Public Impact announced that 366 schools across eight states have received the new Certified Opportunity Culture School designation. This recognition highlights the dedication to advancing student achievement and teacher career development through innovative staffing models. 

Opportunity Culture models allow schools to innovate by extending the reach of their best educators to more students while providing career advancement outside of the administrative pathway. Since 2013, Public Impact’s Opportunity Culture models have been adopted by over 75 districts in 14 states, leading to significant boosts in student learning outcomes and teacher retention. Vance County Schools began with the Opportunity Culture model in 2016.

Clarke Elementary School students lined up for breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m. Monday. Backpacks were colorful, some were fluffy, and many pictured characters from Lilo and Stitch.

For the fourth year in a row, Vance County Schools Superintendent Cindy Bennett served students their breakfast on the first day of school. But this year, Bennett said, felt different.

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