adequate...
Slowing Enrollment Growth Emerges as Opportunity for WCPSS
A national trend has caught up with Wake County Public School System that has caused district leaders to change the way they think about the future.The U.S. birth rate has declined in recent years, and it hit a 30-year low in 2017, according to...
Funding is Key to Achieving Success for Public Schools in 2019
Looking back over 2018, it was a good year for advancing good public education policies. Teachers received another raise, a compromise was reached which will reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, and most importantly Wake County voters overwhelmingly...
WakeEd Urges Voters to Support the WCPSS Bond Referendum on Nov. 6
The schools will be built no matter what. The schools will be built If the bond referendum passes, and taxes will go up if the bond referendum passes. The schools will be built If the bond referendum fails, but taxes will go up even higher if the bond referendum...
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Raleigh, NC 27609 | (919) 821-7609
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WakeEd Partnership
3101 Industrial Drive, Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27609 | (919) 821-7609