Category: Education

The national GED Testing Service recently announced revisions to the “cut,” or passing scores, as well as performance levels for its High School Equivalency (HSE) test, and is making those revisions retroactive to January 1, 2014, when the 2014 GED Test series was first released. North Carolina will join 32 states in recognizing these changes immediately, possibly resulting in as many as 700 new HSE diploma holders in the state. GED Testing Service is contacting those affected by the changes …

The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees has voiced its support of the Connect NC Bond on the ballot for voters in the primary on March 15. In a unanimous vote on Monday night, Feb. 8, at the trustees’ regular bimonthly meeting, the board adopted a resolution of support for the $2 billion bond package. “The Connect NC Bond … will enable North Carolina’s systems of higher education to educate and train a highly qualified workforce for the 21st century …

Lisa Webster, the teacher for academically and intellectually gifted students at Zeb Vance Elementary School, said she did it to honor her mother. She worked for more than five years and recently earned her doctoral degree for Exceptional Children in Education. Her degree is from North Central University and she completed all of her work online. “My mother always instilled education in me,” Webster said. “Education was a big thing to her. She saw me get my bachelor’s degree and …

Vance-Granville Community College’s Arts and Sciences division is offering a spring lecture series with a distinguished guest speaker, former President Thomas Jefferson — or, to be exact, Bill Barker, the critically acclaimed resident “Mr. Jefferson” at Colonial Williamsburg, Va. The public is invited to attend the Jefferson presentations, as are VGCC students, faculty and staff. On Thursday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m., the series kicks off with “Mr. Jefferson and the Pursuit of Science.” That will be followed by “Mr. …

Josh Towne, the franchised restaurant owner/operator of the Chick-fil-A in Henderson, has established a new Vance-Granville Community College scholarship. When fully endowed, the “Chick-fil-A of Henderson Academic Achievement Scholarship” will be awarded to VGCC students meeting certain academic requirements. A New Bern native, Towne has lived in Henderson since moving in 2005 to become the operator of the local Chick-fil-A restaurant. He has worked with the company for the past 20 years. He is also an alumnus of the North …

In Alamance-Burlington Schools, they will receive cards, gift cards, goodie baskets, donuts, coffee, biscuits, candy and sweet treats. In Buncombe County, they will be recognized at a community assembly, spotlighted during morning announcements, and invited to PTO-sponsored lunch with principals. In Iredell-Statesville Schools, they will receive breakfast, lunch and treats each day along with thank you notes from students. All across North Carolina this week school bus drivers will be “feeling the love” as schools and districts celebrate national Love …

Carnetta Thomas, principal of L.B. Yancey Elementary School, has successfully completed work for her doctoral degree.      Thomas learned in early January that she had met all requirements to earn her doctorate in Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She received her degree through the University of Phoenix with most work done online.      “I am really happy about this,” Thomas said. “I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It was not easy at all.”      Like …

Students from several area universities visited Clarke Elementary School in mid-December to read to classes of students and talk about their college experiences.      Steven Evans, counselor at Clarke, coordinated the visits. He joined Clarke faculty and staff members in welcoming their collegiate visitors.      The visits were made by students from N.C. Central, UNC Greensboro, N.C. A&T State, East Carolina, N.C. State, Appalachian State and Winston-Salem State universities. The collegians read aloud their favorite children’s books. They read in …

Pastors of local churches took time out of their busy schedules to visit four schools in the Vance County Schools system on February 3. The school system invited pastors and church leaders throughout Vance County to take part in the four-hour event during the morning to learn more about the many positive things happening in local schools. Dr. Anthony D. Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools, led the group of about 15 pastors on the tours. They visited the STEM …

The State Board of Education today approved David Machado as the new director of the Department of Public Instruction’s Office of Charter Schools. Machado, chief administrator of the Lincoln Charter School in Lincoln County, has served in that role for the past 12 years. “David Machado is the right person to provide leadership for the continued advancement of quality public charter schools in North Carolina,” said Bill Cobey, chairman of the State Board of Education. “He is a success in …

The Vance County Board of Education meets  February 8, 2016 7:00 p.m. in the Administrative Services Center in Henderson, N. C. 27536 I. Call to Order II. Moment of Silence * III. Approval of Minutes * IV. Approval of Meeting Agenda V. Recognitions/Announcements A. Maintenance Staff B. National School Counselors’ Week VI. Comments from the Public (Citizens who would like to address the Board may do so by completing Form BDDH-E, Public Participation at Board Meetings. This request must be made by noon …

The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center is registering participants for a pair of free seminars that will help entrepreneurs use social media. “Facebook Step-By-Step:  How It Can Help Your Small Business” will be held at the Thornton Library in downtown Oxford on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 6 until 8 p.m. “Lights, Camera, Connect!  A YouTube Marketing Primer” is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, from 6 until 8 p.m., at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus near Louisburg. Leading both seminars will …

Vance-Granville Community College recently welcomed a nationally-known consultant and researcher in the field of student engagement and success. In January, Dr. Kay McClenney addressed a convocation of all VGCC faculty and staff. McClenney, a former community college educator and administrator herself, discussed the findings of research on what students need in order to be successful. She lauded the sharp focus of VGCC’s “Vanguard Vision” strategic plan and noted that the college is “on the right path.” Looking broadly at the …

Vance-Granville Community College held its annual celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 20 in the college’s Civic Center. The theme of the event was “The Courage to Dream, The Determination to Achieve.” Serving as keynote speaker was Kanika Turrentine, founder and CEO of the Henderson-based non-profit organization, Infinite Possibilities, Inc. Through her organization, Turrentine has developed and implemented numerous programs and outreach events for targeted groups such as single mothers, at-risk youth, the homeless, and …

Vance County Schools has announced make-up days for the three full instruction days missed due to recent snow in our area. The days missed for all 16 traditional schools will be made up on Friday, March 4, originally scheduled as a teacher workday; Wednesday, April 20, originally scheduled as an early release day and now designated as a full day; and Friday, June 3, originally scheduled as a teacher workday. The Vance County Early College High School will make up …

After more than a year of construction work, primarily by students in the Carpentry program at Vance-Granville Community College, a new home was dedicated on Jan. 13 in Oxford by Granville County Habitat for Humanity. Officials from VGCC joined Habitat volunteers and community leaders at a ceremony to celebrate their successful partnership and to officially welcome Bruce and Kim Simmons and their children to their new home on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue (formerly Linden Avenue).  In a first for …