Public School Matters

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Mariah Walker, Principal of Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy and the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year. Dr. Walker shares insights on student success, authentic leadership, educator recruitment and retention, and the importance of connecting… Read more

In this episode, NCASA welcomes Dr. Shirley Prince, Executive Director of the NC Principals and Assistant Principals’ Association (NCPAPA), for a conversation about leadership, professional development, and advocacy. Dr. Prince shares lessons from the leaders who shaped her career, the challenges facing today’s school… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team welcomes Jack Hoke, Executive Director of the North Carolina School Superintendents' Association (NCSSA), for a conversation about leadership, professional development, and the challenges facing public education. Mr. Hoke reflects on his career and the leaders who shaped his approach… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team welcomes Dr. Matthew Cheeseman, NCASA President and Superintendent of Craven County Schools. Drawing on more than 31 years in education, Dr. Cheeseman shares his vision for the future of North Carolina's public schools, and the importance of building strong relationships with… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks withJason Johnson, 2025 NC Principal of the Year and 2026 National High School Principal of the Year. Our hosts discuss the challenges that face Principals, Assistant Principals, and all school administrators. They also talk about advocating with state legislators to raise… Read more

This week our Advocacy Team sits down to have a conversation with NCASA’s Incoming Executive Director, Dr. Travis Reeves. Dr. Reeves, who currently serves as the Superintendent of Surry County Schools, will officially assume the duties of Executive Director on July 1, 2026. In this episode Dr. Reeves shares his… Read more

This week the NCASA Advocacy Team discusses the importance of the March 3rd Primary Election with Alex Baltzegar, Executive Director of the NC FreeEnterprise Foundation, also known as NCFree. NCFree’s mission is focused on promoting a free enterprise system through research, education, and political engagement, which… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with Dr. Rodney Peterson, Superintendent of Person County Schools and the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year, about challenges he and other superintendents are facing in leading public schools.

In this episode our NCASA Advocacy Team takes an important look back at the unprecedented devastation that Hurricane Helene caused in western and northwestern North Carolina in late September 2024, just over a year ago and how it impacted K-12 education in those areas. Special guests for this episode are: Dr. Rob… Read more

The NCASA Advocacy Team talks with Jack Hoke, Executive Director of the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA), about data NCSSA has collected early in the 2025-26 school year that shows vacancies statewide in teaching positions and other staff. They discuss how the vacancies compare to previous… Read more

In this episode, the NCASA Advocacy Team welcomes Dr. Matthew Cheeseman, Superintendent of Beaufort County Schools and President-Elect of the NCASA Board of Directors; Beckie Spears, Principal of Wilkesboro Elementary School and the 2024 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year; and Kimberly Jones, an English… Read more

As state lawmakers take a brief break during the long, hot summer, lots of activity is happening in regard to K-12 public education legislation and funding. A recent decision from the U.S. Department of Education to withhold billions of dollars in education funding for states, including $165 million for North… Read more

This week, NCASA welcomes two guests to help us explain the “Art of Education Advocacy:" Dr. Stephen Fisher, Superintendent of Cleveland County Schools and President-Elect of NCASA’s Board of Directors; and Dr. John Lassiter, Principal of Hertford Grammar School in Perquimans County Schools and the 2025 Wells Fargo… Read more

This week our Executive Director, Katherine Joyce, focuses on the challenges our local public schools face as state funding for private school vouchers is at an all-time high. Katherine is joined by Tracy Zimmerman, Vice President for Policy and Strategy at the Neimand Collaborative, a nationally renowned social… Read more

This week NCASA is honored to speak with the NEW State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Maurice "Mo" Green. He talks about his first month in office and his vision and goals for K-12 education in North Carolina.

This week the NCASA Advocacy Team talks about the latest legislative activity affecting K-12 public schools in North Carolina and provides listeners with an overview of NCASA’s recently-approved legislative and policy priorities for 2025. To see NCASA's 2025 Legislative Priorities, click HERE.

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team goes over highlights of the 2024 election results and discusses what impact those results could have on the future of K-12 education in North Carolina. Resources: 2024 General Election Results (NC State Board of Elections)Handout: 2025 North Carolina Leadership (NCASA)Handout:… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team provides an update on NC’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, or “private school vouchers.” For more on this important issue, NCASA members can visit the NCASA Advocacy Center that provides a wealth of information and news about this issue and may others affecting K-12 education in our… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks about the upcoming general election and what the results could mean for education in North Carolina. Join us in a few weeks for our episode covering key election results too! For more in-depth analysis from our NCASA Team, see the links below: NCASA Governor Candidate Voter… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team discusses highlights from the final weeks of legislative activity at the North Carolina General Assembly. It’s the end of the 2024 short session! Or is it? Bills discussed in this podcast: NC Senate Bill 332 - 2023 Appropriations Act Changes NC Senate Bill 357 - Adjustments to 2023… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, Superintendent of Franklin County Schools and President of NCASA Board of Directors, and Dr. Tony Jackson, Superintendent of Chatham County School System and President of NCSSA Board of Directors, about what issues and challenges “keep them up at… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team takes a deeper dive into the principal pay plan proposal with Donna Bledsoe, the 2023 NC Principal of the Year, and Patrick Greene, the 2022 NC Principal of the Year.

In this episode, our Education Advocacy Team highlights comments from various school superintendents who visited the NC General Assembly to address needs in their respective districts.

In this episode, our Education Advocacy Team recaps the events that took place at the NC General Assembly on May 1st as part of Principals’ Appreciation and Advocacy Day. The event, co-hosted by NCASA and the NC Principals and Assistant Principals’ Association (NCPAPA), provided an opportunity for principals from… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team discusses legislative priorities and expected hot topics in education for the 2024 North Carolina legislative short session beginning on April 24.

This week, Elizabeth Yelverton, NCASA Legal Affairs & Policy Manager, is joined by Tara Thomas, Policy Analyst, AASA, for an update on the latest federal education news. Follow Tara Thomas on X (formerly known as Twitter) @TaraEThomas1 or get up to date information at the national level by reading The Leading Edge:… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team discusses current legislative and policy hot topics in North Carolina’s education system.

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team shares highlights of the long-awaited 2023 state budget package and is joined by North Carolina arts educator and state Representative Jeffrey Elmore (R-Wilkes).

As the NC Legislative Long Session continues, there are plenty of K-12 Education Budget issues on the table! This week our NCASA Advocacy Team dives deep into the pages of the competing House and Senate budget proposals for 2023-2025 and their expected impact on K-12 education. We also touch on some of the budget… Read more

This week, NCASA’s Advocacy Team reflects on the impact of our recent School Leader Day at the Legislature that took place on April 18th. Our team provides analysis on priorities outlined by lawmakers in attendance: Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance); Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston); and Rep. Ashton Wheeler Clemmons… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team goes over the highlights of the first month of session at the NC General Assembly, including an overview of key K-12 education legislation filed so far.

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team shares their 2023 Legislative & Policy Priorities after the NC General Assembly opened on January 11, 2023. For more information on NCASA's 2023 Legislative Priorities, visit our website at: https://ncasa.net/ncasa-legislative-priorities/

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team is on the case — NC CASE that is! The Team is joined by Christy Grant, President of the NC Council of Administrators of Special Education (NCCASE), an NCASA affiliate organization, and Executive Director of Special Education and Student Support Services in Nash County Public Schools,… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team goes over key take-aways from the 2022 mid-term elections and predicts what effect these results will have on public education in North Carolina.

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with Ken Derksen, President of the NC School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA), an NCASA affiliate organization, on how NC public schools not only “talk the talk” but also “walk the walk.”

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks about the upcoming mid-term elections and what the results could mean for education in North Carolina. In addition, read the recent article from EdNC, entitled “The Politics of North Carolina’s School Boards," which discusses the impact this election will have on school boards… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with Marlon Watson, Transportation Director for Johnston County Public Schools and President of the NC Pupil Transportation Association (NCPTA); and Brian McClung, Transportation Director of Rutherford County Schools; about challenges school districts are facing in securing… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with Dr. Patrick Greene, 2022 Wells Fargo NC Principal of the Year, and Mr. Tabari Wallace, 2018 Principal of the Year and State Superintendent’s Special Advisor for Principal Engagement, about recent concerns on a scheduled pay cut for some principals in NC, solutions… Read more

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with Mr. Jack Hoke, Executive Director of the NC School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA), on the new school year, school administrator turnover, and the importance of strong school leadership.

This week the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with Dr. Patrick Miller, Chairman of NC’s Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC), and 2020 NC Teacher of the Year Maureen Stover about the proposed “Pathways to Excellence For Teaching Professionals” model that PEPSC is now developing. The model, if… Read more

State lawmakers have reached an agreement on a state budget package for 2022-2023. Join the NCASA Advocacy Team for highlights of what it holds for public schools and their personnel. Click below for references to this podcast: NC House Bill 103 NCASA 2022 State Budget Summary

This week the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with Dr. Shirley Prince, Executive Director of the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals’ Association (NCPAPA), about principals’ reflections on the school year that just ended and priorities they have for 2022-23.

This week the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt on the school year that just ended, lessons learned, and what’s next for public education in North Carolina.

Legislation rolled out the week of June 6th proposes new parameters for virtual academies operated by NC school districts and also addresses remote instruction days in the school calendar and other K-12 policy topics. Join NCASA’s Advocacy Team for a closer look at these bills and their next steps. References: NC… Read more

State lawmakers are already busy drafting a state budget proposal for 2022-2023. Join NCASA’s Advocacy Team for a look at the likely path for this spending bill and the key funding priorities they are hoping the General Assembly will include in it for public schools.

This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team discusses House Bill 755: Parents’ Bill of Rights, which was introduced in the state legislature last week and passed in the Senate this week. Make sure to hit subscribe to stay in the loop!

This week Katherine and Elizabeth look at North Carolina's recent primary elections and the impact they already hold for determining control of the 2023 General Assembly.

This initial podcast introduces you to our hosts, NCASA’s Executive Director Katherine Joyce and Elizabeth Yelverton, NCASA Legal Affairs & Policy Manager. Together, they make up NCASA's Advocacy Team and will update you on current education legislation and policy actions in North Carolina. We hope you will tune in… Read more