FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PBS NORTH CAROLINA TO PREMIERE NEW ‘STATE LINES’ SPECIAL ABOUT EDUCATION ON MAY 31

‘State Lines Special: Education in North Carolina’ explores the challenges and triumphs experienced by public schoolteachers in the post-pandemic era.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 5/30/2023 — PBS North Carolina will premiere State Lines Special: Education in North Carolina on Wednesday, May 31, at 8 PM on PBS NC and the PBS App. In this new half-hour special, host Kelly McCullen meets with teachers and education leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by educators as they conclude the first “normal” school year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics include the pandemic’s impact on students and educators, teacher pay and restoring campuses to pre-COVID-19 operations.

“PBS North Carolina is committed to keeping communities informed and engaged on issues that impact their families’ lives,” says host Kelly McCullen, PBS North Carolina’s Director of Original Productions and the North Carolina Channel. “This special’s focus on education is especially timely as North Carolina legislators are currently debating a host of budgetary concerns related to education, from school voucher funding to the scope of teacher salary raises.”

In response to the growing presence of charter schools, private tuition vouchers and alternative public schools, guest Paul Travers, principal of Washington Montessori Elementary School in Greensboro, shares, “We are in the fight to ensure that we are providing adequate public education for our students.”

Additional guests include Guilford County School Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley; and teachers Leah Carper, 2022 NC Teacher of the Year, of Northern Guilford High School; Zaynah Brook of Wiley Elementary School; Jerico Carrillo of Southern Guilford High School; Shanelle Napoleon of Washington Montessori Elementary School; Juana Rhili of Guilford Elementary School; and Marcus Williams of Southern Guilford Middle School.

The PBS North Carolina original series State Lines is a weekly roundtable discussion about public affairs in North Carolina. The show brings together political analysts, journalists and elected officials to examine the state’s top legislative stories as well as current events. Watch full episodes of State Lines at video.pbsnc.org/show/state-lines.

About the Host

Kelly McCullen is PBS North Carolina’s Director of Original Productions and the North Carolina Channel. Since 2005, he has executive produced and hosted a variety of shows and political debates for PBS North Carolina. Prior to working at PBS North Carolina, McCullen was an anchor and assistant news director at a commercial television station in Mississippi.

About PBS North Carolina 

As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

-PBS NC- 

Media Contact 
Laura Kieler, PBS North Carolina
press@pbsnc.org