Stein, Green call for more public school investments at educator conference

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green took their calls for more public school investment to hundreds of public school leaders Thursday at the Raleigh Convention Center.

This week, the 2025 Conference on Educational Leadership is hosting more than 300 public school administrators from across North Carolina, including superintendents, principals and district-level leaders.

On Thursday morning, Stein presented his education agenda, as outlined in his budget proposal and State of the State address, to applause.

"Where you come from should not limit how far you can go," he said. "To deliver on that promise starts in North Carolina's public schools."

Stein has called for raises in teacher pay to better compete with neighboring states for talent; North Carolina ranks behind most nearby states in starting or average teacher pay. He's also called for cellphone-free classrooms, universal free breakfasts, more teacher leadership roles that help boost student performance, a $300 per-teacher stipend for school supplies and expanded research-based literacy training for middle school teachers, among other things.

In some of his higher-dollar requests, Stein is proposing a $4 billion school building bond referendum to be put before North Carolina voters -- which state lawmakers would need to agree to do -- and the eventual phasing-out of the general private school tuition voucher program known as Opportunity Scholarships, which is set to cost more than half a billion dollars next year. Stein said the state "squanders" money on the tuition vouchers at schools not subject to much regulation.

Stein called Green "the champion for public education that we need."

Green told attendees he wanted to bring "gratitude, vision and advice" for leaders amid "headwinds" of politics. The U.S. Department of Education has cut half of its employees, as well as hundreds of million dollars in education research and teaching training and recruitment grants. The Trump administration has vowed to close the department and has begun to transfer responsibilities for federal student loans and aid, as well as programs for students with disabilities, to other federal agencies.

"There's chaos all around, but I know that my leaders of my public schools will do exactly that, will lead," he said.

Green has been touring the state and holding listening sessions for community members, parents and students to ask him questions.

He believes North Carolina's schools can provide most of what people want. He said the state needs to ensure safe and secure learning environments and continually engage parents, as well as celebrate accomplishments instead of giving into negativity because of obstacles.

Only Stein's and Green's speeches were open to the public, but leaders otherwise planned to conference over school safety, possible federal funding cuts and education initiatives.

Katherine Joyce, executive director for the North Carolina Association of School Administrators, said school safety is top of mind during this week’s conference.

"What we're featuring at our conference in regards to school safety are some of those highlights that are lessons learned and things that can help other school leaders put in place good practices for their own schools and students," Joyce said. 

This conference comes as the future of the United States Department of Education remains in question. As a result, school leaders on Thursday will also discuss how to handle possible federal funding cuts. 

"If we do see cuts that come from the federal level, there's going to have to be some stop gap measures," Joyce said. "So we will be having those conversations as this legislative session unfolds."

The three-day conference began Wednesday, when educators met with state lawmakers to talk about staffing shortages, pay increases and money for new facilities. 

Joyce said the state superintendent is expected to update local leaders on federal funding this week.