Amy Diaz
88.5 WFDD
Flint, MI, United States
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Past articles by Amy:
North Carolina teacher attrition rates show improvement compared to last year
According to a statewide report, fewer North Carolina public school teachers left the profession last year compared to the year before. But beginning teachers left at higher rates than those with more experience. → Read More
WS/FCS considers summer retesting to boost school performance grades
A summer retesting program will be up for consideration at the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education meeting Tuesday night. District officials say it will give schools a chance to improve their performance grades. → Read More
NC bill would limit Guilford County school board's say in filling vacancies
A new bill would require the Guilford County Board of Education to approve the GOP’s pick to fill a vacant seat. The seat opened when former member Pat Tillman became a commissioner in November. Since Tillman is a Republican, it was up to the county GOP to recommend his replacement. But the school board has repeatedly voted along party lines to reject the conservative appointment, Guilford… → Read More
WS/FCS partners with city to help students 'Stay Fresh' with free haircuts
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is partnering with the city to provide three youth mentorship programs, one of which involves free student haircuts. It’s called the Stay Fresh Initiative. The city will hire five licensed barbers and five licensed nail technicians to provide free, monthly services at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools. It will be up to the principals to identify students… → Read More
Winston-Salem African American Archive programs will explore local Black history
The first African American Resilience history program will be hosted at the Central branch of the Forsyth County Public Library next week. The presentation will focus specifically on Black history in Winston-Salem, exploring the contributions of residents going all the way back to the 1890s. Linda Dark, the community liaison for the Winston-Salem African American Archive, will be speaking at the… → Read More
Task force looking to diversify NC educator workforce kicks off statewide tour
A parent-and-educator-led task force working to diversify North Carolina’s teacher workforce kicked off a statewide tour this week to learn about local initiatives. The task force is called DRIVE, which stands for Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education. It was established by Gov. Roy Cooper in 2019. The group’s tour began in Edgecombe County with a networking event for… → Read More
Winston-Salem State University partners with elementary school to mentor children
The children at Cook Literacy Model School in Winston-Salem met their new college student mentors for the first time one-on-one on Thursday. Principal Celena Tribby said they’d been anticipating the first lunch meeting all week. “The level of excitement before, like it was loud,” she said. “And now it's like there's this hum of learning and excitement. It went from, I think, nervous energy to… → Read More
Guilford County school board rejects GOP pick for vacant seat a third time
The Guilford County Board of Education rejected a GOP appointment to fill a vacant seat for a third time on Tuesday — an issue that may result in a change in legislation. → Read More
Guilford County students honor legacy of the A&T Four civil rights activists
On February 1, 1960, four Black students at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University took a stand against segregation. This week, Guilford County students celebrated the legacy of the A&T Four by literally walking in their footsteps. Students from A&T Four Middle College and other local high schools traveled down Market Street in Greensboro from the NC A&T campus to the old… → Read More
Student artwork on display in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools offices
Over 100 original pieces of art have been framed and hung throughout the halls of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools central office buildings. The artists are students from all 81 schools in the district. District officials say art teachers from each school submitted the pieces for the installation. On Jan. 31, the district is hosting an art gallery opening to celebrate the student artists… → Read More
Guilford County school board delays vote on vacant seat after two rejections
The future of the District 3 vacancy on the Guilford County Board of Education remains unclear after a meeting Thursday night. During a work session on Jan. 26, the board tabled a vote to reconsider the twice-rejected GOP appointment to their next meeting. The seat opened when former school board member Republican Pat Tillman was elected to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners last… → Read More
WS/FCS celebrates school counselors at board of education meeting
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school counselors were recognized for their hard work at a board of education meeting Tuesday night. Chief Program Officer for Student Services Clinton Wilson presented a proclamation outlining their contributions and recognizing Feb. 6-10 as National School Counseling Week. → Read More
R.J. Reynolds High School celebrates 100th birthday
R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem celebrated its 100th birthday this week. Several former faculty and students gathered in the media center to celebrate the milestone Wednesday night. The crowd sang “Amid the Pines,” the school’s alma mater. The fact that it had been 40, 50, or 60 years since the people singing had attended the school didn’t seem to matter. They knew all of the words to… → Read More
Guilford County Schools to expand learning hubs into 22 middle schools
Guilford County Schools (GCS) is set to receive $2.2 million in federal community project funding to expand learning hubs into the district’s middle schools. GCS originally created learning hubs at 15 large, traditional high schools back in 2021 as a way to combat learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The hubs provide a space where students can access grade-level content, tutoring, and… → Read More
Children's MLK Read-In event at Wake Forest University to promote activism and literacy
Wake Forest University is hosting its 14th annual Read-In Day on Jan. 21st to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and promote literacy. The program is open to elementary school students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Participants will visit a variety of activity stations to learn about civil rights leaders, music, art, and reading. Each child will be paired with a volunteer… → Read More
Guilford County Schools receives federal grant to support mental health services
Guilford County Schools will receive $14.8 million from the U.S. Department of Education for school-based mental health services. The funds will go towards expanding mental health supports at 61 schools, and allow the district to create 16 new, full-time mental health clinician positions over the next five years. During a Board of Education meeting on Jan. 10, Superintendent Whitney Oakley said… → Read More
WS/FCS to use new software to improve student schedules
It takes Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school officials about six weeks to build a master schedule for their students. Principals, data managers and counselors work together using paper and pencil to create this schedule. But just because it’s completed, doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Chief Human Resources Officer Leslie Alexander says the district spent about $180,000 last year covering the 800… → Read More
Guilford County School Board rejects GOP pick for vacant seat — again
The District 3 seat on the Guilford County Board of Education remains vacant following a vote Tuesday night to reject the GOP appointment. → Read More
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education members sworn in after delay
The recently elected Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education members were sworn in on Jan. 5, at a meeting that was supposed to take place a month earlier. The delay was the result of an election protest in the county barring members from swearing in until their elections were certified. Six newcomers and three incumbents took the oath of office on Thursday, and also voted on board… → Read More
Suicidal thoughts on the rise among NC students, survey shows
The 2021 North Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Survey data shows an increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviors among students. The survey, which was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 30 years ago, is a way to gauge what middle and high school students are experiencing as it relates to drugs, alcohol, violence, physical activity, and mental health. It’s voluntary… → Read More