The Week of the Young Child is coming up April 5-11, and it’s a time to celebrate young learners and the incredible early childhood educators who support them. From Music Monday to Family Friday, there are so many ways to engage—start planning now! Check out resources here:

I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to the keynote speaker and engage with participants as a presenter myself at the NC Head Start Association conference today. I wish I could have stayed longer! #literacyfoundationswithprekfamilies North Carolina Head Start

I am thankful for the time we had with NCDPI Superintendent Mo Green at #MoWantstoKnow this evening. The kids shared their suggestions for NC schools and met Mo personally!

“Children are not merely vessels into which facts are poured one week and then when it comes time for exams they turn themselves upside down and let the facts run out. Children bring all of themselves, their feelings, and their experiences to the learning.”

I’m thankful for my time with these great educators through the PK-3 Distinguished Leadership Institute! #keepdoinggreatthings

Celebration of collaboration! DPI hosted a Networking Meeting for LEA Pre-K Leaders, the first of 3 at locations across the state. It was a JOY to see so many of those who support young learners sharing ideas and building relationships in the spirit of children! NCDPI Office of Early Learning

Celebration of Collaboration- Part 2 in the east today! Grateful for those who support young children in Fed. Program, OEC, CTE, and OEL ❤️ NCDPI Office of Early Learning

To help you prepare for #WOYC25, here are some Family Friday activities that integrate math language and concepts! NAEYC drive.google.com/file/d/1xVJAXy…

As we celebrate NAEYC’s 2025 Week of the Young Child, it’s a perfect time to reflect on how we can better listen to and learn from children, ensuring their voices are heard in every aspect of their lives. #WOYC25 #NAEYC #FredRogers @naeyc

It’s always a joy to learn more about amazing CTE happenings and student opportunities from school districts and Karen Boyles, NW CTE Regional Coordinator, NCDPI!

Celebrating early childhood educators at Smart Start Conference! A great Friday learning with others about Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), leading a session on Science of Reading in pre-k, and listening to a “fireside chat”. 🎉 NCDPI Office of Early Learning

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Words cannot adequately express my level of gratitude to each and every one of you for the dedication and sacrifices that you make every day for your NC Public Schools students.

On this Teacher Appreciation Day, we thank all the extraordinary North Carolina teachers for the work they do in making a positive difference in the lives of their students! #TeacherAppreciationDay #ThankATeacher

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! OEL extends our heartfelt thanks to each of you for the passion, commitment, and care you bring to early learning every day! #ThankATeacher #TeacherAppreciationWeek

The “Mo Wants to Know” Listening & Learning Tour has wrapped up! Thousands of people across NC shared valuable feedback on the future of our NC Public Schools — and we’re listening. Want to add your voice? Submit your thoughts by this Friday, May 30 - go.ncdpi.gov/MWTK-feedback

Play or explicit instruction? Ditching the dichotomy with K-2 Hickory City Schools educators. Looking for🔎: active, iterative, social, engaging & meaningful activities for playful learning & educational play across a continuum! NCDPI Office of Early Learning

Fantastic to be back PBS North Carolina Impact Early Education Summit! Shout out to all the sponsors, organizers, presenters and participants: educators, chamber of commerce members, museum and library staff, state level leaders, and more! Energy level was 🔥.

Digging into the active view of reading and cohort data with the West and Far West this week!

It was a great day of learning and networking at the NW Mini-Conference! NCDPI Office of Early Learning

OEL is hiring! We have 10 Early Literacy Specialist positions available. Check out our interactive map to see the districts with vacancies: go.ncdpi.gov/ELSMap