The Dive: School’s Out Forever

The following is an excerpt from an essay The Assembly published this week from former Ashley High School teacher Lisa Williams: 

After 20 years in Kentucky classrooms and three years in New Hanover County, I have educated approximately 3,500 students. It’s almost surreal to think about how far the world has come in that time. I started teaching before smartphones, before YouTube, before Xbox, before No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. Parents and school boards trusted teachers to do their jobs, while teachers trusted parents and school boards to support their efforts. 

Things weren’t perfect. Sometimes it was downright painful, but there was something about working with kids that helped me look past inept administrators, disruptive students, abusive media, rage-addicted parents, and budgetary shortcomings. My skin got thicker, my pockets got emptier, my skill level deepened, and somehow my smile got bigger. But as the years went on, the teaching profession steadily became unsustainable for me and many others. In the 2022–23 school year, 11.5 percent of North Carolina public school teachers left their jobs, up from 7.8 percent the prior year. 

This year, six weeks before the school year ended, I resigned. I turned in my 30-day notice when I took a job in the private sector, and before I left I made sure my students were ready for their Advanced Placement tests. I posted lessons online for the rest of the school year. 

I was ready to go, and this time, I’m not going back to the classroom. You need to know why.

Why I Left Teaching

I loved teaching in public schools for more than two decades, unleashing 3,500 eager students on the world. But I just quit—and you need to know why.

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No (Family) Photos, Please

Williams is one of many teachers who have left the classroom.

Last year, more than 10,000 left the profession across the state, the highest in at least two decades. The increased turnover comes as pay hasn’t kept pace with inflation and school boards have become political battlegrounds. 

New Hanover County has been no exception. The school board recently passed eyebrow-raising emergency policies, like banning student art and family photos in the classroom.

We caught up with WHQR’s Rachel Keith, who has covered the school beat for four years, to discuss what’s happening. 

Johanna F. Still: How would you characterize what’s going on at the school board compared to what you’ve seen in the past? Are things more tense and rushed, or has the board always hosted thorny issues and clashing personalities?

Rachel Keith: As a reporter, a lot of the explosiveness with this board started in 2018 with the allegations that teachers were sexually abusing students in the system. The district was under a microscope, and that has shown no signs of stopping. While the public did vote to flip the board to a Democratic majority in 2020—something that hadn’t happened in years—in due part because of the prior board and administration’s handling of these child sex abuse cases, personality clashes did prevent some of this agenda from being pursued.

COVID threw the intensity into overdrive. Once the board flipped back to a Republican majority in 2022, it dismantled equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts. The board banned the book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You last year and campaigned on getting alleged pornography out of school libraries.

On several occasions, Pat Bradford and Melissa Mason, who are now board members, accused district staff of giving porn to students and said they were liable for crimes and other misbehaviors.

Still: The board has passed new policies limiting public displays in classrooms. Their latest move banned student art, family photos, and limited permissible displays to depict the United States, North Carolina, or New Hanover County. What brought this on? 

Keith: From looking at the board’s legal bills, they were already getting consultations on how to limit these displays dating back to September 2023, but these discussions never came officially through the policy committee. I knew this was coming and was waiting for it to come, but it never did. Bradford introduced an emergency motion on May 7 to limit these displays, which passed 4-3. 

Some board members were dismayed that this didn’t go through the proper channels. Bradford claimed the emergency was because of the pro-Palestinian protests at UNC-Chapel Hill. Because of the public blowback and confusion from district principals, they considered some exceptions but later abandoned them. I immediately asked what had changed, but I did not get a response. 

Some have said it’s because the board majority is trying to avoid student art that could display LGBTQIA symbols. For family photos, staff members who are queer could have a picture of their partner on their desk or a pride flag in the background.

The day before the most recent board meeting, a district staff member shared a celebratory post from the administration’s official Facebook account about Pride Month that they had to take down immediately. I asked the district why, and they said it was because of these new policies that the board passed.

Still: You’ve explored whether these restrictions cross into First Amendment territory. What have you learned so far, and does this create a liability for the school district—on the heels of a $5.8 million legal settlement last year for a sex abuse case?

Keith: It could based on what they decide to pursue. Courts have decided employers can regulate their employees’ speech and dress to some degree, but they cannot regulate teachers’ signs and displays they have on their vehicles.

Technically, the policies say they can’t have these items on school grounds, so does the parking lot count as school grounds? Will the board prevent students, for example, from wearing Pride or Black Lives Matter shirts? That could cross into the realm of limiting students’ First Amendment rights. The blanket policies are likely used to avoid evidence of discrimination. 

Still: Elections are coming up. You’ve been to the meetings and you’ve seen how unruly they can be. What’s at stake for the future of the school board given the current slate of candidates?

Keith: So the board isn’t flippable this election cycle—meaning the Republican majority has the votes to push the policies they want through 2026. However, this election will send a message to them: keep going with their current agenda, or refocus if one or all three Democratic candidates win.

This board has a lot to confront—diminishing student numbers means less funding. The school system has a $20 million shortfall because of this population decrease, the millions in federal COVID relief money running out, and a stagnating state budget. 

There are inequalities and large achievement gaps among the district’s schools. There are large capital needs; they need to either build new schools or majorly rehabilitate some of them. They will likely need to look into a school bond for this. Teachers and staff are leaving, citing reasons like a lack of pay increases and general working conditions. There are a lot of serious issues to tackle.

Read this newsletter online or contact The Dive team with tips and feedback at wilmington@theassemblync.com.

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Around the Region

Canal Becomes a Canal: In a multimedia project, The Washington Post dissected high tide flooding on Canal Drive in Carolina Beach. 

Fungus Among Us: City crews have begun removing the beloved oaks that hang over Market Street, WHQR reports. The trees pose a public safety concern, city officials say.

Heat & Horses: A horse-drawn carriage tour business has responded after a petition that showed a horse lying in the street gained traction, Port City Daily reports.

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Around the State

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