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BURGAW, NC - Pender County Schools takes pride in being one of the 15 school districts selected to participate in the groundbreaking North Carolina Practitioner Network, a collaborative endeavor designed to address the challenges faced by public schools across the state. This initiative, led by the University of North Carolina School of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), aims to unite educators, policymakers, and researchers to forge data-driven solutions for the education system. 

 The North Carolina Practitioner Network's inaugural cohort includes 15 public school districts from across the state, uniting them with university faculty members to tackle pressing issues in education. The network's formation comes at a critical time when many schools grapple with teacher vacancies and students performing below grade level. 

 "We are honored to be part of the North Carolina Practitioner Network. This collaborative effort aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering the best education possible to our students," said Pender County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove. "By working together with experts from various fields, we can address the pressing challenges facing our schools and ensure a brighter future for our students." 

 The network, funded by NCDPI and the North Carolina Collaboratory, aims to break down the barriers that often separate practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. Dr. Lauren Sartain, assistant professor at the UNC School of Education and co-leader of the network, highlighted the unique approach, saying, "This network is different because it will connect district and school folks with researchers in a way that makes them equal and committed partners with the same goal of improving education across North Carolina." 

 The North Carolina Practitioner Network will conduct interactive workshops, both online and in-person, to guide district and school leaders in identifying problems of practice and implementing research-based strategies. These sessions will empower leaders to apply various research methodologies, tools, and techniques in K-12 settings. 

 Dr. Jeni Corn, director of research and evaluation at NCDPI, emphasized the network's focus on data-driven solutions, stating, "By training district leaders in research methodology and connecting them with university partners, we want to foster data-driven solutions that positively impact policy and classroom practice." 

 Key to the network's success is the pairing of each participating district with faculty fellows from various universities across North Carolina. These thought partners will offer technical support and contribute to the development of meaningful educational improvements. 

 Dr. Matthew Springer, co-leader of the network, noted that the first year will concentrate on designing and learning, with a focus on developing online workshop modules. In subsequent years, select district and charter teams will receive support to implement solutions identified in year one. 

 The North Carolina Practitioner Network also seeks to engage leaders at the state, local, and institutional levels to ensure a comprehensive approach to addressing educational challenges.