In a surprising move, the board of the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools (NCAPCS) hired Rhonda Dillingham to be the organization’s executive director.
According to the press release, Dillingham “co-founded Uwharrie Charter School and brings a decade of teaching and leadership experience from both public charter schools and district schools.”
If you ask me, it’s an unusual decision because Republicans make education law and policy in this state. They have majorities in both chambers of the N.C. General Assembly. Mark Johnson, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, is a Republican. Moreover, Republican Pat McCrory appointed a majority of members of the State Board of Education.
Can a Democrat be an effective advocate for charter schools in this political environment? We’ll see. If I were a member of the NCAPCS board, I wouldn’t have taken that chance.
