August 2026

We are excited to share our latest policy report:

Bridging the Trust Gap: A New Path Forward for School Discipline.

Since schools reopened post-pandemic, educators have faced increasingly complex and disruptive classroom behaviors. This brief explores why zero-tolerance policies worsen discipline problems and outlines why restoring trust within school communities is the single most critical factor for increasing safety, engagement, and effective discipline across North Carolina public schools.

Key Takeaways & Resources:

• Quick Read: Check out our Two-Page Brief for a fast overview of the core insights and recommendations for policymakers.

• Full Report: Access the comprehensive recommendations and behavior trend analyses in the full Policy Report.

Dear School Adminstration,

The new school year is upon us, which you know better than anyone. You have been feverishly working and planning to set the stage for a great start—whether you have been interviewing to fill vacancies, creating schedules amid staffing cuts, greeting families and community members, planning opening activities, or all of the above. We know just how busy you have been.

The stress through all of this is very real. With a new year comes uncertainty, which can bring anxiety and fear. Pressure is high, and everyone enters the year with their own expectations. Through it all, stay steadfast in the values that define your leadership and let them shine through your words and actions. What you consistently say, do, celebrate, and prioritize will inevitably shape the culture of your school.

We encourage you to look for the “good stuff”—it’s everywhere:

• In the staff member who stayed late with a child who missed the bus or stepped up without being asked.
• In the student who held the door or helped a classmate pick up dropped supplies.
• In the custodian who greets students with an encouraging smile.
• In the parent who showed up or answered the phone.
• The more good you notice and acknowledge, the more good you will find.

Communicate your expectations clearly from the heart. Trust in the relationships you are building and in the greatness within those around you. Let them know the value they bring to the team—you don't have to do this work alone. When people know you believe in them, care about them, and trust them, they become the ones who stand beside you during difficult times.

Somewhere in those relationships, you will find what every leader needs: peace in knowing your work and leadership matter. You don’t have to be a perfect principal or have all the answers. You simply have to be your best self—present, authentic, courageous, and grounded in your values.

"They are not who they think they are, nor who you think they are—they become who they believe you think they are."

Dear Families,

As a new school year begins, remember that starting fresh can bring excitement, nerves, and everything in between. Give yourself and your children grace as new or familiar routines take shape, and know that you don’t have to navigate the year alone.

The connection between families and schools can make such a meaningful difference in how children feel, learn, and grow. Your child’s teachers, school staff, and support teams are there to listen, partner with you, and help when things feel difficult. Keep reaching out, asking questions, sharing what you know about your child, and celebrating the small wins along the way.

There will be hard days and good days, and both are part of growing. When families and schools stay connected, children are surrounded by adults who are working together, cheering them on, and helping them thrive. Wishing you and your family a school year filled with connection, growth, and joy!

Dear Elementary School Educators,

Thank you for your dedication to students, their families, and your school communities. 

Thank you for your efforts to provide the best experiences, opportunities, and outcomes for the children in your care. 

Thank you for collaborating with your colleagues to create environments where students and teachers can learn, grow, and thrive. 

We at the NC Center for Resilience & Learning hope you feel respected, appreciated, and supported throughout the year.

May you delight in the joy and wonder of learning alongside students and colleagues! 

Dear Middle School Educators,

Middle school is such a transformative part of a child’s life. It can be tumultuous and full of uncertainty as they navigate a new level of self-awareness and personal growth. We are so grateful for the teachers and staff who are willing to brave the middle grades, embrace the struggle, and prepare them to navigate school and life. 

Dear High School Educators,

Just a quick reminder: what you do every day is nothing short of heroic. You’re guiding teenagers through algebra, essays, emotions, friendships, growth spurts, and the occasional existential crisis—all before lunch. And somehow, you still show up with patience, humor, and a heart big enough to hold a whole classroom.

Resilience isn’t about being perfect or endlessly calm. It’s about taking a breath when the room gets loud, finding one small thing that goes right, and remembering that even on the wild days, you are shaping lives in ways your students will carry for decades.

So please— be kind to your nervous system, drink your water, stretch your shoulders, laugh when you can, and give yourself the same compassion you offer your students. You’re doing sacred work, and you’re doing it beautifully.

Your steadiness matters. Your presence matters. And your resilience is literally contagious.

You’ve got this, and we’ve got you.

Dear School Counselors & School Social Workers,

We extend our deepest gratitude for the heart, dedication, and expertise you bring to our students every single day.

Last year, your guidance, crisis support, and commitment to student well-being made a lasting difference to your school’s culture and to countless students, families, and colleagues. As we are entering the 2026–2027 academic year, we know that your role remains vital in helping students navigate academic challenges, social-emotional growth, and future planning.

Please know that you are not in this work alone. We stand alongside you, supporting your initiatives, advocating for the mental health, social-emotional growth, and academic success of all our students.

Thank you for being a pillar of strength and compassion in your school community. We wish you an inspiring, smooth, and rewarding start to the school year!

Dear Instructional & Behavioral Specialists,

You are the hands-on bridge between strategy and daily classroom reality. From coaching teachers through tough moments and modeling trauma-informed strategies to designing individualized behavior plans and de-escalating complex situations, your work keeps classrooms grounded and learning forward.

Every day, you step into the messy, dynamic work of supporting both educators and students right when and where they need it most. Your practical guidance, endless patience, and collaborative problem-solving make equitable student success possible in real time.

We at the NC Center for Resilience & Learning deeply appreciate the skill, energy, and heart you bring to our schools each day.

Dear Operations Staff,

Every School Day Starts With You!

Before the first bell rings, you have already made a difference. Whether you are driving a bus, preparing a meal, caring for our buildings, welcoming students, keeping our schools safe, or making sure the day runs smoothly, you are an essential part of the work.

Never underestimate the impact of your presence. Students may not always know your title, but they will remember how you made them feel. Your consistency creates safety. Your care creates belonging. Your work creates the conditions where teaching and learning can happen.

As we begin another school year, know that you matter, your work matters, and our students are better because you show up. Thank you for being the people behind the scenes who make extraordinary things possible. Here’s to a new year of showing up, serving with purpose, and helping every student know: I belong here.

Dear Support Staff,

Many of you are the ONLY REASON a child can make it through the day. The parents of those children are so grateful for your calm, steadying, and compassionate presence in their children's lives. You are essential and extraordinary. Thank you for everything you do every day to support the children you serve, and we wish you a year full of small and large victories!

Dear Resilience Team Members,

Thank you for choosing to be part of this important work. Your commitment to helping create a school where students and staff feel safe, supported, connected, and valued will make a meaningful difference in your school.

Please remember that building a resilient school community takes time.

Every caring conversation, thoughtful idea, and small step forward helps create lasting change. As you continue this journey, I hope you extend the same patience, compassion, and encouragement to yourself that you so freely offer to others. We are grateful for you and excited to see what your team will accomplish together!

Dear Students,

To all you students, what you do in and out of school is so important because you are so important! And everything we do is so that you can thrive - because you deserve it, and because you can, whether you see it now or not. We have high expectations for you because we know you are capable, and we look forward to you teaching us one day. So give your best, and we will give you ours. 

Follow us on INSTAGRAM!

We want to share our story on Instagram- join us there!

Follow us on Linktree!

Orlando Dobbin, Jr

Senior Eastern Regional Program Manager

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Greenville, NC)

Eulanda Thorne

Senior Program Manager

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Wilson, NC)

Brian Randall

Senior Western Regional Program Manager

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Asheville, NC)

Leslie Blaich

Program Manager

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Marshall, NC)

Angela Mendell

Senior Program Manager

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Elizabethtown, NC)

Dr. Tanneshia Mayes-Dukes

Senior Professional Development Manager

NC Center for Resilience& Learning

(Raleigh, NC)

Stacey Craig

Senior Program Manager

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Raleigh, NC)

MKayla Nelson

Program Manager 

NC Center for Resilience & Learning 

(Newland, NC)

Jessica Edwards

Impact Specialist

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Spring Hope, NC)

Ervin Jones

Program Consultant

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Elizabeth City, NC)

Quintin Mangano

Program Manager

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Rocky Mount, NC)

Rebecca Stern

Program Consultant

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Carrboro, NC)

Katie Rosanbalm

Research & Evaluation Partner

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Duke University)

Victor Jones

Consultant

NC Center for Resilience & Learning

(Rocky Mount, NC)

The Resilience Reader is published monthly by the Public School Forum of NC and distributed to Forum members, educators, policymakers, donors, media, and subscribers -- or anyone interested in issues such as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), childhood trauma, resilience and the power of trauma-informed schools and communities.

Please pass the word! Forward The Resilience Reader to anyone who may find this information useful.

If you received this email from a friend, subscribe to this newsletter by clicking here.

Archived editions will be located at https://resilienceandlearning.org/newsletter/.

©2024 Public School Forum of North Carolina. All Rights Reserved.

Public School Forum of North Carolina

919-781-6833

Follow us at @theNCForum

www.ncforum.org