State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt engaged in a dialogue with investors from the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Tuesday, outlining her vision for the future of education in North Carolina. President of Central Piedmont Community College Kandi Deitemeyer moderated the conversation.
Truitt delved into key initiatives such as Operation Polaris and Portrait of a Graduate, strategically designed to elevate education and enhance student outcomes. These initiatives address pressing challenges by bridging educational gaps and equipping students for post-graduation readiness. Truitt champions the principle that every classroom should be led by a highly qualified, excellent teacher – a vision she refers to as her “North Star.”
Truitt shared that in North Carolina only 22% of high school graduates attain a four-year degree by 24, 18% achieve a credential, and 67% of students lack reading proficiency heading into 9th grade. Emphasizing the need to reshape K-12 education, Truitt asserted that graduation should not be the ultimate goal. Instead, she advocates for an educational journey geared toward post-secondary plans for students being “enrolled, enlisted, or employed.”
To help prepare students for post-secondary success, Truitt has identified seven essential competencies, which make up the Portrait of a Graduate. These competencies are adaptability, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, a learning mindset, empathy, and personal responsibility. The Department of Public Instruction’s focus centers on nurturing these proficiencies well in advance of graduation, as they plan to introduce a career initiative enabling students to develop a career vision as early as 7th grade, that they will continuously refine and pursue throughout their educational journey.
During the conversation, Huntersville Mayor Melinda Bales shared the success of Journey 360, a program that introduces career opportunities to high school students. ITruitt highlighted the state’s many accomplishments, including North Carolina’s K-3 advancements outpacing national standards, proficient student digital literacy skills, and the state’s noteworthy strides in post-pandemic educational recovery.
The CLT Alliance strives to find workforce solutions for employers in the region and works with state policymakers to make an impact. As a new school year is getting underway, parents, students, and employers will all look for continued improvement in North Carolina’s schools.
