The Partnership runs a number of programs, some of which have been around for years. It has distributed more than $850,000 in teacher leadership grants since the 1980s and coordinates the many volunteers needed to stage the annual Pieces of Gold performances.
The Partnership distributes a newsletter twice each month called In Context, which provides a summary of education news affecting Wake County's public schools. It also offers more detailed insight and analysis as part of a Topic Review series. The staff is called on to make multiple presentations throughout the year and occasionally produces larger reports.
The most recent of those reports, titled Suspending Disbelief, has become the basis for much of the Partnership's current work. The report describes in concrete terms what a world-class school system might look like and illustrates the importance of maintaining high standards in every classroom.
In general, the Partnership strives to be a clear and credible source of information for the community because it believes a well-informed public produces better public schools.
The Partnership's history of working with the system gives the organization credibility with community leaders. At the same time, its independence from the system allows it to address issues that can’t – or won’t – otherwise be addressed in a constructive way.
In a more formal sense, three strategic initiatives guide the Partnership's work:
- Retain Effective Teachers: To retain effective teachers who ensure successful outcomes for students.
- Develop Effective Leaders: To develop the capacity of new and current school and system leaders to drive successful results in our schools.
- Ensure Healthy Schools: To ensure that every Wake County public school maintains a safe and healthy environment that enables high quality teaching and learning to occur.
We encourage you to explore the various pages of this web site to learn more about the public schools of Wake County and this organization. Please don't hesitate to contact any staff member with questions.