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Gov. Josh Stein and state Superintendent Mo Green, both newly elected Democrats, spoke about budget priorities and public schools at-large on Thursday at the 2025 N.C. Association of School Administrators (NCASA) Conference on Educational Leadership.
Stein started by thanking educators, school staff, and administrators for their service, highlighting their perseverance in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Thursday is six months to the day after Helene devastated western North Carolina.
“You supported children and community members in a time of unbelievable grief and desperate need,” Stein said.
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Green later took the stage for a dynamic speech that addressed the crowd of superintendents, principals, and other leaders in North Carolina public education.
Stein advertises his budget
Stein hit many of the education-related bullet points from his budget proposal, which he released this month. You can read in-depth about his proposal here.
Pay raises for teachers and administrators
Stein’s budget would raise teachers’ compensation 10.6% over the next two years, with higher raises for beginning teachers; restore master’s pay, which rewards educators with more advanced degrees; and give smaller raises to administrators and other school staff.
“When your starting teacher pay is lower than Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina — all the states that border us — it makes it a lot harder to recruit teachers into this profession,” Stein said. “It is an embarrassment. We can and must do better.”
According to the most recent National Education Association estimate, North Carolina’s average teacher salary lags behind Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina, but is slightly greater than Tennessee’s.
Expansion of Advanced Teaching Roles programs
Stein said the programs “(give) our strongest teachers the chance to coach their coworkers, expand their impact, and create a career path that does not force teachers who want to stay in the classroom to leave the classroom.”
A school supplies stipend
A $300 stipend to educators would aim to offset the cost of school supplies, which many teachers currently pay for out of their own pockets.
Universal free school breakfast
“One in five children in this state do not get enough food to eat on a daily basis,” Stein said. “One in three in rural areas do not get enough to eat.”
He praised Pitt County Schools, a district where at select schools, students are automatically eligible to receive free meals.
“It’s smart because it’s universal, meaning it’s very easy to administer. No paperwork, nobody has to apply for anything,” he said. “It also doesn’t stigmatize students because everybody walks through the same line in the same way.”
Mental health in schools
“Our state has underinvested in school social workers, school nurses, school counselors, and school psychologists for too long,” Stein said. “Let’s make sure that students have the support staff that they need to improve our kids’ mental health and help them thrive.”
A $4 billion bond for school construction needs
The bond would need to be approved by the General Assembly and then voted on by North Carolinians.
“I’ve already heard a little bit of hesitation in the General Assembly about this proposal. To me it’s pretty simple. Let’s let the voters of North Carolina decide,” he said.
Support for a cellphone ban
Bills currently working their way through both the state House and Senate would restrict cellphone use in classrooms.
Stein reiterated his support for the idea, saying he was grateful to see bipartisan interest and that he looks forward to working with the General Assembly to make it happen “in a way that gives (administrators) flexibility in implementing these policies in the way that works best for each of you.”
Private school vouchers ‘squander money’
While acknowledging many of his plans would come at a financial cost, Stein said the Opportunity Scholarship program — popular among General Assembly Republicans, who recently expanded it — will take $7.5 billion away from public school students over the next decade.
“We can afford these things if we prioritize these things,” he said. “Public dollars belong in North Carolina’s public schools.”
Green thanks educators
After Stein’s rundown of budget specifics, Green followed by zooming out rather than talking about his legislative priorities.
In his speech, he encouraged the audience of education leaders to deliver on the promise of excellence.
“I’m not worried about obstacles because I know I have leaders who will find a way,” he said.
At the same time, he said his vision includes investing fully in public education, providing safe learning environments, engaging parents and community, and revering public schools and educators.
“And why do I use the word ‘revere’?” he asked. “This is higher than respect. This is the best word I can come up with to tell you how much I appreciate you. You are doing transformative work. And so you are part of a noble profession I revere.”
Green’s message was, broadly, that there is a lot to be done and also a lot to be proud of.
“Every day, every moment, there is something wonderful happening in our schools,” he said. “Let’s get it. Let’s celebrate.”
You can listen to his full speech below.
