MAY BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOGNITION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Craven County Schools Celebrates BT3 Teachers Completing the Beginning Teacher Program

This morning, Craven County Schools proudly celebrated 63 Beginning Teacher 3 (BT3) educators as they completed their Beginning Teacher journey and transitioned into full teacher status after three successful years of growth, leadership, and learning.

The celebration was held at Grover C. Fields Middle School and marked an important milestone for educators who have dedicated their first years in the profession to developing their craft, building meaningful relationships with students, and growing as instructional leaders in their schools.

Dr. Cheeseman, Superintendent, opened the event with inspiring words of wisdom, sharing reflections on his own educational journey and how his career has evolved through the impact of students, colleagues, and fellow staff members. His message served as a meaningful reminder that great educators continue to learn and grow throughout every stage of their careers.

Mr. Christian Martin, the 2024-2025 Beginning Teacher of the Year, also shared celebratory remarks with the group. His message honored the hard work, resilience, and commitment of the BT3 teachers as they completed this important chapter in their professional journey.

Each BT3 teacher received a certificate in recognition of their successful completion of the Beginning Teacher Program. In addition, each teacher was gifted a chair, a thoughtful symbol encouraging them to relax, reflect, and recharge this summer before the next adventure begins when students return in August.

This celebration recognized not only the completion of a program, but also the beginning of the next phase of these educators’ careers. Over the past three years, these teachers have demonstrated dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to student success. Their promotion to teacher status reflects the important role they play in classrooms across Craven County Schools.

Congratulations to all 63 BT3 teachers on this outstanding accomplishment. Craven County Schools is proud of your growth, your service, and your continued commitment to making a difference for students each day.



A special thank you is extended to Lakecia Brown and Necia Swain, Beginning Teacher Coordinators, and Dr. Neshawn Dawson, Director of Human Resources, for their leadership, guidance, and continued support of beginning teachers throughout this journey.

Graham A. Barden Students Keep the Joy of Reading Alive

Through Book Club

Even with a pause in the district’s annual Battle of the Books competition this school year, students at Graham A. Barden Elementary continued to celebrate reading in a meaningful and engaging way.

Mrs. Jules, School Librarian/Media Coordinator at Graham A. Barden Elementary, met weekly with fourth and fifth-grade students through a school-based Battle of the Books Club. Throughout the year, students independently read two to three books and participated in literacy activities designed to build comprehension, strengthen discussion skills, and foster a deeper love of reading.

The excitement for books continued beyond the school day, as students also participated in weekly after-school book club meetings in the media center. With support from Taryn O’Leary, kindergarten teacher, and Angela Fairless, MTSS Interventionist, students gathered to enjoy great snacks, meaningful conversations, and a shared reading experience centered around The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles.

The club provided students with an opportunity to connect with one another through literature, explore new stories, and develop confidence as readers. Their commitment and enthusiasm showed that the spirit of Battle of the Books is about much more than competition; it is about curiosity, imagination, teamwork, and the joy of getting lost in a good book.

On the last day of school, book club members proudly wore special t-shirts featuring a design created by Juliet Foster, one of the club’s fourth-grade members. The shirts served as a wonderful reminder of the memories made, the books enjoyed, and the friendships built through reading.



Congratulations to the Graham A. Barden Elementary Book Club students and staff for keeping reading at the heart of the school experience!

NCDPI World Languages New Parent/Caregiver Guide for K-12 World Languages - Available in English and Spanish

The NCDPI World Languages team has released the new Parent/Caregiver Guide for K-12 World Languages in English and the Guía para padres y cuidadores: World Languages/Idiomas del mundo para K-12 en español to support implementation of the 2024 North Carolina Standard Course of Study (SCoS) for World Languages.

The guide helps parents and caregivers understand:

• The benefits of language education
• How language learning happens in schools
• Resources and strategies to support language learning at home

Find the English guide here. 

Find the Spanish guide here.

CHAMP CAMP TRANSPORTATION IS NOW AVAILABLE!

Bus transportation for camp is now available from West Craven HS

and Havelock HS.