On Tuesday, August 27, the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) announced the creation of the W.E.L.L. Center (Wellness, Excellence, Leadership & Learning), a new program dedicated to professional learning for educators.
In addition to being a union that advocates for educators, we want to be leaders among educators. As part of its Strategic Plan, NCAE is dedicated to growing our union, restoring the promise of public education and our democracy, and its third strategic priority: leading our professions.
As part of that work, NCAE’s member-led Instructional Professional Development (IPD) Committee played an instrumental role in the creation of the W.E.L.L. Center. The committee is tasked with the research and development of programs to help our members continue to grow within their chosen professions, as continuous learning and skill development are key to helping our members be leaders within their professions and school buildings.
The NCAE Communications Team spoke with IPD Committee Member Cherie Feemster about their work.
“The IPD Committee was formed with the specific goal of developing strategies to enrich professional development and learning opportunities for our organization's members. This initiative stemmed from feedback we received from our members, highlighting the need for more tailored and comprehensive professional growth opportunities.”
Feemster, a wife, mother, teacher, NCAE Board Member, and an educational advocate with over a decade of experience in early education, was selected to join the IPD Committee due to her dedication to amplifying the voices of NCAE members.
For her and the committee, their mission is clear: “The committee's primary focus is to enhance professional development opportunities for members, aiming to ensure greater equity and relevance.”
Feemster explained to us that the committee conducted a thorough review of existing resources and collaborated to create new workshops based on member feedback. The upcoming offerings are something the committee is enthusiastic about.
“The impact of our efforts will be clear once these new offerings are unveiled. We are excited for members to experience our commitment to their professional development through these improved sessions and platform features,” said Feemster.
To read about NCAE’s professional learning opportunities, visit the W.E.L.L. Center webpage.
