The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is the winner of the Southern Regional Education Board’s 2026 State Leadership Award for creating professional learning experiences for educators and implementing college- and career-readiness strategies. The state will be presented with the award July 14 at SREB’s Making Schools Work Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

SREB’s State Leadership Award recognizes states that have established continuous improvement structures and processes to help schools transform school and classroom practices, establish and sustain change, and increase student achievement.

“North Carolina is creating opportunities for each student to achieve career and college readiness,” said Dale Winkler, SREB senior vice president for school improvement.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has made strides in providing educators with high-quality professional learning that is engaging, job-embedded and ongoing. Many schools across the state have implemented the Making Schools Work key practices and created a culture of continuous improvement.

The department’s vision is for all students to graduate prepared for success in college, careers and citizenship. In collaboration with SREB, North Carolina has made a long-term commitment to support career and technical education teacher induction, enhance mathematics instruction and promote family engagement. The state is also a regional leader in aligning curricula to college and career-ready standards.

These efforts ensure that districts have the necessary frameworks to support students in a productive learning environment.

SREB’s annual Making Schools Work Conference provides educators with opportunities to participate in professional development, network with colleagues from across the country and build school and district leadership capacity.

Contact: Beth Day, Communications Vice President, at Beth.Day@sreb.org

The Southern Regional Education Board works with states, districts and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce. An interstate compact and a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Atlanta, SREB was created in 1948 by Southern governors and legislators to advance education and improve the social and economic life of the region.