The Voice Spring by PENC.VOICE

The Voice For Educators The Voice For Educators

Gratitude for Our Members: A Thank

You to Those Who Make PENC

Strong

Amy Lambe

PENC Board of Directors, Treasurer

New Hanover County

There is strength in numbers. This is the culture of education today; teachers work in grade-level teams, school improvement teams, student support teams, and departments. Being a Professional Educators of North Carolina member is more than just a number; it is power. I joined PENC over twenty years ago because it focuses on improving education in North Carolina. Collectively, we can make a difference.

The mission of Professional Educators of North Carolina is “to promote education reform for the benefit of all North Carolina children while ensuring the recruitment, development, and retention of qualified educators.” I have witnessed how PENC is true to its mission. Professional Educators of North Carolina is the voice in the NC Legislature. I participated in Legislative Day four times, meeting with Senate and House members of both political parties. Collaborating with teachers from across our state to advocate for schools and students is powerful. All PENC members giving input to develop the Legislative Priorities demonstrate unity and vision for the future of education in North Carolina. It is all PENC members that make it a great organization to be a part of.

Thank you for all you do for students and for showing strength through membership.

If you are interested in becoming a School Ambassador email amcinnis@pencweb.org

Want to play a more significant role in shaping your school community and making meaningful connections? Consider becoming a school ambassador! This is your opportunity to step into a leadership position where your voice can amplify positive change. As an ambassador, you'll be a key link between your school and our organization, sharing updates, spreading awareness of member benefits, and helping colleagues feel supported and engaged. You’ll gain access to exclusive resources, leadership development opportunities, and a network of fellow ambassadors who share your passion for education. If you're ready to inspire, connect, and lead, we invite you to apply and become a school ambassador today!

The Effects of Helene By An Educator

Lindsey Canipe 3rd Grade Teacher

Mitchell Elementary School

ople in Mitchell County were e swept across WNC and demolished our community. When school was canceled on Thursday, we had no idea that this would be the start of an excruciatingly painful leave and that we would not return to school until November 7th. We had no idea that the lives of our students would be drastically changed forever. We had no idea we would be without power, internet, cell service, and basic necessities for weeks. We had no idea that our staff members would be going door to door checking for the safety of students and their families. We had no idea what was to come.

September 26 was a very long night for everyone in our county. The torrential rain and winds were terrifying, and cell phones alerted us to seek higher ground all night. On the morning of September 27, we lost cell service, all internet, communication, and power. My family and I ventured out and were overwhelmed by the devastation. Trees were down everywhere, and houses were destroyed. Power lines were wiped out, and lines were littering the roads. Our entire downtown area was underwater, and all roads were gone. Seeing family and friends in person was the only way to check their safety. It was a surreal experience, like something out of a movie. The next few weeks were a blur. Our school staff was everywhere in our community! We were the ones running the shelters and food pantries. Our new school that opened in August of 2024 was immediately transformed into a distribution site. Classrooms were turned into housing for the Virginia Task Force and other emergency agencies. The staff were out checking door to door to account for every student. I will never forget the day we realized that every student was accounted for, even though many suffered unimaginable loss of family and possessions.

The Effects of Helene Cont.

Every student I saw while working at the distribution center felt like a tremendous relief. I had a student who watched her entire home wash away, and when I finally saw her and she ran into my arms, it changed me forever. To say that tragedy had hit our little community hard is still an understatement. During this time, I got to witness and experience what it truly means to support others, what it truly means to be a neighbor, and what it truly means to have empathy. Hurricane Helene changed me as a person and an educator. In my mind now, there is nothing more important than having empathy and trying to wrap my mind around the circumstances these kids live in and the things they went through and are still going through daily. I had the opportunity to be out in the community and see where they live and their homes. So many of our students were living in poverty before we had a natural disaster. Yes, my job is to educate my students to the best of my ability, but even more important is making them feel safe, loved, secure, and heard.

I say all this to remind you of all we have been through, all our students have been through. We are reminded of it when it rains or the wind blows, and we see the anxiety on their faces. We are reminded of it when we get an emergency alert on our phones, and they want to know, “What’s wrong?” We are reminded of it when we can’t figure out why they are so behind but then remember the trauma they have all suffered this year. We are reminded of it when trying to make up for lost time, 50+ days missed, and still fall short. Our students are still held to the same standards as every other student in North Carolina, despite their traumatic year. We are educators. We are doing our best to maintain normalcy and get them where they need to be, exhausting as it may be. I choose to look for the positive, for the hope, and I find it in the resiliency of my students. Despite all these kids have been through, they continue to show up. They continue to learn and absorb, even though many still struggle with everything they have been through. Our students are amazing. They are resilient.

The Effects of Helene Cont.

Moving forward, we still have no idea what is to come. Will we ever get them back to where they need to be? Will the infrastructure of our community ever recover? Are these kids going to be living with the trauma of what happened forever? Despite our questions, despite our worries, despite our own anxieties, WE continue to show up. We continue to love our students and empower and inspire them to be the best version of themselves we can be. Yes, Hurricane Helene is over, but we live with it daily. It isn't over for us. Don’t forget about us.

The first photo shows the road that we had to get up to get to my sister's house to check on her family. It was only passable by ATV or foot.

There was one spot in the county that had cell service. We found out via word of mouth. Everyone had to go to this spot at the top of the mountain in order to be able to call people who were out of town.

The third and fourth photos show a helicopter landing in my parent's field. Air drops of supplies were common and people with fields/unoccupied land were often called on for helicopters to be able to land.

Whisk, Stir, Learn: Culinary Study Games For Student Success

Mary Edwards

CTE - Family Consumer Sciences

JH Rose High School

Students in the Culinary class were given the assignment to create vocabulary study games for Objective 3.0 Garde Manger. Students were able to work in collaborative pairs.

At JH Rose High School, our aim is to exceed student growth through highquality daily instruction. We integrate AVID note-taking methods, implement explicit vocabulary instruction techniques, engage in collaborative pair activities, and incorporate formative assessment strategies.

Directions for Creating Study Games:

1. Understand the Vocabulary: Review the garde manger vocabulary related to cold foods, skills, techniques, and responsibilities.

2. Select Game Types: Choose different types of study games (e.g., flashcards, quizzes, board games) that will help you learn the vocabulary.

3. Focus on Key Areas:

○ Cold Foods: Include terms and definitions for various cold foods prepared in garde manger.

○ Skills Needed: Identify and explain the essential skills required in a grade manager.

○ Techniques and Responsibilities: Highlight key techniques and responsibilities associated with the grade manager.

4. Create the Games: Develop your games using the vocabulary and information from the previous steps.

5. Test Each Other: Once the games are created, pair up with a classmate to play and test your knowledge.

6. Reflect and Improve: After playing, discuss what worked well and what could be enhanced for better learning.

Whisk, Stir, Learn: Cont.

Students engage in a fun and interactive study game, turning learning into a lively classroom experience.

Legislative Day 2025

On March 19th, members of the PENC Executive Board of Directors traveled to Raleigh for our annual Legislative Day. This important event gave us the opportunity to meet directly with lawmakers and advocate on behalf of our members and the students we serve.

Leading up to our visit, we conducted a member survey to gather input from educators about the most pressing issues they face in the classroom. The top four priorities identified were:

1. Improve Compensation & Benefits Package

2. Protect Classroom Instruction Time

3.Opportunity Scholarships Accountability

4.Improve New Teacher Mentorship Programs

We brought these priorities to the attention of legislators, emphasizing their critical impact on educator retention, student outcomes, and the overall strength of our public education system.

Our productive conversations reinforced the importance of continued collaboration between educators and policymakers. We are proud to be the voice for educators across North Carolina and remain committed to pushing for meaningful, lasting change that reflects your needs and elevates public education across the state.