Higher Ed Works is now Public Ed Works.
Public Ed Works (PEW) is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) public charity that focuses on increasing residents’ knowledge of public education in North Carolina. PEW educates state residents about the benefits our public education systems provide and explains how public schools are funded and supported.
PEW supports a strong, well-funded public education system from Pre-K through college that will enable North Carolina to increase postsecondary attainment and achieve the goals of myFutureNC. Research has shown that adequate funding makes a difference, and PEW works to inspire legislative support and funding for all of NC public education.
NC Pre-K through 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.
PEW 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. PEW collaborates with many excellent NC education-focused organizations across the state. The Public School Forum of North Carolina, BEST NC, Public Schools First NC, and Education NC are a few of the organizations with which we work.
In 2024 PEW will celebrate 10 years of public education advocacy!
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Paul Fulton, ChairEden 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
Dean Castaldo, Greensboro, NC – Regional Director of Development, US Naval Academy Foundation
Heather Chandler, Cary, NC – Owner and Director, Whole Brain Escape
Melissa Cominole, Raleigh, NC – Senior Research Education Analyst, RTI International
Jim Deal, Boone, NC – Attorney, Deal, Moseley, and Smith, LLP
William Dudley, Raleigh, NC – Attorney, Political and Business Consultant, Dudley Solutions, LLC
Gary Green, Winston-Salem, NC – Retired President, Forsyth Technical Community College
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
Millie Tan, Durham, NC – Managing Director, TAN Associates
Elaine Townsend Utin, Chapel Hill, NC – Executive Director & Co-Founder, LatinxEd
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
STAFF
Emma Battle, President and CEO
David Rice, Executive Director
Melissa (Mel) Davis, Vice President of Development
Tricia Daisley, Development Director
Jennie Hayman, Development Consultant
Debra Davis Rezeli, Engagement Director