Ann Doss Helms
@anndosshelms
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Retired education reporter. At this point, I'm just on here for the occasional hilarious memes. Pronouns she/her.
Charlotte, NC
Joined May 2009
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The
@washingtonpost
reports that teaching virtual and in-person at the same time puts huge strain on teachers.
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During the summer I visited four possible addresses for a Charlotte private school getting voucher money. Didn't find it. This year it's back on the voucher list, with $42K in payments and two new addresses. Still no sign of a school.
#nced
🧵
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One riddle solved: We found the charter school singled out in the House budget bill to skip the review process and start getting public $$ this summer. Next riddle: Is it really about the building, or board's ties to
@SenThomTillis
&
@PatrickMcHenry
?
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Today I’m truly and officially the education reporter at
@WFAE
. I have been moved by all the words of support during these last months of transition.
For all who said you value education coverage and local beat reporting, here’s what I’d ask:
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After months of searching for a Charlotte-area voucher school, I finally found it. Now the headmistress says I'm stalking, threatening and harassing her ... after I spent 13 seconds in the doorway of her class.
#nced
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In today's
@WFAE
education newsletter:
@KrisNordstrom
recently found numerous private schools that apparently received more vouchers than total enrollment. I sought answers on how that could happen. So far no results ... 🧵
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Teen Trump fan, ejected from Charlotte rally, says he was profiled
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And ... now the school's website has been taken down. This just gets stranger and stranger.
Remember the Charlotte voucher school I couldn't find? I located it ... in one classroom inside another private school. Got some answers and still have questions.
#NCed
#NCpol
@KrisNordstrom
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Regardless of politics, watching a man repeatedly talk over and disrespect women is not appealing.
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Remember the Charlotte voucher school I couldn't find? I located it ... in one classroom inside another private school. Got some answers and still have questions.
#NCed
#NCpol
@KrisNordstrom
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And another twist in the Charlotte voucher school story: It's apparently without a location again, after the school that was leasing it a classroom saw my piece and terminated the lease.
#ncpol
#nced
@KrisNordstrom
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Outside the jail, where inmates flash lights to cheers.
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Student advisor Gabe Schuhl says lesson for future is we cannot make decisions this monumental w/o consulting with staff on the ground. Says teachers were ahead of officials on this.
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This just gets stranger: After my story came out, Trinitas took Susan Tillis' name off the list of board members and added Joe Higgins, the Arizona charter school operator who spoke to me.
One riddle solved: We found the charter school singled out in the House budget bill to skip the review process and start getting public $$ this summer. Next riddle: Is it really about the building, or board's ties to
@SenThomTillis
&
@PatrickMcHenry
?
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Debate moderators really need to turn off the candidates’ mics if they wont respect the other person’s time. I’m a debate junkie but I do not want to watch this mess.
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Some protesters reach across barricade at
#CMPD
to shake hands w National Guard.
#CLTProtest
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Coming tomorrow morning: One of the schools cited in
@KrisNordstrom
's report has been turned over to the SBI for investigation
Update: Rep.
@JohnTorbett
's office says legislative fiscal staff confirm discrepancies between enrollment & vouchers; looking into details and explanations. And someone has steered me to yet a fourth possible address for the elusive TSA Academy.
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Update: Rep.
@JohnTorbett
's office says legislative fiscal staff confirm discrepancies between enrollment & vouchers; looking into details and explanations. And someone has steered me to yet a fourth possible address for the elusive TSA Academy.
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.
@CMSboard
student adviser Juan Torres Munoz says contrary to what some parents think, many students want a mask mandate for safety.
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I'm staying up till midnight just to make sure this year is really gone.
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Charlotte city planner Taiwo Jaiyeoba: Everyone should have access to sidewalks that will get them to neighborhood schools.
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CMS educator: "I am here on behalf of 9,000 teachers who are drowning." It's too much to expect them to juggle in-person and remote lessons. More staff needed for in-person return.
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.
@CMSboard
votes 7-1 to bring students back for small-group in-person orientation for two weeks in August, then move into all-remote instruction for an indefinite time.
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North Carolina and Wake County lead US in ‘gold standard’ for teaching profession.
@WCPSS
is
#1
,
@CharMeckSchools
is
#4
. From
@NCKHui
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... it's worth remembering that two schools popped out from his comparison for apparently having way more vouchers than students. One had already been flagged for potential fraud after a tip. This one poses major questions that haven't been answered.
#nced
🧵
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In fact, I couldn't even find the Charlotte private school that had the biggest local gap, despite visits to 3 possible addresses.
@NCSEAA_EDU
, the agency that administers
#opportunityscholarships
, has promised answers early this week. 🧵
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OK, have to brag for a minute:
@Sharrison_WFAE
& I got a regional Edward R. Murrow award for investigative reporting for our three-part series on the link between learning loss and time spent in remote learning last year.
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No one seems to be asking governor and ed officials about pay for teachers and other school employees. Wish I was there.
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Remember GOP leaders in NC House and Senate want to dramatically expand spending and access to public money for private tuition. Hoping Sen. Michael Lee and Reps.
@triciacotham
&
@JohnTorbett
will also respond to queries about preventing fraud.
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I've spent 41 years in journalism trying to make sure people have a voice in what matters to them. Proud to join with my fellow journalists at WFAE to claim our voice in the future of a station we love.
Today, we, the content staff of WFAE, announce our intention to form a union with
@SAGAFTRA
and become the first public radio station in the Carolinas to do so.
Here’s why: (1/
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This started when
@KrisNordstrom
of
@ncjustice
compared two data sets related to private/voucher schools and found discrepancies. The state criticized his method ... and made both sets of data harder for the public to get. But ...
#nced
🧵
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Hey, cool --
@gabrielschuhl
is being honored at the
@edstateboard_nc
meeting now. He's a US Senate youth scholarship recipient. He was last year's student adviser to the
@CharMeckSchools
board.
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Updates from yesterday's report on discrepancies related to NC
#opportunityscholarships
:
@NCSEAA_EDU
says it had already cut off a Johnston Co school & referred to the FBI, even before
@KrisNordstrom
's report. 🧵
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.
@JenniferforCMS
says equity issue is real, but need to look at who's pushing for in-person classes: It's not the people from disadvantaged communities. "Let people speak for themselves -- look at who's pushing & who's not."
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Lots of parents are telling the
@CMSboard
they opted out of Full Remote Academy assuming CMS would honor its own metrics. That would mean staying in remote for everyone based on high community spread, well beyond "red zone" threshhold for weeks now.
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Young Black woman at Gaston hearing on Confederate monument: It's difficult when you see inanimate objects being protected & defended more than people who look like you.
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OK, CMS folks: The rumor mill geared up today saying there would be a special meeting on possible revision of reopening plans Tues. I've been told there may or may not eventually be one but not tomorrow. So ... we'll see.
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So: Let's keep having the debate about whether the
#opportunityscholarship
program is good or bad for NC. I'm eager to visit more voucher schools that offer families an array of options. I think most schools are legit. But ...
#nced
🧵
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Best "school's out" sign ever? Swiped from a friend's FB page.
@CharMeckSchools
@CHMSCavaliers
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For anyone who's missed all the McClatchy retirement list-making, I'll be leaving the Observer this week. The good news:
@bhender
will pick up education coverage while editors find a long-term reporter.
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Are NC schools biased against black students? New report points to suspension rates.
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Four hours into this
@CMSboard
meeting more than 4,000 people are still watching. People care about this stuff.
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4,000 people watching a colossal tech fail. Not trying to be mean to anyone, but man ... this reeks.
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It's the last
@CMSboard
meeting for student rep
@BreanaFowler19
. Board members and staff have been singing her praises. Best of luck on whatever comes next, Breana, and it'll be exciting to meet the next student advisor.
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And we thought
@PatMcCroryNC
didn't like us before:
@theobserver
files suit against Gov. McCrory over
#HB2
emails
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Everybody who's watching this long
@CMSboard
should be able to have a bowl of my husband's homemade chili while doing it. It makes life better.
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Board member Lenora Shipp says she's hearing from teachers who say the mask mandate makes them feel safe.
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Happy New Year to all of my loyal subjects. 👑 (Thrift tip: Buy a tiara without a year and use it over and over!)
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CMS says
@CMSSupt
is fine despite facial paralysis at today's staff meeting. Bell's palsy is a LOT better than a stroke! Best wishes to Earnest Winston.
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@JEFordNCTOY
@RexChapman
Amen. Although ... as a white woman I’ve gotten a pretty strong message that I’d better never, ever cry, because that’s classic fragility/making it about my feelings. This work is so complex.
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Good luck and good health to teachers in
@CharMeckSchools
and around the region who are going back for a school year filled with uncertainty.
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Everyone lost academic ground last year, but students in
@CharMeckSchools
took a bigger hit. And there are strong signs it's related to decisions the board and superintendent made.
@Sharrison_WFAE
& I start a 3-part series today.
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Organizers preparing for tear gas, handing out masks, planning first aid. Message: take care of each other.
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.
@JenniferforCMS
De La Jara: It would be irresponsible to return to in-person classes with community spread this high. CMS readiness plans can work, she says, but only with less community spread.
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Juan Torres Muñoz of
@EastMeckHS
takes the dais as the sixth student adviser to the
@CMSboard
tonight. Good luck, Juan!
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Parent and CMS employee: Rhetoric around bringing kids back has become toxic. What happened to feeling of all being in this together?
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Student advisor Gabe Schuhl: If one employee has to risk life to go to school, CMS shouldn't do it.
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Crystal Hill
@CHillloves1
is officially superintendent of
@CharMeckSchools
… despite the cranky Gov Center elevator.
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.
@BreeNewsome
says it's time for SC to focus on ending legacy of hate.
@theobserver
http://t.co/T6YiOtTBPc
http://t.co/H9XyKi8eQa
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As the buses roll this afternoon, it's a wrap for
@CharMeckSchools
. What a school year it's been. Let's all take a moment to salute and thank the students, educators and families who made good things out of tough conditions.
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Tweets about the debate are 1,000 times better than the debate was.
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NC officials emphasize that districts can choose Plan C, all remote learning. This is going to demand some tough choices from school boards.
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Student rep
@BreanaFowler19
takes on questions about grades, says hybrid is disruptive too. Looks like we've got another powerful student spokesperson in the mold of
@gabrielschuhl
(To be clear, I'm commending her engagement, not taking her side.)
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CMS board votes 8-0 to rename
@BarringerAC
Charles H. Parker Academic Center, in honor of a man who was enslaved and went on to develop churches, homes & a school in West Boulevard area.
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And ... just heard from
@MicheleMorrowNC
's new campaign manager saying Morrow "had a personal family matter come up earlier today" so she won't do the show. Stay tuned to see if/when she reschedules.
#nced
#ncpol
Tomorrow on
@CharlotteTalks
: GOP candidate for NC superintendent
@MicheleMorrowNC
talks about her vision for education. We had Dem candidate
@MoGreenforNC
on last month. Should be fascinating; these two have VERY different views.
#nced
#ncpol
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These teens earn $15 an hour at school. Their boss thinks they’ll save Charlotte.
@E2DInc
@CharMeckSchools
@GaringerWildcat
@kellywgwaltney
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High school students from across the region showing up for special matinee of
#HamiltonMusical
.
@CharMeckSchools
well represented.
#EduHam
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I think the decision to hold an emergency meeting in light of Meck HD directive bumped the odds way up that CMS stays in remote longer.
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"The majority decided that an oyster bill deserves more open discussion than a $24 billion budget." Sen.
@JeffJacksonNC
on the no-amendment no-debate budget process.
@jimmorrill
After leadership shut down the budget process, here's what I told them on the senate floor.
#ncpol
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What we don't/can't know is whether MORE would be sick if in-person classes were happening. Even if the increase were statistically insignificant, it's very significant for everyone touched by illness. That's why some teachers and parents support staying remote for now.
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.
@CTruittNC
& her staff were making the case for tracking data to make sure NC gets results from its education spending. But the numbers she gave them on K-1 reading gains had an obvious flaw ...
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Well!
@CMSboard
has called an emergency meeting 6 p.m. tomorrow (Thurs Oct. 1) to consider revisions to its back-to-school plan. See y'all on Facebook tomorrow.
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Larenda Denien, longtime principal at Idlewild Elementary (and regional principal of the year), named principal at Eastway Middle* (*news release says Eastway Elem but I don't think that exists)
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For all you
@CharMeckSchools
families/employees wondering about reopening plans, the
@CMSboard
just announced a special meeting 7 p.m. Weds 7/1 to talk about that. Presumably that will come after
@NC_Governor
Cooper's reopening announcement.
5
15
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CMS Chief Academic Officer tells
@CMSboard
that teacher burnout is a concern as the district plans for summer school. This has been an exhausting year for teachers.
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1
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So, the
@gabrielschuhl
fan club is going to have to do without him now, but if you just heard
@elysedashew
introduce
@BreanaFowler19
as the new student advisor, she may have her own fan club soon.
🙌🏽
@gabrielschuhl
who wraps up term as
@CMSboard
Student Advisor. Excited for
@BreanaFowler19
who takes over next! Thx
@charmeckschools
@cmssupt
@CMSboard
for partnering with
@GenNation
to develop student civic leaders, lift up
#studentvoice
+ give students a seat at the table
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I didn't download all the NC test scores and letter grades now that it's not my job. But I checked
@theobserver
's list and am delighted to see that
@RenWestEagles
has moved up to a C, from an F two years ago. Kudos
@dwightsthompson
&
@_RWCI
!
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Student body presidents across the country, inc.
@DavidsonCollege
,
@UNC
&
@DukeU
sign letter against racism & hate.
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7. Sometime today I’m going to log off Twitter & enjoy my family for a few days. I hope you all can do the same.
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Lenora Shipp: Our schools are not closed. Student & teachers are working hard in remote learning.
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Congrats to
@AshleighFields_
of the
@CharMeckSchools
@EastMeckEagle
, named the NC Scholastic Media Assn's high school journalist of the year!
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CMS communication chief tells a board committee that local media are becoming sensational in storytelling because "the
@CharMeckSchools
brand drives clicks." Man, if only I could come up with a clickbait headline for that ... 😂
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Holy blast from the past, Batman!
@CMSboard
is bringing back Scott McCully as chief compliance officer! He led the student assignment staff through some very hairy changes (and he's a nice guy). New salary $170K a year.
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And this doesn't even count as a spoiler anymore, but the community-spread numbers are WAY into the red, and much worse than they were when the
@CMSboard
voted in early December to delay in-person return two weeks in January.
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"Bombarded with complaints" --
@CharMeckSchools
officials say they're listening to parents who said remote learning means way too much screen time.
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Sometimes I think my job is stressful. Then I talk to NC educators. Here's how they're coping with staff shortages and COVID-19.
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Back at the Gov Center for
@CMSboard
. Last time was March 13, 2020, when the board voted to close schools.
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Clearest consensus from 800+ comments on ongoing
@CMSboard
emergency meeting is that folks love student rep Gabe Schuhl.
@GenNation
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