The landscape of public education in North Carolina is set for a major transformation with the unveiling of a Blue Ribbon Commission. Spearheaded by Governor Josh Stein, Senate Leader Phil Berger, and House Speaker Destin Hall, this initiative aims to elevate the state’s public schools to the highest standards in the nation.
Governor Josh Stein expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Excellent public schools create meaningful opportunity for every North Carolinian to succeed. This commission represents a bipartisan commitment and an opportunity to make North Carolina’s public schools the best in the nation.”
Senate Leader Phil Berger highlighted the role of education in unlocking potential, saying, “The educational opportunities in North Carolina open a world of possibilities for our citizens. It’s imperative that we continue to work collaboratively to ensure North Carolinians have the skills they need to enter the workforce. We need everyone — business leaders, educators, and policymakers — to come together to meet the real-world needs of our students. I look forward to seeing the proposals this group suggests to improve educational outcomes for all students.”
Speaker Destin Hall emphasized the state’s potential in education leadership: “North Carolina has the talent and the foundation to become a national leader in education, and we intend to do just that. By bringing top educators, business leaders, and elected officials to the same table, this new commission will take an honest look at what’s working and what isn’t in our public schools. I look forward to collaborating with them to strengthen schools across our state.”
The commission’s mandate includes a comprehensive review of several key areas: teacher training, student advancement, administrative operations, educational leadership, and accountability. This initiative involves members appointed collaboratively by the state’s Governor, Senate President Pro Tempore, and Speaker of the House.
Members Appointed to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education
- Anne Faircloth, President, Buffalo Investments & Lafayette Farms (Commission co-chair)
- Dr. Don Martin, Chair, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners (Commission co-chair)
- Maurice “Mo” Green, Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Senator Jay Chaudhuri
- Senator Kevin Corbin
- Senator Dana Jones
- Senator Brad Overcash
- Senator Gladys Robinson
- Representative Cynthia Ball
- Representative Brian Biggs
- Representative Tricia Cotham
- Representative Brandon Lofton
- Representative David Willis
- Eric Davis, Chair, State Board of Education
- Brenda Berg, President & CEO, BEST NC
- Dr. Connie Book, President, Elon University
- Teresa Branch, School Board Member, Caldwell County Schools
- Matt Bristow-Smith, Principal, Edgecombe Early College High School, Edgecombe County Public Schools
- Dr. Jonathan Bryant, Chief Administrator, Lincoln Charter, Lincoln County
- Dr. Del Burns, Retired Superintendent, Wake County
- Allen E. Gant, Jr., Chairman, Glen Raven, Inc.
- Dr. Jason Gardner, Superintendent, Mooresville Graded School District
- Lisa Godwin, Beginning Teacher Coach, Pender County Schools
- Peter Hans, President, University of North Carolina System
- Dr. Bill Harrison, Chair, North Carolina Public School Forum
- Marisha Merchant, Teacher, Onslow County Schools
- Anna Spangler Nelson, Chair, Spangler Companies, Inc.
- Dr. Robert P. Taylor, Superintendent, Wake County Public School System
Click here to read the executive order.
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