MeckEd is the result of the 2006 merger of Charlotte Advocates for Education, The Charlotte Chamber’s education initiative, the Mecklenburg Education Foundation, and the Citizens Task Force on Public Education.

2008

The organization became ‘MeckEd’ and began to operate with a smaller board, new leadership and new staff. MeckEd now focuses on action-oriented, research-based programs that dramatically improve system-wide change in CMS.

MeckEd convened major employers and private foundations to address a top priority for CMS – developing strong leadership for CMS for principals, administrators through school board.The School Leadership Fund was started in September 2008 and since then has raised more than $3 Million dollars for priority CMS initiatives and MeckEd programs.

2009

MeckEd conducted programs to strengthen the leadership of our schools and more than 100 people attended four workshops conducted for potential school board candidates. Eleven ran for school board in the November 2009 election. More than 1100 people attended MeckEd workshops in person in 2009.

2010

MeckEd and CMS co-sponsored “Principal for a Day,” which allowed business and civic leaders within the community to shadow CMS elementary, middle and high school principals to give them a feel for the day-to-day responsibilities of a principal and to better engage them within the community. In September, more than 200 people attended a workforce development summit for business and education leaders, co-hosted by MeckEd and the Charlotte Chamber. As part of its commitment to leadership, MeckEd again offered five workshops for community leaders interested in school board candidacy or public education advocacy, as part of the Public Education Leaders Series. About 130 individuals were in attendance. MeckEd also wrapped up its School Leadership Fund, which invested $2.6 million and provided two and a half years of financial support for New Leaders for New Schools, Parent University, Leaders for Tomorrow and the CMS Professional Development Project.

2011

MeckEd focused on community engagement, as well as community and school leadership to ensure the community was informed and educated about the various issues affecting public education and that the strongest leaders filled key leadership positions. MeckEd launched a Public Information and Education Outreach Initiative, which educated and informed the community about the CMS 2011-2012 budget process and its effect on local public education. As a result of various combined efforts and community action, CMS was granted additional money from the county and state and was able to retain hundreds of teacher and staff positions.

MeckEd also conducted an information campaign about the local school board elections. By featuring school board candidate profiles on our website and in our weekly e-Newsletter, as well as hosting the MeckEd/WFAE Interactive Debate with School Board Candidates, the community was able to learn about the candidates’ platforms and education priorities so that they could be informed voters. MeckEd also introduced Interactive Data Maps of CMS that featured individual schools’ graduation rates, student proficiency, per-pupil expenditures, student-teacher ratios and student attendance rates. In the fall, MeckEd brought on a Director of Programs to help us better engage the community through relevant programs related to our mission.

Looking Ahead…

In 2012, MeckEd will focus on greater community engagement, carrying out our mission to inform and educate the community and uplifting the teaching profession through various strategic initiatives. We will keep the community informed about the selection process for the next CMS superintendent, as well as the NC Superintendent Election. Stay tuned for upcoming MeckEd programs and events.