For Joshua Breazeale, public schools aren’t just part of his story—they are his story. As the grandson and son of public school teachers and a proud public school student himself, Joshua’s life has been shaped by public school classrooms and educators.
That connection deepened in August 2014 when he walked his son into kindergarten for the very first time. Standing in that doorway, Joshua felt the weight and wonder of what the next 13 years would hold. Today—twelve years later—his son is a high school senior, preparing for the opportunities ahead. Pitt County’s public schools have guided his son’s journey, nurtured his growth, and prepared him for the next chapter.
Seeing Public Schools Through Various Perspectives
As a parent, Joshua sought ways to engage with his son’s school. Through years of volunteering, listening, and showing up, he gained a clearer understanding of what students and staff needed—and the powerful impact schools have on every child.
But Joshua’s understanding grew even deeper in August 2021, when he stepped into a kindergarten classroom as a teaching assistant. For 15 months, he witnessed the magic and challenges of public education up close. In addition to supporting a teacher as a teaching assistant he drove a school bus, substituted across grade levels, supported 3rd and 5th grade classrooms, and interacted with countless students, educators, administrators, and families.
Those experiences revealed the full picture of public schools—the joy, the growth, the relationships, and the realities of limited resources.
Even now, when former students spot him in the community, their faces light up as they shout, “Hello, Mr. Breazeale!” Many of those children have gone on to compete in school competitions such as Battle of the Books and Science Olympiad, and school sports—proof of how their public school experiences continue to shape their confidence and opportunities.
Each of those experiences motivated Joshua to apply to be a part of the PPS‑PC 2022–2023 PEP Cohort, where he joined other families committed to strengthening public education.
The Promise—and the Challenge—of Public Education
Joshua has seen extraordinary things happening in Pitt County Schools. He has also seen the impact of resource shortages that make it harder to meet every child’s needs.
One moment stays with him: a kindergarten student who needed regular support from a speech pathologist. The student made tremendous progress—but because the specialist was stretched across multiple schools with a full caseload, sessions were limited to just one or two days a week. The student’s potential was clear, but the resources weren’t enough.
Stories like this fuel Joshua’s continued commitment to public schools as the Executive Director of PPS‑PC. They remind him—and all of us—that today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce, leaders, and community builders. North Carolina has the resources to fully fund public schools. What’s needed now is the will.
A Call to Action
Public school students and educators in Pitt County—and across the state—are counting on parents, guardians, community members, organizations, and businesses to advocate for fully funded, fully resourced schools.
Public schools are a public good. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring they are strong, supported, and equipped to provide a high‑quality education for every child.
Joshua’s journey—from student, to parent, to teaching assistant, to Executive Director of PPS‑PC—is a testament to the power of public schools and the importance of standing up for them.
