I am happy to give my personal endorsement to Dr. Jennifer (Jen) Mangrum, who is running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in North Carolina.
Jen has already been endorsed by the Network for Public Education, which concluded that she is far and away the most qualified candidate in the race.
Jen is a career educator who understands the importance of restoring the integrity of public education in what was once the premier state in the South.
She knows that the state’s General Assembly and its current superintendent have not supported public schools or their teachers.
The General Assembly has passed law after law intended to demoralize teachers and harm public schools.
In a previous election, Jen had the courage to run against the most powerful politician in the state, the one who has led the effort to destroy public schools in the state.
She has proven that she has the knowledge, the experience, the spine and the spirit to run a spirited campaign and to fight for the children, teachers, and public schools of North Carolina.
She has been a classroom teacher and a teacher of teachers. She knows what is needed to lead the state’s school system.
Jen Mangrum understands the importance of attracting and retaining dedicated teachers, and she is committed to improving the public schools of North Carolina.
Her election would be a welcome change from years of toxic policy and state mis-leadership.
I have no doubt that Jen Mangrum would lead the change towards positive policies that is so desperately needed in North Carolina.
Please turn the tide in North Carolina against the politicians who have attacked public schools and their teachers and opened the schools up for profiteers and privatizers.
My many friends in the state support Jen Mangrum for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
I add my endorsement to that of North Carolina Teachers United, which has nearly 40,000 teacher-members.
Early voting starts February 13; the deadline to register to vote is February 7.
Please register and vote.
Please vote for Jen Mangrum.
NCTU Announces Recommended Candidate for North Carolina State Superintendent
Press Release:
Mr. Bishay Elshoukarey, Director, Melissa Marie, Communications Manager, with Operation Managers Kristy Elshoukarey and Katherine Harter of North Carolina Teachers United (NCTU) announced that Dr. Jen Mangrum has been selected as the recommended candidate for North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction. A committee of educators, who are members of NCTU, convened and after carefully reviewing each of the questionnaires selected Dr. Mangrum from a field of seven candidates.
Dr. Jen Mangrum, an educator for more than 30 years is currently employed by UNC-G in the School of Education as Clinical Associate Professor in Education. Since she has been at UNC-G, Jen co-founded the STEM Teacher Leader collaborative. Prior to taking the position at UNC-G, she completed her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction and worked NC State University creating the Elementary Education program and department, where she led it for two years.
Both of Mangrum’s parents were educators and she followed in their footsteps. For twelve years, she served as an elementary teacher in two different North Carolina school districts. She then became a literacy facilitator where she modeled and coached effective literacy instruction. During this time she began consulting with the National Paideia Center, which advocates that all learners practice the critical thinking, communication skills, and attitudes necessary to earn a living, be an active citizen, and pursue a meaningful life.
“Jen Mangrum is the leader we need as State Superintendent as she is an advocate for teachers, students, and families,” said Melissa Easley.
“It is clear that Dr. Mangrum is totally qualified and the best candidate to be the State Superintendent. She wants to change the current climate of respect for public education that is prevalent in the current leadership of both the NC Senate and NC House,” added Bishay Elshoukarey.
Dr. Mangum indicated on her questionnaire that she is running to be the State Superintendent because she wants to reverse the current trend to dismantle public education. She also said, “I want to make our state better for our children and future generations.”
The North Carolina Primary Election is March 3, 2020 with early voting beginning on February 13, 2020 and lasting until February 29, 2020. Voter registration deadline is Friday, February 7, 2020.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Betsy was in N.C. this summer promoting school choice. The superintendent of Catholic schools for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh was quoted for an article about the visit. He said vouchers had been a game changer for the schools.
“The primary public policy and advocacy tool in the Diocese of Charlotte is Catholic Voice (CVNC), established by the bishops of Charlotte and Raleigh. CVNC offers N.C. Catholics an opportunity to have a greater voice in the political process.”
I hope Mangrum wins against the billionaires, like Betsy, and their allies plotting to take the common goods of Americans.
Raleigh’s Catholic diocese is laying the groundwork for a possible expansion of the Catholic school chain, Cristo Rey.
Bill Gates supports Christo Rey.
Media reported that Cristo Rey buys Common Core curriculum. Christiansen Institute wrote about the chain’s prototype in Calf. that has 60 students in a classroom.
Cristo Rey’s students work one week a month for private companies in low level jobs and return the money to the school.
Ohio, which has 3 Cristo Rey’s, gives the citizens’ money (vouchers) in the amount of $6,000 per student to religious schools, mostly Catholic.
A thus-described Catholic school chain for poor kids, seems like the product that would appeal to Zuck, Gates, Koch and prosperity Catholic types. The chain is in 17 states and expanding.
Melinda Gates was raised Catholic. I would be happy if she and Bill gave $1-2 billion to endow private Catholic schools and stopped undermining public schools with wacky experiments.
By the way, I have not yet received a response to my public request to meet with them. Not even for coffee.