There are moments in this work when the path forward is clear and moments when it is deliberately disrupted. April 2, 2026, was one of those “deliberately disrupted” days. As […]
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Dudley Flood Center for Educational Opportunity Announces $525,000 in Grant Funding from Burroughs Wellcome Fund and Conway/Holderness Family Fund
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 27, 2026 | Raleigh, N.C. Dudley Flood Center for Educational Opportunity Announces $525,000 in Grant Funding from Burroughs Wellcome Fund and Conway/Holderness Family Fund Raleigh, NC — […]
One Hundred Years In: Why Black History Demands Collective Vision
As we reflect on more than 100 years of Black history, the question before us is not simply what we remember, but what we choose to build together. Black history […]
“I Feel Pressure All Day, Everyday”: Finding Refuge and Resilience on Education’s Front Line
Written by: the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity The education sector faced a climate of volatility in 2025. While districts continued to grapple with the lingering scars […]
Building Bridges for Educational Equity: The Flood Center Story
Written by: Russ Campbell, Burroughs Wellcome Fund When Dr. Dudley Flood helped lead North Carolina’s school desegregation movement decades ago, he could not have foreseen that his legacy would one […]
Playing Charades or Choosing Children?
Originally Published by Public Ed Works RALEIGH (December 17, 2025) – In North Carolina, we are watching a disturbing choice play out in real time: Playing charades over prioritizing the […]
NC’s educator pipeline: Urgent need for state action
Originally published by Public Ed Works RALEIGH (December 10, 2025) – In December 2019, North Carolina made a bold and necessary commitment to focus statewide attention on the actions required to recruit […]
Dudley Flood Center Launches Fourth Cohort of Rural Teacher Leadership Network in Eastern North Carolina
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 28, 2025 37 educators selected across 10 counties will deepen their practice, strengthen teacher leadership, and build a durable rural educator community Last year, the Public School […]
The Backlash Against DEI and Its Effects on High School Students
Written by: Arley | July 2025 This January, a plane crashed at the Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., and 67 people tragically passed in this accident. Shortly after the […]
Tickets and Registration Now Open for the 2025 Color of Education Summit Featuring Dr. Eve L. Ewing, Tara Roberts, and Dr. John B. King Jr.
MEDIA CONTACT:Chanté Russell, Public School Forum of NCcrussell@ncforum.org919-781-6833 ext. 103 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RALEIGH, NC (July 7, 2025) — Registration is now open for the 8th annual Color of Education […]
Land of the “free”
Written by: Leandro Carreo | June 2025 Tuesday, November 8th, 2016. I had just gotten off the bus from school. With nerve-wracking anticipation, I approached my mom and asked, “Who […]
Reclaiming Education and Truth: Students Chartering the Path Forward
By KaLa Keaton and Rotimi Kukoyi | May 2025 We believe every child deserves an education that makes them feel seen and heard. We believe every child deserves the tools […]
DRIVE Coalition Annual Summit Celebrates Legacy of Black Education and Announces New Fellowship for Educators of Color
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 4, 2025 [Gibsonville, NC] – More than 100 educators, education leaders, and stakeholders from across North Carolina gathered on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at the DRIVE Coalition […]
Public schools are beacons of hope through crisis and devastation
Written by: Kimberly Jones and Deanna Townsend-Smith Published by WRAL Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 — As the General Assembly returns to decide disaster relief, it has the ability to uphold […]
2024 Color of Education Summit highlights equity, community, and civic action
by Chantal Brown and Derick Lee, EducationNC October 7, 2024 Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. is a New York Times bestselling author, scholar, political commentator, and James S. McDonnell Distinguished University […]
Over 850 Attendees Engaged in Collective Learning for Collective Action at the Annual 2024 Color of Education Summit
For more information: Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity dtownsend-smith@ncforum.org 919-781-6833 x114 Raleigh, NC (September 29, 2024) — One of the nation’s most prominent scholars, […]
Public School Forum launches next Rural Teacher Leader Network cohort
by Derick Lee, EducationNC August 27, 2024 A small percentage of our society is ambidextrous. For the vast majority who are not, they likely struggle to write even their own […]
Fear is Not Our Future
The weaponization of resources, religion, books, race, and language contributes to the extreme polarization experienced in today’s society especially as it relates to public education. Within the PK – 20 […]
Perspective | Have you watched ‘Hidden Figures?
Deanna Townsend-Smith and Valerie Bridges, EducationNC July 22, 2024 The historical and current conditions that eliminate Black and Brown females from the workforce There is a “Hidden Figure” amongst you, […]
Tickets and Registration Now Available for Hybrid 2024 Color of Education Summit featuring Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr.
MEDIA CONTACT:Chanté Russell, Public School Forum of NCcrussell@ncforum.org919-781-6833 ext. 103 Raleigh, NC (July 10, 2024) — Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. will be this year’s September 28, 2024 Color of Education […]
Perspective | Empowering North Carolina’s educators through equity-centered professional development
by Simona Goldin and Deanna Townsend-Smith, EducationNC June 26, 2024 “I just thought that was the most noble contribution you could make to human kind, was to be a teacher.” […]
Turning Silence into Language and Action: an Ode to Activism
Using your voice as a tool for advocacy, action, and justice is central to the creation of this nation. It has been the foundation of every change movement. However, over […]
A Request from a NC Public School Graduate
Written By: Deanna Townsend-Smith, EdD May 13, 2024 In NC the Supreme Court ruled that the state’s constitution guarantees a public education for every child and includes due process which […]
New podcast highlights student perspectives on educational equity
by Derick Lee, EducationNCApril 25, 2024 Elected officials, legislators, government administrators, educators, and parents all weigh in on what education looks like in North Carolina. However, students are often missing […]