Katie Dukes (she/her)
@kneld.bsky.social
Director of early childhood policy for EdNC. Former high school social studies teacher. Graduate of NC State & Duke. Shoreline enthusiast.
Learn how BCC, the Bladen County Board of Commissioners, Bladen County Schools, and Bladen Smart Start collaborated to create a campus where children and families can learn side-by-side. www.ednc.org/bladen-commu...
Bladen Community College is bringing a local public school out of ‘retirement’
Bladen Community College acquired the Booker T. Washington school from Bladen County Schools to expand educational opportunities in the area.
www.ednc.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Learn how BCC, the Bladen County Board of Commissioners, Bladen County Schools, and Bladen Smart Start collaborated to create a campus where children and families can learn side-by-side. www.ednc.org/bladen-commu...
Hunger impedes learning. This middle school teacher calls for free school meals for all children, regardless of income or ZIP code. www.ednc.org/perspective-...
Perspective | The first bell should not ring on an empty stomach
Feeding all children is necessary for access to educational opportunity. An Alamance County middle school teacher shares why.
www.ednc.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Hunger impedes learning. This middle school teacher calls for free school meals for all children, regardless of income or ZIP code. www.ednc.org/perspective-...
Educators share how the presence of ICE and Border Patrol is impacting the education, development, and mental health of students and families. www.ednc.org/perspective-...
Perspective | From celebration to crisis, the impacts of aggressive immigration enforcement for our children
Educators share how the presence of ICE is impacting the education, development, and mental health of students and families.
www.ednc.org
November 19, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Educators share how the presence of ICE and Border Patrol is impacting the education, development, and mental health of students and families. www.ednc.org/perspective-...
Meet Dr. J.W. Kelley, the new president of McDowell Technical Community College, and learn how his belief that "everybody needs a second chance," is helping establish a culture of care and belonging across the community college’s campus.
www.ednc.org/a-lesson-in-...
www.ednc.org/a-lesson-in-...
A lesson in trust and second chances from McDowell Tech's new president
Dr. J.W. Kelley had been president of McDowell Tech for just two months when Hurricane Helene hit. Learn more about his approach to leadership.
www.ednc.org
November 17, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Meet Dr. J.W. Kelley, the new president of McDowell Technical Community College, and learn how his belief that "everybody needs a second chance," is helping establish a culture of care and belonging across the community college’s campus.
www.ednc.org/a-lesson-in-...
www.ednc.org/a-lesson-in-...
The federal government will direct an additional $155 million in reimbursement funds for North Carolina’s Helene recovery efforts, according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). www.ednc.org/11-13-2025-1...
$155 million in federal funds approved for Helene recovery in North Carolina
The federal government will direct an additional $155 million in reimbursement funds for North Carolina’s Helene recovery efforts.
www.ednc.org
November 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The federal government will direct an additional $155 million in reimbursement funds for North Carolina’s Helene recovery efforts, according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). www.ednc.org/11-13-2025-1...
“The path forward will not be found by focusing on what schools with high absenteeism are doing wrong, but on what schools that are showing improvements are doing right,” writes Micere Keels, NC Early Childhood Foundation’s policy and practice leader. www.ednc.org/brief-a-new-...
Brief | A new perspective on chronic absenteeism: Highlighting the good news hidden inside
It is essential to begin identifying and learning from schools that are turning the tide and bringing down chronic absenteeism.
www.ednc.org
November 13, 2025 at 6:34 PM
“The path forward will not be found by focusing on what schools with high absenteeism are doing wrong, but on what schools that are showing improvements are doing right,” writes Micere Keels, NC Early Childhood Foundation’s policy and practice leader. www.ednc.org/brief-a-new-...
The East Coast Migrant Head Start Project is one of three North Carolina Head Start grantees temporarily closed due to the federal government shutdown. Read more about how ECMHSP provides child care to the state's farmworker communities. www.ednc.org/11-20-2025-n...
North Carolina's farmworkers need child care. The East Coast Migrant Head Start Project helps
East Coast Migrant Head Start operates nine "educational centers" and one family child care home that serve 24 North Carolina counties.
www.ednc.org
November 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The East Coast Migrant Head Start Project is one of three North Carolina Head Start grantees temporarily closed due to the federal government shutdown. Read more about how ECMHSP provides child care to the state's farmworker communities. www.ednc.org/11-20-2025-n...
This guide will help you create a well-rounded, evidence-based communication plan to encourage parents to enroll students in your district. www.ednc.org/guide-how-to...
Guide | How to increase student enrollment in public schools
This guide will help you create a well-rounded, evidence-based communication plan to encourage parents to enroll students in your district.
www.ednc.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:28 PM
This guide will help you create a well-rounded, evidence-based communication plan to encourage parents to enroll students in your district. www.ednc.org/guide-how-to...
“We’re trying to feed people, because I made a connection: If the children are hungry, the parents are too,” said Kimberly Shaw, owner of A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center, a child care program in Raleigh. www.ednc.org/11-05-2025-h...
How child care programs can support local food access and healthy eating habits
Tools for child care programs on tackling food insecurity, connecting children with nature and local food, and establishing healthy habits.
www.ednc.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:39 PM
“We’re trying to feed people, because I made a connection: If the children are hungry, the parents are too,” said Kimberly Shaw, owner of A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center, a child care program in Raleigh. www.ednc.org/11-05-2025-h...
“I have realized, and I hope other people do, that it does make a difference what kind of environment you're in, even at age 2 and 3." See what else Jennifer Sonnek has learned in 20 years of operating her family child care home. www.ednc.org/profile-in-c...
Profile in Care | From infancy to adolescence, Jennifer Sonnek teaches Catawba County youth
Jennifer Sonnek is a high school teacher in Catawba County who also operates a family child care home after the school day.
www.ednc.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
“I have realized, and I hope other people do, that it does make a difference what kind of environment you're in, even at age 2 and 3." See what else Jennifer Sonnek has learned in 20 years of operating her family child care home. www.ednc.org/profile-in-c...
Check out these tools for child care programs on tackling food insecurity, connecting children with nature and local food, and establishing healthy habits. www.ednc.org/11-05-2025-h...
How child care programs can support local food access and healthy eating habits
Tools for child care programs on tackling food insecurity, connecting children with nature and local food, and establishing healthy habits.
www.ednc.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Check out these tools for child care programs on tackling food insecurity, connecting children with nature and local food, and establishing healthy habits. www.ednc.org/11-05-2025-h...
The EdNC team is thinking about our work and our impact in North Carolina. We want your honest feedback about how we’re doing. What changes or improvements would you make? Let us know in our annual survey. www.ednc.org/survey-ednc-...
Survey | EdNC readers: How are we doing?
The EdNC team is thinking about our work and our impact in North Carolina. Let us know what you think about our work in our annual survey.
www.ednc.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The EdNC team is thinking about our work and our impact in North Carolina. We want your honest feedback about how we’re doing. What changes or improvements would you make? Let us know in our annual survey. www.ednc.org/survey-ednc-...
Child care crisis deepens as funding slashed for poor families hechingerreport.org/child-care-c...
Child care crisis deepens as funding slashed for poor families
As states brace for less federal money, some are cutting child care spending to balance their budgets. Experts warn these cuts will be disastrous for families and the economy.
hechingerreport.org
November 4, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Child care crisis deepens as funding slashed for poor families hechingerreport.org/child-care-c...
Federal SNAP payments lapsed for 1.4 million North Carolina residents on Saturday, Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown. Find resources here. www.ednc.org/11-03-2025-a...
As federal government plans to disburse partial SNAP benefits, find local food banks and resources
Federal SNAP payments lapsed for 1.4 million North Carolina residents on Saturday due to the federal government shutdown. Find resources here.
www.ednc.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Federal SNAP payments lapsed for 1.4 million North Carolina residents on Saturday, Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown. Find resources here. www.ednc.org/11-03-2025-a...
"It's not going to fix the problem, but it would stop the bleeding," said Henrietta Zalkind, executive director of Down East Partnership for Children, the local Smart Start affiliate serving Nash and Edgecombe counties. www.ednc.org/10-30-2025-c...
Child care advocates point to teacher wage supplements as low-cost, urgent fix
In 2023, the turnover rate for assistant and lead teachers in child care was 38%, up from 21% in 2019. Wage supplements could help.
www.ednc.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:01 PM
"It's not going to fix the problem, but it would stop the bleeding," said Henrietta Zalkind, executive director of Down East Partnership for Children, the local Smart Start affiliate serving Nash and Edgecombe counties. www.ednc.org/10-30-2025-c...
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced he is suing the USDA and the Office of Management and Budget for refusing to fund the SNAP program, along with 24 other states and the District of Columbia. www.ednc.org/10-28-2025-s...
1.4 million North Carolinians may miss SNAP payments on Nov. 1 due to federal shutdown
Around 1.4 million North Carolinians are at risk of losing their federal food assistance payments due to the federal shutdown.
www.ednc.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:57 PM
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced he is suing the USDA and the Office of Management and Budget for refusing to fund the SNAP program, along with 24 other states and the District of Columbia. www.ednc.org/10-28-2025-s...
For the last two years, I've been analyzing data about the number of licensed child care programs each quarter. This quarter was the worst news yet. Even in some counties that had remained stable during and after the pandemic, we're seeing net losses now. www.ednc.org/north-caroli...
North Carolina continues to lose licensed child care programs
North Carolina has lost more than 6% of licensed child care programs since before the pandemic, limiting options for families.
www.ednc.org
October 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
For the last two years, I've been analyzing data about the number of licensed child care programs each quarter. This quarter was the worst news yet. Even in some counties that had remained stable during and after the pandemic, we're seeing net losses now. www.ednc.org/north-caroli...
In a Q&A with @ncpublicschools, Orange High School’s Jason Johnson spoke about his priorities as Principal of the Year and the good he sees happening in public schools. Read more here. www.ednc.org/qa-meet-nort...
Q&A | Meet North Carolina’s 2025 Principal of the Year
Learn more about Orange High School’s Jason Johnson, the 2025 Wells Fargo NC Principal of the Year.
www.ednc.org
October 27, 2025 at 6:31 PM
In a Q&A with @ncpublicschools, Orange High School’s Jason Johnson spoke about his priorities as Principal of the Year and the good he sees happening in public schools. Read more here. www.ednc.org/qa-meet-nort...
“It made me excited to go back to school because I didn’t have to worry about my children,” said Morgan Barto, a student parent at CFCC. www.ednc.org/how-cape-fea...
How Cape Fear Community College provides drop-in child care at no cost to students
Student parents at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina can drop their kids off for up to four hours of free child care.
www.ednc.org
October 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
“It made me excited to go back to school because I didn’t have to worry about my children,” said Morgan Barto, a student parent at CFCC. www.ednc.org/how-cape-fea...
myFutureNC has collected a series of resources for service members and their families to navigate workforce training and career transitions. www.ednc.org/myfuturenc-s...
myFutureNC spotlights educational resources for NC military veterans and families
myFutureNC has collected a series of resources for service members and their families to navigate workforce training and career transitions.
www.ednc.org
October 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
myFutureNC has collected a series of resources for service members and their families to navigate workforce training and career transitions. www.ednc.org/myfuturenc-s...
From expanding access to both child care and postsecondary opportunities, to aligning education to the state's workforce needs, here's how education leaders are approaching their work across the continuum. www.ednc.org/10-20-2025-t...
The state's top education officials share their priorities at Gov. Stein's cabinet meeting
NC education leaders shared their priorities to prepare students for postsecondary opportunities and high-demand jobs.
www.ednc.org
October 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
From expanding access to both child care and postsecondary opportunities, to aligning education to the state's workforce needs, here's how education leaders are approaching their work across the continuum. www.ednc.org/10-20-2025-t...
“We leave this year’s summit not only carrying our stories, but also committed to building a future where every student has the opportunity to thrive,” said Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith, senior director of the Dudley Flood Center. www.ednc.org/a-recap-of-t...
A recap of the Color of Education Summit: Recognizing the power in the stories we carry
Color of Education Summit pushes educators and stakeholders to recognize the power of their story.
www.ednc.org
October 14, 2025 at 3:39 PM
“We leave this year’s summit not only carrying our stories, but also committed to building a future where every student has the opportunity to thrive,” said Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith, senior director of the Dudley Flood Center. www.ednc.org/a-recap-of-t...