Eliminating Barriers to Learning

No matter a child’s background, economic status, race, or gender—all children should have access to quality education with educators who are invested in their current and future success.

As the fourth-largest school system in North Carolina, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools plays a major role in the success of our local students, and they’re committed to raising student achievement by eliminating barriers to learning.

“We have a beautifully diverse school district with more than 53,000 students and an employee workforce of about 7,000 people,” said superintendent Tricia McManus. “What we’re trying to become is a culture that’s less focused on compliance and more focused on creating connection and true meaning for our students. Ultimately, we want to close our student achievement gaps, and to get there, data tells us that we must confront the racial disparities our students experience.”

Equity in Education Grants from the Foundation have helped the district with numerous projects since 2020, such as providing anti-bias training for teachers and principals, reimagining in-school suspension classrooms, and investing in collaborative programs to create a pipeline of diverse and high-quality teachers. This work aligns with the Foundation’s priorities to help create culturally affirming school environments, embrace positive behavior intervention strategies, and ensure all students have access to opportunities and resources.

“Our vision is to become the best place to learn and work through excellence, collaboration, and inclusiveness,” noted McManus. “We’re aiming to get to the point where all our students are achieving excellence and feel capable, connected, and cared for within our school district.”