“Raise our expectations!” That’s always been Julie Hill’s mantra as a teacher coach in CMS elementary schools. “We have to stop letting excuses get in our way, like language barriers or turbulent home lives. Put all that to the side and focus on what we can control in the classroom,” says Ms. Hill, part of the CMS Teacher Leader Pathway program that promotes highly effective teachers into coaching roles, often supporting beginning teachers.
In the News
The Belk Foundation works continuously to affect lasting change in our focus areas. Check back often for the latest news and announcements.
EdNC – What makes a great teacher?
What makes a great teacher? It’s a question that parents, superintendents, principals, and even teachers themselves grapple with.
As we have traveled the state, we’ve noticed that there are a lot of ways people think about teachers. And, of course, everyone has a favorite.
EdNC – EdTalk with Johanna Anderson: How to make sure every district has effective teachers
On this episode of EdTalk, host Alex Granados talks with Johanna Anderson, executive director of the Belk Foundation, about the foundation’s new funding priority aiming to make sure there is an equitable distribution of effective teachers in districts across North Carolina.
EdNC – Belk Foundation announces new strategic issue: Equitable access to effective teachers
Today, the Belk Foundation announced a new, five-year strategic focus on equitable access to effective teachers. In the announcement, the foundation cites research that students in high-poverty schools are half as likely to have access to a highly effective teacher as students in low poverty schools.
2019 Annual Report
In 2019, inspired by what we launched in Read Charlotte’s community-wide movement, we announce a new strategic issue for the next five years: equitable access to effective teachers.
Strategic Issue Press Release
The Belk Foundation Announces New Strategic Issue of Equitable Access to Effective Teachers
EdNC – Principals: Your best teaching candidates may already be in your building!
The data are clear: early career teachers are more effective when hired by the school where they student taught. Familiarity with the school culture, principal, students and other teachers makes a difference for novice teachers and for their students’ achievement.
2018 Annual Report
Fiscal year 2018 was a milestone year for The Belk Foundation – we marked our 90th year of grantmaking. We also engaged in reflection on the Foundation’s future and how best to focus our time and energy for impact within our two focus areas, K-3 achievement and excellent teachers and leaders.
EdNC – The Belk Foundation brings leaders together
Last night, The Belk Foundation convened education leaders in Raleigh from school districts, nonprofits, state government, and philanthropy to think about education in North Carolina and across the nation. “We must be innovative in North Carolina for the sake of our students,” said Johanna Edens Anderson, executive director of The Belk Foundation.
The News & Observer – UNC should rethink how it teaches future teachers, study says
When students in the UNC system’s teacher training programs were asked what they would do for a child struggling to read, few could cite specific strategies, according to consultants who reviewed public university education programs.