FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 September 2012
For More Information: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II President, 919-394-8137
Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700
The North Carolina NAACP always espouses one consistent vision for education: every child must be provided a high-quality, well-funded, constitutional, diverse public education. To this end our eight educational principles are:
- Stop resegregation and promote diversity
- Provide equity in funding for all schools
- Provide high quality teachers and smaller classrooms
- Provide high quality leadership teams
- Provide high quality facilities
- Focus on math, science, reading and history
- Support parental and community involvement
- Address unjust and disproportionate suspensions and reduce dropout rates and increase graduation rates among African-American and other minority students
We are hopeful that the Wake County school board and the future superintendent will stand for these fundamental principles, which are rooted in the North Carolina and US Constitutions, educational best practices, proven research and our moral traditions, to build the hopes and educate the minds of all our precious children.
The North Carolina NAACP and its friends and allies in the faith community commend the Wake County Board of Education for the poise and grace with which they handled the difficult issues raised by Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata's performance as Superintendent of the Wake County Public School System. As is the case with the rest of the public, because this is a confidential personnel matter, we do not know all the factors that went into this decision and cannot speak for the board. We do know leadership is important. If any school system, business or organization is not functioning at its fullest potential and carrying out the best practices towards the fulfillment of its primary mission and vision--leadership must be held accountable by the governing board.
During his tenure we did try to reach out to former Superintendent Tata and we acknowledge that he did meet with us despite our noted educational policy disagreements. We respect Brig. Gen. Tata as a person, public servant and wish him Godspeed. We now urge everyone to focus on the needs of our children, our families, our teachers and our schools as we go forward.
Yours in the Spirit of Truth and Justice,
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, North Carolina NAACP
Dr. Tim Tyson, Education Chair, North Carolina NAACP
Mr. Charles Upchurch, President, Wendell-Wake Branch of the NAACP
Rev. Dr. Portia Rochelle, President, Raleigh-Apex Branch of the NAACP
Rev. Dr. Earl Johnson, Pastor, Martin Street Baptist Church, President of the Raleigh Wake Citizens Association (RWCA)
Rev. Dr. Nancy Petty, Pastor, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church
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