Rachel Candaso Named 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year
Wellcome Middle School was filled with excitement and pride as students, staff, and community members gathered to celebrate Ms. Candaso being named the 2025 North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year. Ms. Candaso is the first representative from Pitt County Schools to ever receive this prestigious state honor. As North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Ms. Candaso will serve as an ambassador for public education, traveling across the state to advocate for teachers and students. She will also join the State Board of Education as an advisor for two years and participate in national professional development opportunities. To read more about Ms. Candaso being the recipient of this prestigious award click this link – https://www.pitt.k12.nc.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=17646&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=59892&PageID=1
North Carolina State Education Budget Updates Webinar – Thursday, May 1 at 7 pm
Nearly two-thirds of the funding for our public schools comes from the state, and our elected officials are working on the budget for the next two years right now! Join us for an online workshop to learn how the state budget is made, what’s being proposed, and how you can advocate for public schools! This workshop is presented by Parents for Public Schools of Pitt County in partnership with the PPS National Office. This webinar will be offered on Thursday, May 1 at 7:00 pm. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PJ52VFqgSDa7tE67vBZuTw#/registration
School Recognitions
Congratulations to Innovation Early College High School for earning 2025 Cognia National STEM School of Distinction Honors. To read more about this recognition click this link – https://www.pitt.k12.nc.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=17646&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=59970&PageID=1
Falkland and Lakeforest Elementary Schools recently were nationally recognized for student-centered excellence. Both schools were honored as Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools. The prestigious recognition is awarded to schools that excel in creating environments where students thrive academically, socially and emotionally, demonstrating the highest standards in school culture and student connectedness. Capturing Kids’ Hearts is a nationally recognized professional development program designed to transform school culture by equipping educators with tools to build strong, healthy relationships with students. To read more about these recognitions click this link – https://www.pitt.k12.nc.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=17646&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=60058&PageID=1
