7 Superintendents of Rural School Districts in North Carolina Receive 2017 Friday Medal

RALEIGH, North Carolina — Seven superintendents of rural school districts in North Carolina received the NC State College of Education’s 2017 Friday Medals in recognition of their strong, innovative leadership that includes documented results in improving students’ learning and implementing digital-age approaches to teaching and learning:

• Darrin Hartness – Davie County
• Anthony Jackson – Vance County
• Jeff McDaris ’83 – Transylvania County
• Janet Mason – Rutherford County
• Lynn Moody ’80,’95MED – Rowan-Salisbury
• Patrick Miller – Greene County
• Robert Taylor – Bladen County

The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, the NC State College of Education’s research and innovative arm, collaborated with the North Carolina School Superintendents Association to select the seven superintendents who received the Friday Medals.  Each year since 2006, the Friday Institute has presented the Friday Medal to honor the memory and legacy of Bill Friday, who led the UNC system as its president for 30 years.

“This year we wanted to convey how much we value the educational leaders from the rural parts of our state, where the schools are also so much the center of the communities,” said Glenn Kleiman, executive director of the Friday Institute. “In recognizing this selected group, we salute all the education leaders, superintendents, principals or teachers who bring deep commitments to providing an excellent education to their students in rural districts.”

Rural districts make up a significant portion of North Carolina; 80 out of 100 counties are considered rural by the U.S. Census Bureau, meaning they have a population density of no more than 250 people per square mile. Leaders of small, under-resourced rural districts face unique challenges, but the creative and innovative Friday Medal recipients have each found ways to engage their communities in improving and updating their schools to prepare their students for careers, college and citizenship in the rapidly changing, global and technological age in which they live.

“The biggest priority in our district is to continue to improve the quality of educational opportunities for our students and to sustain the numerous improvements that we have made in recent years, especially equity of access to early college experiences, enhancing the use of digital learning tools and resources, and increasing the number of students who graduate prepared for college and careers,” said Janet Mason, superintendent of Rutherford County School and the N.C. Association of School Administrators’ 2018 Superintendent of the Year.

“Education remains the great equalizer in our society,” said Robert Taylor, superintendent of Bladen County Schools. “Without adequate access and training in the use of technology as a teaching tool, we run the risk of limiting to many, particularly rural communities, access to the great equalizer.”

This year’s award recipients were recognized Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Friday Institute. Former Governor of North Carolina James B. Hunt and Representative Craig Horn spoke to honor the recipients.

“We are embarking on a new digital age,” Horn said. “Through the use of the digital environment, this is an opportunity to see over the next hill, not just down the street. With your leadership, what you’ve exemplified, how you carry yourself every day–that’s what we need.”

Former Governor Hunt also stressed the importance of strong school leadership. “The school is the most important place in a community,” he said. “If you want to talk about progress in your county, then you do something to improve your schools. That’s the most important thing you can do for economic development, of having good people and being the kind of folks that we ought to be.”

Two of the superintendents recognized for the Friday Medal are graduates of NC State’s College of Education — Jeff McDaris ’83 of Transylvania County and Lynn Moody ’80,’95 MED of Rowan-Salisbury. Anthony Jackson of Vance County teaches in the college’s Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development.

The Friday Institute has also worked extensively with the districts of the superintendents receiving the award, as well as many other rural districts throughout North Carolina, since opening in 2005. It leads the North Carolina School Connectivity Initiative, which is now completing a decade-long project to provide broadband internet access to every classroom in every public school. The Friday Institute has also led the development of the state’s Digital Learning Plan for K-12 schools and is working with the Department of Public Instruction to support its implementation throughout the state. Since 2007, the Friday Institute has also worked with many rural districts on innovative education and technology programs supported by the Golden Leaf Foundation. — By Heather Bronson, senior communications manager at the Friday Institute