Headlining the event were panelists Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission; Dr. Darrin Hartness, superintendent of Davie County Schools; Dr. Ken Rethmeier, mayor of Bermuda Run; and Lynn Rumley, mayor of Cooleemee.

Justin Catanoso, current Director of Journalism at Wake Forest University and former executive editor of The Business Journal, moderated a discussion that not only touched upon the county’s successes in bringing in new businesses to the region, but also on the challenges it faces in continuing Davie County’s transition from an outlying “bedroom community” to a jobs destination that attracts industry and young professionals.

The takeaway? The county is undeniably on the right track — but continued success relies on coordinating efforts between leaders in education, industry, technology, and government.

Davie County becoming a destination for careers, education and quality of life
While North Carolina as a whole has seen only mild economic growth in the past 18 months, Davie County has been a hotbed of new business infusion. In April of last year, Ashley Furniture announced it was investing $80 million in a distribution and manufacturing operation in Advance that will lead to the eventual creation of 550 jobs, making it the company’s largest operation in the world.  Making good on its word, Ashley began shipping product just seven months later in November, 2012.

Carolina Precision Plastics said in March, 2012, that it would invest $5.3 million in the creation of a manufacturing facility that would lead to 140 new jobs with an average wage of $39,183 (the county average was $28,808 at the time of the announcement).

Pro Refrigeration, Inc. said it will be creating an East Coast production facility in Mocksville that will entail a $4.9 million investment and the need for yet another 85 jobs. Adding to the bright outlook is the slated completion of Novant Health’s Clemmons Medical Center and Wake Forest Baptist-West Campus, bringing high-tech professionals and top-flight health care to the region.

What’s the secret to Davie County’s success? It’s a confluence of high-quality K-12 education, a business-friendly environment, excellent healthcare, and a close-knit community that provides the advantages offered by urban centers with the quality of life people expect when they decide to live in a low-density, non-urban setting.

As moderator Justin Catanoso pointed out during the presentation, these business and civic leaders are “changing the dynamic” from folks seeing Davie County as a “bedroom community” to viewing it as “a destination for careers as well.”

Davie County Schools among the best in North Carolina
An undeniable linchpin of this appeal is the high marks that Davie County schools are racking up. According to Dr. Hartness, Davie County now ranks in the top ten percent of North Carolina’s 115 school districts in math and reading, ranking third in English and math among eight-grade student scores and fourth and fifth for first-year algebra and English students respectively in high school. That’s the sort of thing that makes the county appealing not only to new residents, but to new businesses as well. Jim VanderGiessen Jr, CEO of Pro Refrigeration, said that his decision was based on more than just economic factors. “I have a board of directors that I report to and that I’m accountable to, and they were saying, ‘Why not Alabama? Why not Arkansas?’,” he said. “And the big thing is that this is a community we want to be a part of and are going to be a part of, and we factored that in to our decision.”

Existing building stock and public/private partnerships key to continued success
Still, a good school district doesn’t necessarily equal a good business environment, and that’s where the Davie County Economic Development Commission comes into the picture. Bralley pointed out that “ninety-five percent of what I deal with is companies looking or an existing building, and [for Pro Refrigeration] we had the right building — but we also had the right community.” The coming issue, says Bralley, is the shrinking number of existing spaces, which is why Davie County is working to empower the private sector to build new facilities by partnering with them. City and county officials work to find ways to pay for upfront infrastructure expenses such as road, water, and sewer, while private sector industry picks up the tab for the actual construction — and the jobs that are created create personal wealth and spur on the local economy for even more growth

Cooleemee – Davie County’s smallest town filled with vision and community spirit
The notion of using existing but unused buildings is a model that Cooleemee mayor Lynn Rumley finds appealing. She’s pushing for a $60 to $80 million redevelopment of former textile plant Erwin Mills, based largely upon the success of a similar mixed-used facility in Saxapahaw. “Since the financial meltdown, people have re-evaluated, taken a second look at their lives, and don’t necessarily want a huge house,” said Rumly. “I think they want to live in a somewhat different way. They don’t want to be uncomfortable or poor — nobody does — but I think that they want to live in an actual community. I think they want to live amidst nature.” And while Cooleemee isn’t exactly in the heart of commerce, Rumley said that will be less of an impediment as technology progress. “Of course there’s always going to be people who want to live in the city, and that’s fine. But they say that in the next 25 years half the people will be working at home.”

Town of Bermuda Run building a foundation for a bright future
What is even more impressive about Davie County’s recent achievements is that they’ve come in spite of the fact that demographic shifts have not been working in its favor: in short, the county has been gradually growing older on average. But Dr. Ken Rethmeier, mayor of Bermuda Run, said that a strategy which combines manufacturing, technology, health-care, and learning sectors can create a highly attractive environment for both employers and workers to move to the area and change that trend. “We’re building the foundation upon which we can create those opportunities for new jobs to continue to migrate into the county,” said Rethmeier. “[These] will stimulate the thinking of young people to say, ‘Why do I want to move away when I can make a big difference right where I am today?’”

This double-pronged strategy of drawing newcomers to the region while enticing homegrown professionals to stay (or at least return) home certainly makes sense — and if past success is any indicator, it’s one that appears to already be paying dividends.

Video of the panel discussion is available online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYlvWl0ZuCo

Real World Training for High Paying Jobs
The expansion of the welding program and the implementation of the advanced manufacturing lab make it possible for Davie County high School students to earn 2 college certificates while still attending high school.  These certificates are endorsed by National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Skills Certification program in Computer Integrated Machining.

Graduates of Computer Integrated Machining Programs are prepared for filling positions in the workplace that include machinists, machine operator, CNC tool operator, tool and die maker, and lathe and turning machine tool setters.

Collaborative Partnerships Driving Advanced Manufacturing
Strong workforce development programs are critical to manufacturers investing in local communities to create jobs.  DCCC, the College of Davidson and Davie Counties is a member of the North Carolina Advanced Manufacturing Alliance. The alliance brings industry leadership and educators together to build workforce skills needed by specific industry and manufacturing partners.

Golden Leaf Foundation Grants for Workforce Preparedness
These investments in equipment and skills training are made possible in part through an $875,000 grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation.  Funding for Golden Leaf Foundation grants come from the Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers to help boost the economy in areas where the economy was heavily dependent on tobacco.  A nonprofit organization devoted to the economic well being of North Carolinians, Golden LEAF endeavors to strengthen the state’s economy while insulating tax payers from additional expenses.

Career and College Promise
Through the Career and College Promise program, Davie County Schools are providing a pathway for high school students to begin their college work during high school.  Not only does this make two-year community college or four-year college/university degrees more affordable for students and their families, but the experience of beginning college-level work during high school offers students extra support for success and eases the transition between high school and college admission.

DCCC continues to provide Davie County students with real world training for high paying jobs in high growth economic sectors.

Additional Resources:
Davie County Economic Development Commission
Davie County Schools
DCCC – The Community College of Davidson and Davie Counties
North Carolina Career and College Promise
The Golden Leaf Foundation
North Carolina Advanced Manufacturing Alliance
National Association of Manufacturers

Bring your paper documents to be commercially shredded
Shredding outdated personal documents, bank statements, insurance policies, etc. helps to eliminate identity fraud and also helps our environment by recycling paper. Bring your paper documents to be commercially shredded with a suggested $5 per box donation.  Donations will benefit the Davie County High School “Hunger Fighters” nutrition program.   to help promote balancing healthy minds for learning with balanced nutritional needs.  Help support America Recycles Day and become more aware of recycling and assisting our environment. Not only will you become more informed, but you will lessen your clutter/collection of paper while making it reusable again.  The Mocksville Woman’s Club is a 501(C)(3) organization volunteers and your donations are tax deductible.

Items that do NOT need to be removed prior to shredding
Paper clips, staples, manila folders, hanging file folders, alligator clips and window envelopes.

Items that DO need to be removed prior to shredding
3-ring binders, cardboard, photographs, plastic, trash, hard foreign objects.

America Recycles Day
Research shows that asking people to make a commitment to recycle actually builds motivation that leads to lasting changes in behavior.  By asking people to “Take the Pledge” you are joining thousands of America Recycles Day organizers across the country working to increase recycling in their communities by motivating their families, friends, neighbors and co-workers to recycle more. Visit www.americarecyclesday.org and take the pledge!

Preparing the innovative Designers of Tomorrow
During this week-long summer STEM camp, students will participate in fun and interactive projects that will introduce important concepts of science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on activities.

These activities, designed by Davie County teachers and staff, will include robotic programming using LEGO MindStorm Robots and bridge building using balsa wood.  These activities will help students understand engineering design and problem solving techniques.

The innovative Designers of Tomorrow
Students will work in small groups with STEM trained coaches and mentors to strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills while building collaboration, team-work and communication skills to encourage students to be innovative designers.

PPG Industries ~ Partners in Education
The STEM summer camp is being hosted by DCCC with sponsorship support from PPG Industries.  PPG Industries manufactures fiberglass in a state of the art facility located in Lexington, North Carolina.  PPG Industries is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, chemicals, glass and fiber glass.  Operating on the leading edge of technology and innovation, PPG Industries understands the importance of engaging students in STEM subjects early in their academic careers.

DCCC ~ Preparing Students for Success
DCCC, the community college of Davidson and Davie Counties also understands that in order to attract and retain high wage employers and opportunities to our area, we must be actively preparing students of all ages for the high tech careers of tomorrow.  This summer STEM camp is just one more example of DCCC’s commitment to preparing all students for success.

Rising 4^th through 8^th Grade Students ~ Register Now for DCCC STEM Camp
Download your STEM Summer Camp Registration form today and get ready to build skills that will last a lifetime.

Resources:
DCCC STEM Camp
PPG Industries
STEM Camp Registration Form
DCCC – The Community College of Davidson and Davie Counties
Davie County Schools
Davie County STEM Education

The Little Diversified Architectural Firm will provide a short summary of their assessment, some ideas they have developed for addressing the needs at Davie County High School, and their demographer will provide a summary of the demographic forecast of Davie County for the next 10 years. The team and Board of Education will also field questions.

Davie County High School — Avenues for Consideration and Recommendation for an Enriched, Immersive, Learning Environment Future

As part of the analysis and recommendations, the team has explored three avenues for how to address the future of Davie County High School:

Avenue A — Continue to Expand, Replace, and Improve the Existing High School Campus
Avenue B— Construct new Davie County High School on new Greenfield Site
Avenue C— Construct new Davie County High School on Existing Site

After reviewing these avenues for the future facilities for Davie County High School, it is the recommendation of this long range plan, based on the information data, that a new high school be constructed on a new site, preferably centrally located to the population of the county.

Analysis of the three explored avenues is the subject of discussion at the public forum tonight.

Additional Resources:
Davie County Schools ~ Public Forum on School Facilities/Assessment

Engaging Curriculum with Cutting Edge Science and Real World Relevance
Teams will program LEGO NXT robots to do such things as slide “kidney stones” off a human image in the operating room and then administer Lego “medicine” to the patient after surgery. Each challenge completed will earn the teams designated numbers of points as they compete head-to-head in a double elimination tournament. At the end of the evening, four teams, two from the elementary bracket and two from the middle school bracket, will emerge as champions and runners up. The top two of these teams will then compete for the Grand Champion trophy.

Students solve increasingly complex problems
The programming skills students develop through these sets of challenges are important and impressive. Learning the program language to make Lego NXT robots move and perform in the fashion students desire requires technical skills and the development of logical thought about the progression of logistics challenges.

At least as importantly, students develop sets of soft skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. They learn to budget time, prioritize the importance of completing one challenge versus another, work with their peers to negotiate who completes which task and when, and to work their way through increasingly complex problems one step at a time

Davie County Schools Teaching 21^st Century Skills
The Davie County Robotics Skills Challenge Series was designed in order to provide a venue for students to program NXT robots on the spot in order to complete challenges utilizing a number of key skills.

In addition to an introduction to object based programming, Davie County students are learning soft skills such as problem solving, time management, critical thinking, strategic thinking, cooperative effort and teamwork, and establishing priorities.

Join Davie County students and share the thrills as students watch something they have created come to life in a robot at this free indoor event at Davie County High School from 4-7 pm on Friday, April, 27^th..

Additional Resources:
Davie County STEM Education
Davie County Schools

The President of the Year Award was established by the State Board of Community Colleges to encourage, identify, and reward outstanding leadership and commitment to the community college mission among the presidents of the 58 institutions of the North Carolina Community College System. The recipient receives a plaque and $8,000. In addition, the foundation of the recipient’s institution receives a cash prize of $2,000.

Dr. Rittling will be honored on April 19th, 2012 at the Excellence Event that is held each year in Raleigh, bringing together community college representatives, legislators, and other special guests from across the state.

Terry Bralley, President of the Davie County Economic Development Commission said, “Mary Rittling is doing an outstanding job supporting the training of our workforce.  She is one of the key people helping economic development maintain and create jobs.”

Beth Parrott, Chair of the DCCC Board of Trustees said, “Dr. Rittling is quick to tell people that what she is able to accomplish for DCCC comes only because of the amazing faculty, staff, trustees, and Foundation directors who support this school and our students on a daily basis. She is also quick to remind everyone that the focus should always be our students – they are why we are here, why we have passion for our jobs, and why we are always reaching for more.”

Please join us in thanking Dr. Rittling for helping DCCC and North Carolina Community Colleges reach new levels of success!

Additional Resources
DCCC ~ The College of Davidson and Davie Counties
North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges
Davie County Economic Development Commission
SuccessNC – Focus on Student Success

Previously Published Articles Featuring Dr. Rittling
Ingersoll Rand is Meeting the Workforce Development Challenges of a Global Economy in Davie County
DCCC Awarded $2.6 Million ~ Deliver High Skilled Training for High Wage Jobs!
$7.5 Million Gift Assures Continued Academic Leadership and Workforce Preparedness for Davidson and Davie Counties
140 New Manufacturing Jobs Coming to Davie County

S.U.R.F. (Students Understanding Real Futures) Board Youth Grantmakers
The SURF Board Youth Grantmakers, organized under the Davie Community Foundation, are a group of 18 high school students who wish to better the lives of Davie County young people by raising money and awarding grants to support youth-led projects.

Projects selected for grant awards must:

• Address general issues that impact the youth of Davie County.
• Involve at least two youth in planning & carrying out the project.
• Have an adult ally (21 or older)

How to Apply for a Grant
Download the grant application or pick up an application from the Davie Community Foundation at 194 Wilkesboro Street in Mocksville.

Applications for grants must be completed and submitted to the Davie Community Foundation by Friday, January 27^th, 2012.  For more information, call 336-753-6903 or e-mail mcheek@daviefoundation.org.

Davie County Students are Making a Difference!
Young people in Davie County are giving back to their community using their time, talents, and treasures through SURF.  Young people are also being helped in numerous ways through the projects that the SURF Board funds.

The board was created in 2005 when a group of young people from a variety of backgrounds came together to discuss a youth-led philanthropy movement.

Since then, the S.U.R.F. Board has made grants each year ranging from $250 to $1,500. All of the projects supported have been organized and carried out by young people. Last year, S.U.R.F. granted a total of $2,900 to support several projects including a clothing closet and soup kitchen led by the Cooleemee First Baptist Youth, a tutoring program at the Early College, and equipment for the Davie County Young Filmmakers. By awarding these grants, board members empower other youth to carry out their projects while learning about decision making, handling money, and working as a group along the way.

How to Help
To raise money for grantmaking, the S.U.R.F. Board hosts a fundraiser each year. This year the board is hosting its first ever Popsicle 5k Run on February 4^th, 2012. All proceeds from the Popsicle 5k Run will support youth-led projects which benefit youth.

You can play a part in empowering young people by joining us on February 4^th for the Popsicle 5k Run! To learn more about the run and the S.U.R.F. grants process, visit the website at www.daviefoundation.org/surf, e-mail mcheek@daviefoundation.org, or call 336-753-6903.

Resources:
Davie Community Foundation
S.U.R.F. Board
Grant Application
Popsicle 5K Run

The students who raised the money now attend North Davie Middle School.  Last month they were visited by the Legogote School Principal, Cynthia Mkabela, who traveled to Davie County to thank students for their life changing gift and to challenge them to be grateful for all the blessings they have in Davie County, North Carolina.

Legogote Principal Cynthia Mkabela visited every school in Davie County delivering a life-lesson on the responsibility we have to use our God given abundance to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Thank You!
The generosity of students in Davie County changed lives in a remote village thousands of miles away.   Thank you to all of the parents, teachers, students and citizens in Davie County for making our community such a great place to live every day!

For additional details and pictures, please read the story in the Winston Salem Journal.

A Cause of Thanksgiving for Years to Come
“We pause today to serve up a very sincere thank you to the late Christine Harris, whose extraordinary gift will be cause for thanksgiving for years to come among thousands of students across Davidson and Davie counties who will benefit from her amazing generosity,” Rittling said at a meeting to announce the gift in late November. “We are humbled by her gift and committed to ensuring it will be put to excellent use.”

Christine Harris’ Interest in DCCC Spans more than 40 Years
Harris, who was 87 when she died in August, was born and lived in Davidson County.  Her husband, Charles Donovan “Dutchie” Harris, died in 2003. Their only son, Charles Young Harris, died in 1989.

Her interest in the college began during her son’s time as a DCCC student in the 1970s. He graduated with honors in 1975 with an associate in science degree and then also completed additional coursework at DCCC before pursuing a four-year degree. Harris was grateful to DCCC for providing her son the opportunity to achieve educational goals while he struggled with health issues that required him to stay close to home. The extent of her interest in DCCC, however, was not known until her death.

The Harris Family Legacy Spans Multiple Generations
The Harris name has been synonymous with the telephone industry in Lexington for more than 100 years. Lexcom Communications was founded in 1896 as Lexington Telephone Company by a group of local business leaders and was one of the city’s oldest independent companies when it was acquired by Windstream in 2010. William F. Harris, Christine Harris’ father-in-law, assumed leadership of the company in 1905. He was followed by his two sons.

The Harris family and the telephone company have been longtime supporters of DCCC through scholarship funds and other contributions.

“On behalf of the DCCC Foundation, I want to express gratitude to every donor who, like Christine Harris, has provided important opportunities to our students and our community,” said Barbara Leonard, president of the DCCC Foundation Board of Directors. “We could not do what we do without the support of thousands of donors who make DCCC the incredible place it is.”

Dr. Mary Rittling, DCCC President

About DCCC
DCCC, the Community College of Davidson and Davie Counties, is a comprehensive community college that opened its doors in 1963.  DCCC provides quality educational programs and services to prepare people in Davidson and Davie counties for enhanced employment and educational opportunities.  These learning experiences create choices and enhance opportunities for education and employment, thereby improving the quality of life in Davidson and Davie counties.

Previous Articles Mentioning DCCC

DCCC Recognized as National Leader in Increasing College Completion Rates

Workforce Development Grant Brings Jobs, Helps Spur Aerospace Industry Growth and Opportunities in Davie County

Ingersoll Rand is Meeting the Workforce Development Challenges of a Global Economy in Davie County, North Carolina

DCCC Awarded $2.6 Million to Deliver High Skilled Training for High Wage Jobs

Visions of a Davie County Bio-Center

Additional Resources:
DCCC ~ The Community College of Davidson and Davie Counties
Lexington Dispatch: DCCC thankful for $7.5 Million Donation Gift
The Business Journal: DCCC Receives Largest Ever Gift
High Point Enterprise: Gift Fuels Future Growth, DCCC Officials Say

(Note: We experienced some technical difficulty and unfortunately we were not able to post the last 10 minutes of the parade video.)

Live Video ~ More to Come
We broadcast the parade live today… and we plan on broadcasting the Advance Christmas Parade next Saturday on the Live Broadcast page (see link at top of hone page).

We had several dozen viewers of the live broadcast today even though the size of the crowds lining up on Main Street made it look as though everyone in Davie County must have been at the parade!

The 2011 Mocksville Christmas Parade, “Christmas on Main Street” celebrated 20 years that historic downtown Mocksville has been a “Main Street Community,” a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The best places to live in America have enough “community” in the community to put on a well attended parade. Davie County has enough “community” in the community to put on TWO well attended parades at Christmas ~ one in historic downtown Mocksville and one in Advance ~ Stay tuned for the Advance Christmas Parade, next Saturday!

We have also posted a short full-screen slideshow of selected photos taken during the parade on your Davie County Flickr Photo Stream.

Until then, here is the video from the Mocksville Christmas Parade (also available on YouTube).

Preparing a Highly Skilled Workforce for Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare and Bio-Tech Jobs
The Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant Program (TAACCCT) will expand DCCC’s capacity to provide workers with the skills and credentials they need in today’s advanced manufacturing economy. This multi-year federally-funded grant will help DCCC place more people in high-quality jobs in fields ranging from advanced manufacturing to healthcare to biotechnology.

Students Will Gain Real World Experience in Their Chosen Career Fields
According to DCCC President Dr. Mary Rittling, the grant will allow the College to identify ways to improve advanced manufacturing offerings and provide support staff for students in the programs. Business partnerships will be created so that students can gain experience in their chosen career fields.

“This grant will give us the opportunity to increase and provide the latest advanced technology in the field,” Dr. Rittling said.

Student, Worker and Employer Centered Training
Besides accelerating job training, the college will improve graduation rates, build new programs that meet industry needs and bolster online learning.  The training programs will be student-, worker- and employer-centered, rather than centered with an institution.

Support Davie County Schools
From every deal purchased 10% goes straight back to your local community! Of that 10%, 5% goes to the local chamber of commerce and 5% goes to the local parent teacher groups at Davie County schools!

So, Where Are The Deals?
Here is a sampling of the Davie County Chamber Deals currently running on the Chamber Deals network.  Click on any of the deals below to redeem on Davie Chamber Deals today!

Not a Chamber Member? Join Today!
With Davie Chamber Deals there is never a cost for chamber members to advertise. Plus, the Davie County Chamber of Commerce and our local schools’ PTAs will benefit from every Deal sold.

If you are a member of the Davie County Chamber of Commerce you can sign up today, if not then you would need to join the Chamber.  Contact the Davie County Chamber of Commerce at 336 751-3304 and they will help you get started!

“This is just the perfect venue for our members to advertise, free of charge! There is no other couponing site that offers a venue which gives our chamber members an effective way to advertise – free of charge, while keeping dollars local and helping fund PTO/PTAs in our public school system.”  …Chamber President Carolyn McManamy

It truly is a win-win partnership between the Davie County Chamber of Commerce members, PTAs, and the Davie County community.

How It Works ~ $30,000 Raised for College Scholarships
Businesses, groups, and individuals sign up to be part of the Team and agree to donate $100 to the Community Scholarship Fund at the Davie Community Foundation every time the War Eagles score a touchdown. Since 2007, businesses and individuals from across the county have joined the “Team” to raise more than $30,000 for college scholarships!

Davie County Students Are the Winners
Over the past four years, students have been the real winners! Fifteen, $1,000 scholarships have been awarded from the fund. The remaining dollars are being used to build a scholarship endowment which will ensure that scholarships are still available to award, even when the project ends. Basically, Team members are helping students today AND building an endowment that will help students long into the future.

Team Members Benefit Too
Touchdown For Education Team Members will be listed in the Davie County Enterprise and receive press coverage the night of the game. For more information, call the Foundation office at 753-6903, visit the website at www.daviefoundation.org, or print the response card and send it in to secure your spot on the 2011 Touchdowns Team!

“Like” the Davie Community Foundation Now!
Visit Davie Foundation on Facebook and “like” the page to stay up-to-date as we get closer to the big night. Go War Eagles!

Contact the Foundation Office at 753-6903 to learn more about joining the 2011 Touchdowns for Education Team!

Additional Resources:
Davie Community Foundation
Touchdowns for Education
Davie Community Foundation on Facebook
Touchdowns for Education Registration Form

AYP is the evaluation of schools’ “Adequate Yearly Progress” as outlined by the Federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. NCLB has the goal of every student being proficient in reading and math by the end of 2013-14 school year.

Davie County Schools Meet 92.8% of Target Goals
AYP is determined by proficiency levels of subgroups in each school and whether or not each group meets the proficiency and participation targets for the year. AYP is an all or nothing model; if only one subgroup does not make AYP, the entire school does not meet that standard. With a combined 180 school level targets, Davie County Schools achieved 167, or 92.8% of the target goals.

Davie County ~ Schools of Excellence, Schools of Distinction, Schools of Progress
The ABC’s of Public Education accountability report includes a combination of proficiency, growth and AYP status in order to recognize each school for their achievements. Each school receives an ABC status.

For the 2010-11 school year, Davie County Schools has two “Schools of Excellence”: Shady Grove Elementary School and William Ellis Middle School. Both schools’ proficiency was above 90%.

Six schools: Cornatzer Elementary, Mocksville Elementary, Pinebrook Elementary, North Davie Middle, South Davie Middle and Davie County High School, were recognized as “Schools of Distinction”, with between 80% and 90% proficiency. Cooleemee Elementary and William R. Davie Elementary were designated “Schools of Progress”.

“Schools in our district continue to meet and exceed state academic growth standards. Congratulations to our hard-working students and professional teachers! It is evident that our staff set high expectations and goals for academic achievement and these results are another indication that students in Davie County are receiving a quality education.

We will celebrate these recognitions and achievements, but will also use these results to identify strengths and areas for improvement, and will work together to ensure each student reaches their potential. Our parents and school family are to be commended for supporting the children in our public schools.

I am looking forward to working with our staff and community in the 2011-12 school year to focus on academic achievement, increasing the graduation rate, and making our schools even better!” ~ Dr. Darrin L. Hartness, Superintendent of Davie County Schools

Dr. Darrin Hartness

Dr. Hartness Appointed by Unanimous Vote
The Davie County Board of Education has selected Dr. Darrin Hartness as its new superintendent of schools by a unanimous vote! Dr. Hartness is currently the superintendent of the Mount Airy City Schools, a position he has held since January, 2008. The board, the school system and the community are extremely fortunate to be able to hire someone with Dr. Hartness’ experience, skills and abilities.

A Wealth of Experience
In his nearly two decades as an educator in North Carolina Schools, Dr. Hartness has been a high school teacher in Rowan-Salisbury Schools, an elementary principal in Cleveland County Schools, and has held leadership positions in technology at the central office level for Stanly County Schools and Cleveland County Schools. Before serving as superintendent in Mount Airy, he was assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Cleveland County Schools. He also taught as an adjunct professor at UNC-Charlotte for several years.

A Track Record of Excellence Results
This year, Mount Airy High School was one of nine high schools selected by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to represent the state as a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School Nominee. The U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes schools that have improved student achievement to high levels, especially among disadvantaged students. At Mount Airy High School, student academic performance last year was the highest of any traditional high school in a five county region. The percentage of students proficient on end-of-course tests increased from 78.1% in 2005 to 91.6% in 2010, earning the school recognition as an Honor School of Excellence. In addition, the school district has been recognized as one of the ten school districts in the state with the highest graduation rates.

Award Winning Leadership
An award-winning educator, Dr. Hartness was named the 2009 Outstanding Young Educator by the North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development in recognition of his exemplary commitment and exceptional contributions to the education profession. Among other honors and recognitions, he has received the Apple Distinguished Educator award and was named the North Carolina Technology Educator of the Year in 1997. In 2007, he received the Champion for Children Award from the Cleveland County Partnership for Children. He was a finalist for the 2011 A. Craig Phillips Superintendent of the Year Award. He also serves on the State Superintendent’s Technology Advisory Council and last year was appointed by Governor Beverly Perdue to the North Carolina eLearning Commission. Dr. Hartness was part of the first class of North Carolina Teaching Fellows, and the first Teaching Fellow to serve as a North Carolina superintendent.

Dr. Hartness earned his Ed.D in Educational Leadership and M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction/Instructional Systems Technology from UNC-Charlotte. He also holds a B.S. in Technology/Secondary Education from Appalachian State University.

Please Join Us in Welcoming Dr. Hartness and His Family to Davie County
Dr. Hartness and his wife Lisa have been married for 21 years and are the parents of two daughters, Madison and Molly, ages 15 and 12. Lisa is a graduate of the Davie County School System. In his spare time, Dr. Hartness enjoys spending time with his family, woodworking, and golf.

“I am tremendously honored to be chosen by the Board of Education to serve Davie County Schools,” Dr. Hartness said. “I look forward to meeting students, staff, parents, and community members and listening to their ideas and perspectives. Davie County Schools has a track record of excellence, and my goal is to support teachers and staff to provide a first class education for all of the children we serve. As my family and I move to Davie County, we are excited about being part of a community that supports education. Together we can work to ensure Davie County Schools is the best school district in NC and a leader in the nation; our children deserve it!”

Valerie B. Brown-Schild, Ph.D.

On Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at Bermuda Run Country Club in Davie County, the 2012 class of Kenan Fellows teachers gathered for an orientation and opportunity to meet their mentors. They were welcomed by Dr. Valerie Brown-Schild, Director of the Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development.

Dr. Brown-Schild remarked, “We are proud to be able to honor this group of effective teacher leaders from this region as Kenan Fellows.  They are joining a distinguished group of outstanding educators from across North Carolina to positively impact other teachers, students, school districts and their communities.

Meet Your Davie County Class of 2012 Kenan Fellows
Denise Absher	Denise Absher, a teacher from the Davie County Early College High School will focus on “Teachers Training Teachers” with mentor Heather Mullins from the NC Department of Public Instruction.
Elizabeth Bustle	Davie County High School teacher, Elizabeth Bustle will focus on “STEM and Lean Manufacturing” with mentors Jerry Lakey and Lewis Anderson from the Ingersoll Rand “manufacturing center of excellence” in Mocksville.
Marty Creech	Marty Creech, a teacher at North Davie Middle School will focus on “Innovations in Healthcare” with mentors Allyson Komaschka and Anita Pulley from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
Diane Ireland	Diane Ireland, a teacher at William R. Davie Elementary School will focus on “Logistics: More than Trucks and Trains” with mentors Dave Hauser and Kathleen Patterson from the North Carolina Center for Global Logistics.

Summer Immersion, Curriculum Development, Conference Presentations ~ Learn, Do, Share!
Kenan Fellows spend five weeks in the summer with mentors from universities, innovative industries and professional educators and two weeks in a Summer Institute. Fellows work in labs, develop new research skills, engage in leadership workshops and build professional relationships with colleagues.

As their research progresses, they use the summer experience to create lessons that are adapted to the subjects they teach. Kenan Fellows bring this new, relevant information into classrooms at a level that is appropriate for their students.

They continue developing their projects in the fall and present their lessons at professional conferences throughout the next year to help improve teacher instruction and student learning across classrooms in NC.

Please join us in congratulating these exceptional Davie County educators!

Additional Resources:
Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development

STEM UPDATE: Davie County is bringing engaging curriculum with cutting edge science & real world relevance into Davie County’s elementary, middle school, high school and early college classrooms!

Four Davie County teachers have been named to the Class of 2012 Kenan Fellows.
The Kenan Fellows Program energizes school curriculum and promotes teacher leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education by pairing selected teachers with industry mentors.

4 Davie County Teachers  and Their Mentors
Davie County High School teacher, Elizabeth Bustle will focus on “STEM and Lean Manufacturing” with mentors Jerry Lakey and Lewis Anderson from the Ingersoll Rand “manufacturing center of excellence” in Mocksville.

Marty Creech, a teacher at North Davie Middle School will focus on “Innovations in Healthcare” with mentors Allyson Komaschka and Anita Pulley from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Diane Ireland, a teacher at William R. Davie Elementary School will focus on “Logistics: More than Trucks and Trains” with mentors Dave Hauser and Kathleen Patterson from the North Carolina Center for Global Logistics.

Denise Absher, a teacher from the Davie County Early College High School will focus on “Teachers Training Teachers” with mentor Heather Mullins from the NC Department of Public Instruction.

Engaging Curriculum with Cutting Edge Science & Real World Relevance
Precision manufacturing, health care and logistics are all engines of economic growth that will provide jobs and opportunities in Davie County as the North Carolina economy continues transitioning from furniture, textiles and tobacco to high tech.

The industry mentors will help open the door to the “real enterprise” of scientific research for K-12 teachers and students. The Mentors provides support for the Kenan Fellows throughout the fellowship, sharing insight into his or her work through discussion, collaboration and observation, and consulting on the development of the Fellow‟s curriculum project.

The curriculum project is a joint effort between the Fellow and Mentor. The Mentor provides up-to-date scientific expertise and knowledge based on his or her research and the project profile. The Fellow ensures that the project is age appropriate, educationally sound and supports the NC Standard Course of Study. Together, the team works to produce new lessons that are relevant and engaging, and that bring the excitement of cutting-edge science into the classroom.

The Mentor will become familiar with the teacher‟s work by visiting the classroom to present or co-teach, and will participate in Fireside Chats and other Fellowship events. Participation in the program provides Mentors with the opportunity to contribute to the depth and relevance of instruction at the K-12 level.

The Kenan Fellows Program is an initiative of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science, and is generously supported by funding from business, government, foundations, research grants, and individual partners.  The mission of the Kenan Fellows Program is to enhance curriculum relevance for the benefit of all students; engage teachers, business, and universities through unique professional collaboration; and promote growth opportunities for teachers and the teaching profession.

The Davie County 2012 Kenan Fellows are being sponsored by Ingersoll Rand, The Mebane Foundation, Wake Forest University Baptist Health and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Additional Resources:
Davie County STEM Education ~ Leading The Way
Kenan Fellows Program
The Mebane Charitable Foundation
Ingersoll Rand
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Davie County Schools

Presentation Highlights:

Dr. Bost explained that we need to integrate STEM disciplines across all areas of study and that team-based, real world problem-solving that leverages all of the knowledge of a diverse team of students with access to unlimited digital resources is the essence of what we will achieve in Davie County.  This approach integrates STEM disciplines across all areas of study and produces  21^st century renaissance citizens (see, autodidactic polymath).

Dr. Bost asserted that we must continue making fundamental changes to the way we deliver instruction and that we can no longer rely on 19^th and 20^th century methods and environments to educate 21^st century students.

The Davie County STEM Education initiative continues to make progress and is receiving regional and national recognition. This began with the selection of Davie County as one of 3 areas in North Carolina selected to be a NC STEM Collaborative Community.  The progress we have made to date has made Davie County a model for STEM Community Collaborative.

Several university departments of education have contacted us asking if they can send student teachers to Davie County because of what Davie County can do for them that other counties are not able to do.

Davie County STEM Team members were invited to participate in the national STEM school design workshop in Washington DC. Teams from Texas, New York, Ohio, Washington and California were on hand for a design charrette workshop focused on the new high school planned for Davie County.  Being selected as the focus of this workshop was a prestigious honor for Davie County and reflects national recognition of the success of our community efforts.

This Washington DC Design Workshop was sponsored by the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Members of the American Architectural Foundation were so impressed with what we are doing in Davie County that they are preparing to travel here to continue the collaboration.

State-Wide Event Scheduled for February
The Davie County STEM TEAM has been asked to present its successes and challenges to the North Carolina “Joining our Businesses and Schools” (JOBS) Commission which is headed by North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton.   This presentation is scheduled for February.  Davie County is also represented on the NC STEM advisory board to the JOBS Commission.

State-Wide Event Scheduled for March
The Davie County STEM Team has been asked by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to host a state-wide webinar for all North Carolina school districts in March.  The subject of the webinar will be “Creating 21^st Century Teachers for 21^st Century Students.”  The web-based seminar (webinar) will utilize Davie County Schools’ state of the art digital training network to reach every school district in the state.

The Chief of Instructional Technology for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is coming to Davie County next week to see how he can help with the Davie County STEM Education Initiative.

International Event Scheduled for June
Members of the Davie County Design Team have been asked to present at the annual International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference held in Denver, CO in June.  This presentation will highlight Davie County’s vision, accomplishments and plans for a national and international audience.

No Accident
In closing, Dr. Bost recognized that what is happening in Davie County, and the recognition that we have earned across the state and the nation is no accident but is rather the result of hard work and positive results achieved over time.

Highlights of Achievements in Davie County

• Through the Mebane Challenge, our local leaders committed to providing classroom technology and teacher training.  Davie County has installed interactive classroom technology in 110% of our classrooms (all classrooms plus media centers, labs, conference centers, etc.).  Davie County visited SmartBoard headquarters in Calgary and met with the CEO to establish and on-going collaboration.

• Davie County, through the generosity and support of the Mebane Charitable Foundation, has created the Mebane Masters, an innovative program designed for teachers to deliver in-house teacher staff development training at their schools while earning their masters degrees.

• Davie County has created powerful opportunities for student teachers and we provide leading edge student teacher experience that is recognized as leading edge by teacher colleges across the nation.

• Davie County has built a state-of –the-art teacher staff development center.

• Davie County teachers are creating entire courses in digital format which include textbooks, class work, homework and assessments.

• The Davie County School System has actively solicited and formed partnerships with everyone willing to provide assistance in helping us achieve our vision for a 21^st century education.

• As a result of the Davie County STEM Community Collaborative meeting on September 28th, 2009, Davie County formed a diverse, committed Davie County STEM Design Team who have collectively envisioned, written and submitted the Davie County Educational Innovation Design Plan to NC STEM and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation based on input from our community.

Who is Responsible for This Hard Work and Success?

• Allen Mebane:  Davie County was “kick-started” by the powerful vision, tireless energy and personal commitment of Allen Mebane.  This vision, energy and commitment continues to be made available through the generous support of the Mebane Charitable Foundation.

• The Davie County School Board has provided long term invaluable support and continues to provide support every step of the way as Davie County moves toward the digital future of learning and instruction.

• The County Commissioners in Davie County have been extremely supportive and they are in many ways directly responsible for much of the innovation and technology that is in place throughout Davie County Schools.

• Elected officials from the State of North Carolina continue to work hard for our teachers, students, parents and communities.  The JOBS Commission was created by the state legislature in Raleigh.  Dr. Bost expressed appreciation on behalf of the entire Davie County School System to North Carolina State Representative Julia Howard for her tireless support and effective results in the area of public education.

• Last but not least, and perhaps most important of all, is the support of the community that is served by the Davie County School System.  Without the support of our teachers, administrators, parents and students, none of this would be possible.   Only with the continued support and feedback from the community at large will all of this be sustainable for the long term.

Additional Resources:

NC STEM

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Mebane Charitable Foundation

Davie County Web Portal

North Carolina “Joining Our Businesses and Schools” (JOBS) Commission

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

American Architectural Foundation

Autodidactic polymath

The 2009 Davie County Schools Showcase was a day of dynamic and inspiring activities which demonstrated to our community that the students, teachers, parents, volunteers, school administrators, school board, community leaders and the citizens in Davie County have a lot to be proud of. That such a major event could be held only 5 weeks into a new school year is a testament to the commitment and teamwork in Davie County schools.

Davie County High School Spirit Week Kicked-Off in Style!

2009 DCHS Homecoming Parade

Some Davie County citizens remember when homecoming Week was kicked-off with a parade through town. The annual homecoming parade was back this Saturday, October 3rd, 2009. The homecoming parade was an opportunity for fans to see performances by the marching band and for the candidates for 2009 Davie County High School Homecoming Queen to demonstrate poise in a public event.

The candidates for the 2009 Davie County High School Homecoming Queen are Lindsey Bailey, Heather Foster, Morgan Gifford, Molly Graham, Sara Handy, Spencer Lanning, Samantha Ledbetter, Allie Macaione, Moriah MacDonell, Savannah McGunigal, Costner Merrifield, Clare Moser, Alyssa Mossman, Corri Phelps, Chelsea Reynolds, Jennifer Rominger, Kate Starr, Emerald Tuthill, and Kasey Wilburn.   See all of the candidates presented in the homecoming parade video on the Davie County YouTube Channel.

Performance by Local World Record Holders

Emma and Heath Slabach Demonstrate Sport Stacking

One of the highlights of the day was a demonstration of Sport Stacking by world champion and world record holding students from Shady Grove Elementary School.  Heath and Emma Slabach provided an inspiring demonstration of Sport Stacking.  These kids were obviously having lots of fun!  The World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA) Official Records list both Heath and Emma as world-record holders in several events.  I would enjoy seeing Heath and Emma on America’s Got Talent!

In one segment of the Sport Stacking demonstration, Heath and Emma were joined by classmates to demonstrate the team-relay event.   A crowd favorite “Dueling Speed Stack!”  I would try to describe it… but it’s just something you have to see for yourself!

DCHS Madrigal Singers

The Davie County High School Madrigal Singers performed a variety of songs, with interpretations ranging from classical to modern. Such a strong performance this early in the school year is evidence of talent nurtured over the long term and gifted, dedicated teachers. A playlist of the numbers performed by the Madrigal Singers has been established on the Davie County YouTube Channel.

Bouncing Bullfrogs and Sizzling Cyclers!

Bouncing Bullfrogs

Members of the Shady Grove Elementary School Bouncing Bullfrogs Jump Rope Team and Sizzling Cyclers unicycle team gave demonstrations and performances at Junker’s Mill. There have been a lot of studies over the years indicating that America’s kids are over-weight and under-exercised. The kids at Shady Grove Elementary School sure don’t fit that picture. Under the excellent care, guidance and leadership of Mrs. Karen Umberger and Mrs. Sandra Smith, the Bouncing Bullfrogs and Sizzling Cyclers all appear to be in the most excellent of health… and spirits. You can watch them all in action in the videos posted to the Davie County YouTube Channel.

Pictures of the PTA, club and partner booths, and the crowds on the square have been posted to the Davie County Flickr Photo Stream.

Become a fan of Davie County on Facebook and you will know when we post new articles, videos or pictures of people and events in your home town. We just acquired the easy to remember address of facebook.com/daviecounty so it is now easier to remember and tell others about our Facebook Fan Page.

The first annual Davie County Schools Showcase and Homecoming Parade will be held this Saturday, October 3^rd, and everyone is invited!  The day will include face painting for the kids, food, and lots of entertainment.  Activities will be held on the square in downtown Mocksville with performances by students and teachers at Junker’s Mill.

This is a great opportunity for the community to come together and to encourage our students, teachers, volunteers and administrators.  Performances and demonstrations will be given by elementary, middle school, high school and early college students and teachers.

In addition to performances and demonstrations, every school in Davie County and many clubs, PTA’s and partner organizations will have booths on the square highlighting many of the great things taking place in our schools.

Events and demonstrations highlighting Davie County student and teacher talent will include sport-stacking, the Sizzling-Cyclers, stand-up comedy, solo vocal performances, drama, madrigal singers, piano and guitar performances, singing, and the South Davie Middle School Band.

This will be a fun filled day of activities capped off by the Davie High Homecoming Parade down Main Street.

The day begins at 9:00 AM and will end at about 2:30 PM.  Get there early so you don’t miss any of the great performances.

Larry Colbourne, President of the Mebane Charitable Foundation was the master of ceremonies for this kick-off event.  During his opening remarks, Mr. Colbourne established a context for the activities of the evening:  “We are here to engage, ask questions, and to be part of the vision for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education in our public school system.”  Video of Mr. Colbourne’s opening remarks and of our 2 keynote speakers have been posted to your Davie County YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/daviecounty

The first keynote speaker was Dr. Anthony Atala, M.D., a pioneer of regenerative medicine, a practicing surgeon, and the Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.  Dr. Atala leads a group of scientists who were the first in the world to successfully implant a laboratory grown organ into a human.  His work was recognized as the number one science story of the year in the field of medicine by Discover Magazine.  Dr. Atala presented a compelling story about the relevance of STEM education for the future of Davie County’s student population.

The next keynote speaker was Dr. John D. McConnell, M.D., the Chief Executive Officer of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.  In addition to his role as CEO, Dr. McConnell is a practicing urologist, a noted researcher in the field of prostate disease, an engaging teacher, and a successful administrator.  In his role as CEO, Dr. McConnell is a master collaborator.

Dr. McConnell declared that “There is a compelling business case for Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to engage and promote science and math education in Davie County.  With this community partnership with NCSTEM, generous support from the Gates Foundation, and a partnership with our Medical Center, Davie County can be successful, and no doubt will be successful, in preparing our students for a very bright future in this region.”

After the keynote events, attendees broke out into 6 separate working groups where community members worked together to describe the Davie County community vision for STEM education.  Davie County citizens were highly engaged and discussions were thoughtful… and thought provoking.   This community-based participation, collaboration and “visioning” is critical to the long term sustainability of the STEM education initiative in Davie County.

This was a great kick-off for a long term community collaborative effort and was entirely consistent with the theme for the evening;  “Collaborate, Innovate, Educate.”

Look for more updates soon on the Davie County NCSTEM initiative.  In the meantime, additional video footage from the kick-off event will continue to be posted on YOUR Davie County YouTube Channel.

We welcome your comments (see below).

Community Invited to Join in Designing Education for the Future!

The Davie community has a unique opportunity to plan the educational program for our students for the future.

Davie County is one of three communities in North Carolina selected to develop STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs in public schools. Davie was chosen by the NC STEM Community Collaborative, a partnership between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and MCNC, an independent, non-profit organization that improves learning and collaboration in education.

Monday, September 28th

The community is invited to attend the kickoff of the Davie STEM project at 6 p.m. Monday, September 28 at Cornerstone Christian Church on Hwy 801 North. The Cornerstone Church men’s group will provide supper beginning at 5:15 p.m. and a laptop computer will be given away.

“It is a true honor for Davie County to have been chosen as one of the first three communities in North Carolina to participate in this important initiative,” said Beth Dirks, county manager.

“The kickoff is an opportunity for residents of Davie County to share their hopes and dreams for the future—for our students, for our economy and for our community,” said Terry Renegar, chairman of the school board.

Special Guest Speakers

John McConnell, MD, the Chief Executive Officer of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, and Anthony Atala, MD, a nationally-acclaimed leader in regenerative medicine from Wake Forest Baptist, will speak at the event.

After their remarks, the audience will divide into three groups to discuss needs for science, technology, engineering and math education in Davie County schools.

The Beginning of a Major Effort

“This is the beginning of a major effort to involve the community in designing the educational program our students need for a successful future,” said Larry Colbourne, president of the Mebane Foundation, which is leading the planning effort. “By working together, we will achieve the best results for the education of our children,” he added.

Local partners are Davie County, Davie County Schools, Davie County Economic Development Commission and Davidson County Community College.

Everyone is Welcome

The kickoff and the meal are free and everyone is welcome. “We believe that the involvement of parents, educators and businesses is essential for our success,” Colbourne said.

The planning is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Davie’s plan could be considered by several funding partners of the NC STEM Collaborative, and there is the possibility for support from external partners to help with the implementation of the plan.

“One of the key factors is participation by the community, so we encourage parents and educators to attend the kickoff and stay involved in helping our program to prepare students for their future,” added Colbourne.

“It is essential to educate our children for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission. “We must connect education to the economy. A strong education will ensure a strong economy for the residents of Davie County.”

Davie County Recognized for Innovation

Davie County was chosen because of the innovation and local partnerships in education, said Karl Rectanus, executive director of the NS STEM Community Collaborative. The Mebane Foundation has awarded grants of more than $4 million in the past five years to fund programs in Davie County Schools.

Davie County offers innovative programs in technology and teacher staff development, the citizens and local government raised more than $1.5 million during the Mebane Challenge and then an additional $1 million was contributed by the County Commissioners.

Lenoir County in eastern North Carolina and the Fayetteville region are the other areas chosen to participate in the STEM program. “We are starting with these three communities and will build our program until we impact all 100 counties in the State,” Rectanus added.

For more information about the Davie kickoff, call the Mebane Foundation at 936-0041.