Edgecombe County Public Schools

Details:

Edgecombe County Public Schools is the first school district to implement Opportunity Culture throughout the district. In 2017–18, Edgecombe County Public Schools began implementing Opportunity Culture in three schools on the north side that form a feeder pattern and a new “innovation zone”: Coker-Wimberly Elementary, Phillips Middle, and North Edgecombe High. The district began implementation in the Tarboro and Princeville feeder schools in 2018–19, and the south side feeder schools and Edgecombe Early College High School the following year.

In prior years, Edgecombe suffered a teacher turnover rate higher than the state averages in its middle and elementary schools. Edgecombe attributes much of that to heavy competition from nearby districts, which in previous years offered higher teacher pay supplements. In 2016, Edgecombe raised from 5 to 7 percent the supplement for teacher pay that it provides over the state’s funding, in addition to adding the Opportunity Culture roles for 2017-18.

ECPS Demographics

When ECPS began implementing Opportunity Culture in the 2017–18 school year, the district had 14 schools serving 6,200 students. Of those students, 60 percent were students of color, 40 percent were white, and 70 percent were eligible for free and reduced lunch.

Read:

• Public Impact Press Release: Edgecombe County Public Schools Joins Other N.C. Districts in National Initiative to Extend Reach of Excellent Teaching
• Running Towards the Risk of Doing School Differently, Leading School Turnaround, November 2019, by Taylor Shain and Rupen R. Fofaria for EdNC
• In the Spotlight: Donnell Cannon, Principal, North Edgecombe High School, August 2018, by Sharon Kebschull Barrett for the Opportunity Culture Fall 2018 Newsletter
• Teacher Leadership Roles Come to Edgecombe County, February 2017, by Liz Bell for EdNC
• A Principal’s First Year of Leading and Serving, January 2017, by Liz Bell for EdNC

Watch:

Edgecombe County Public Schools: Believe in What’s Possible Educators from Edgecombe County describe how Opportunity Culture has made their school district an innovative place to work.

What Does Opportunity Culture Mean to You? Opportunity Culture helps provide support and opportunities through having multi-classroom leaders, students at North Edgecombe High School in Tarboro, N.C., say.

How Has Opportunity Culture Changed Your School? Students at North Edgecombe High School in Tarboro, N.C., say Opportunity Culture helps them develop deeper connections with their teachers and clearer visions for their futures.