ACS one of 8 districts in state to receive NCDPI award

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro City Schools system was honored with an NCDPI Office of Early Learning’s True Trailblazer Award on Thursday, one of 8 districts in the state to receive the award.

The accolade recognizes districts that have adopted unique and innovative approaches that transform reading instruction to match current research and support all children in learning how to read. 

Representatives of NCDPI (NC Department of Public Instruction) Office of Early Learning presented ACS with the award at Donna Lee Loflin Elementary on Thursday at a celebratory gathering. Principals and teachers from each elementary school, central office staff, and the superintendent were present to accept the award. 

Asheboro City Schools has spent the last three years implementing evidence-based literacy practices. To allow time for the 150 hours required for this initiative, the ACS board voted to add 2 professional learning days and 4 early release days to the school calendar so teachers would not have to complete the training at night or on weekends.

Central office and school leaders engaged in LETRS for Administrators and Literacy for Leaders professional development. They worked as a team to plan LETRS training and set aside weekly time and support to implement new learning fully.

The district also invested in an evidence-based curriculum to support the science of reading and assist with consistent implementation across the district. 

That work led ACS to being selected as the school district to receive the award in the Piedmont Triad Region, which includes school districts from Surry, Stokes, Rockingham, Caswell, Yadkin, Forsyth, Guilford, Alamance, Davie, Randolph and Davidson counties.

“We have teachers who have fundamentally changed the way they teach, and that takes guts, that takes commitment, and that takes dedication to learning,” said Deanna Wiles, ACS Director of K12 Curriculum & Instruction. “Our teachers have done the hard work to support student learning and we are seeing results. We couldn't be more proud of our teachers and the literacy work they are doing.”

Superintendent Dr. Aaron Woody accepted this award and acknowledged the collaborative effort needed to empower and support students to succeed in literacy.

“We are striving to be a place that lifts up kids and always puts student learning first,” Woody said.