The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) kicked off February by unveiling the W.E.L.L. Center’s first event since its rebranding last year.
Educators from across the state gathered at Meredith College in Raleigh for the InspirED Summit on Saturday, February 1. The summit featured multiple breakout sessions led by members, covering topics such as union building, fostering collaboration across departments, and self-care and connection.
“The professional development is absolutely amazing,” said Shana Richards, a school counselor at the A&T Four Middle College High School in Greensboro. “I’ve been trying to find a conference that would give me information I could take back to my school and implement. After attending this summit, I have so many ideas that will help me grow as a professional.”
For many attendees, one of the highlights of the summit was simply being in community with fellow educators—sharing ideas, goals, and a commitment to improving their working conditions, student experiences, and public education in North Carolina.
“I have found community once again in our union,” said Wake County Schools Data Analyst Margaret Powell.
The W.E.L.L. Center’s team has been working for months to organize the InspirED Summit and other professional learning opportunities for NCAE members. The rebrand was driven by a vision to meet the growing need for a holistic approach to supporting educators—both professionally and personally.
“It emerged from a vision to prioritize not just the technical and pedagogical skills of educators but also their overall well-being and leadership capacities,” said Christina Gordon, the center’s professional development specialist.
In addition to Gordon, the W.E.L.L. Center is staffed by Deputy Director of Professional Development Douglas Curry and several educators who serve on the member-led Instructional Professional Development (IPD) Committee. Their primary focus is to enhance professional development opportunities for NCAE members.
W.E.L.L. Center leaders are actively seeking feedback and ideas to improve and expand their offerings. The enthusiasm of educators like Kenneth Bennett, who attended the summit, underscores the demand for meaningful professional development.
“It’s important to continue gathering knowledge and becoming a lifelong learner. Never stop learning—there are always new ideas and strategies to explore in education,” Bennett said.
