QUICK FACTS

SCHOOL PERSONNEL

Teacher Preparation

One-third of North Carolina's teachers hold a master's degree or higher.

North Carolina accounts for almost one-fifth of the nation's National Board Certified teachers - 14,211. The next closest state is Florida with 12,670. In addition, four North Carolina public school districts placed in the Top 20 districts nationally for the total number of national board certified teachers: Wake County Public Schools is second with 1,487, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools is fourth with 1,211, Guilford County Public Schools is 11th with 520 and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Public Schools is 18th with 384. National Board Certification is the highest credential in the teaching profession. A voluntary process, educators achieve certification through a rigorous performance-based assessment that takes between one and three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and counselors should know and be able to do. Certification is currently available to teachers in 27 fields.

Employment Needs

North Carolina needs to hire around 10,000 new teachers each year to meet vacancies. About one-third of new teachers currently come from other states, one-third through North Carolina colleges and universities and one-third through lateral entry.

Personnel Highlights

Dr. Terry Holliday, Superintendent of Iredell-Statesville Schools, is the 2009 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. He will represent North Carolina for National Superintendent of the Year honors.

Vann Pennell, principal of South Brunswick High School (Brunswick County Schools), is the 2009 Wachovia North Carolina Principal of the Year.

Jessica Garner, a Spanish teacher at Porter Ridge High School (Union County Schools), is the 2009-10 AT&T North Carolina Teacher of the Year.