Public Ed Works (formerly known as Higher Ed Works) is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) charitable organization that focuses on increasing residents’ knowledge of public education in North Carolina. We educate people about the benefits of our public education systems and explain how public schools are funded and supported.
Public Ed Works drives to inspire legislative support and equitable funding for all NC public education: Pre-K early childhood K-12, community colleges and four-year public universities.
North Carolina K-12 public education, in particular, suffers from massive underfunding. As a result:
- NC fell to #50 out of 50 states in percentage of GDP invested in K-12.
- NC starting teacher pay is the lowest in the Southeast.
- In 2023, NC public schools started short 3,000+ teachers.
Follow this link for more statistics on the dire state of NC public education.
Public Ed Works uses social media, digital marketing, our website, weekly newsletter, and advertising to connect with more than 2,500,000 people each year who engage with our content at a very high rate. We collaborate with many excellent NC education-focused organizations across the state, including The Public School Forum of North Carolina, BEST NC, Public Schools First NC, and Education NC.
In 2024 Public Ed Works will celebrate 10 years of public education advocacy!
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Emma Battle, Chapel Hill, NC – President and CEO, Market Vigor
Eden Bloss, Greensboro, NC – Vice President of Communications, Carnegie Learning, Inc.
Jan Capps, Wilmington/Greensboro, NC – Former Chair, Cape Fear Community College Foundation
Rusty Carter, Wilmington, NC – President, Atlantic Packaging Company
Susan Cates, Chapel Hill, NC – Managing Partner, Leeds Illuminate
Melissa Cominole, Raleigh, NC – Senior Research Education Analyst, RTI International
Melissa Davis, Charlotte, NC – Consultant, Public Ed Works
Jim Deal, Boone, NC – Attorney, Deal, Moseley, and Smith, LLP
William Dudley, Raleigh, NC – Attorney, Political and Business Consultant, Dudley Solutions, LLC
Jennie Hayman, Raleigh, NC – Attorney, Development Consultant
Melissa Hlavac, Carrboro, NC – Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, UNC Chapel Hill
Harold Martin, Greensboro, NC – Former Chancellor, NC A&T State University
Ray Peck, Raleigh, NC – Senior Vice President Investments, Raymond James
King Prather, Cary, NC – Former SVP, General Counsel at BCBSNC
Michael Rogers, Winston-Salem, NC – Senior Vice President and Loan Team Manager, Wells Fargo
Doug Shackelford, Chapel Hill, NC – Retired, Dean Kenan Flagler Business School
John Tate, Charlotte, NC – Retired Bank Executive
Damon Wade, Raleigh, NC – Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing, William Peace University
Rob Welch, Winston-Salem, NC – Vice President, I.L. Long Construction Company, Inc.
John (Buddy) Wester, Charlotte, NC – Litigator, Robinson Bradshaw
Brad Wilson*, Raleigh, NC – Executive in Residence, Wake Forest University
*Public Ed Works Co-Chair
STAFF
Shawnice Meador, President and Executive Director
David Rice, Executive Editor
Molly Walsh, Marketing Manager
Jennifer Hodges, Development Associate
Amy Cockerham, Content Creator
Kathryn Hall, Development Campaign Manager
CONSULTANTS
Emma Battle, Marketing & Development Consultant
Melissa (Mel) Davis, DevelopmentConsultant
Tricia Daisley, Development Consultant