From the Office of Lt. Governor Walter Dalton | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press release:

Leading on Innovative Education

    Since taking office as your Lieutenant Governor, I have worked extensively on the intersection of jobs and education and to prepare today's students for skilled jobs of the future. I wanted to take a moment to update you on several exciting initiatives that are doing just that.

Dalton, NC Leaders Launch New STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Learning Network

    I'm pleased to announce that students across North Carolina will see a boost in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education under a new initiative that launched March 1. The NC STEM Learning Network will bring together the state's education systems and private sector to give North Carolina a vehicle to coordinate the many efforts of government, educators, and businesses to advance STEM education. The Joining Our Businesses and Schools (JOBS) Commission, which I chair, was instrumental in the development of this new initiative and the statewide STEM plan adopted last year.

    The key to North Carolina's economic future is a workforce trained in the skills today's businesses require. The NC STEM Learning Network is a unique collaboration that will efficiently take STEM resources statewide and encourage the business community to join in advancing STEM education for all North Carolina students. North Carolina has amazing STEM resources that will benefit students at all levels, but we need to do a better job of coordinating and sharing these resources. Through this network, we can share the best efforts throughout the state and solicit businesses, agencies, and others to help prepare students for skilled jobs in a rapidly-changing environment.

    The NC STEM Learning Network has the support of the state's education systems including; the University of North Carolina system, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), and the N.C. Community College System. It will be run as a public-private partnership through the N.C. Science, Mathematics and Technology (SMT) Education Center.

    The ultimate goal is to graduate more students with STEM skills, which will prepare them for 21st century jobs.

Lt. Gov Dalton on his tour of Central Carolina Community College's Chatham County Campus

    Dalton Celebrates New Regional Biotechnology and Agriscience School

    I was pleased to recently join local leaders and educators to celebrate the new Northeast Regional School of Biotechnology and griscience at the Vernon James Research Center in Plymouth, located in Washington County. The school came as a recommendation from the JOBS Commission. Last year, the General Assembly approved legislation I championed allowing multiple school districts to collaborate and establish regional schools

    The school, which is scheduled to open this August, will be for students in Beaufort, Martin, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties and will operate in conjunction with North Carolina State University and the NC New Schools Project. During the 2011 legislative session, I successfully pushed for legislation that would allow a regional school focused on agriscience and biotechnology.

    This public early college high school will focus on STEM, with a special focus on biotechnology and agriscience. The early college high school will allow students an opportunity to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate's degree within five years.

Lt. Governor Dalton visits White Rock Baptist Church Child Development Center in Durham

Dalton Leading North Carolina's Virtual Education Efforts

    As Lieutenant Governor, I have been proud to Chair the eLearning Commission, which oversees North Carolina's online education resources.

    We were excited to launch elearningnc.gov which is the entry point to all the eLearning resources North Carolina has to offer. The web site provides an easy one-stop-shop for any North Carolinian, from grades K-12 students to life-long learners, who wants to take advantage of online learning opportunities such as the NC Virtual Public School, online courses offered at the community colleges or university levels, and online career building.

    The eLearning Commission is dedicated to creating and promoting a collaborative online learning environment that promotes student achievement, business success, economic stability, and lifelong learning for every citizen of the state. North Carolina has the nation's second-largest virtual public school and currently offers more online courses and degree programs than any other state. The appeal of eLearning is that it offers anytime, anyplace learning opportunities to North Carolinians with the goal of equalizing education for citizens throughout the state.

Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton presents World War II veterans from North Carolina the French Legion of Honor at the State Capitol, February 28, 2012.

Help Honor Our Veterans

    Recently, I had the honor of presenting 10 World War II veterans from North Carolina who served in France with the French Legion of Honor, France's highest military honor, at the State Capitol. We all owe our freedoms to the sacrifices made by brave men like these.

    As a member of the North Carolina Advisory Commission on Military Affairs, I wanted to pass along this information to North Carolina's Korean War Veterans and their families:

    The North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs is dedicated to thanking and honoring all the veterans of the Korean War and their families and especially those who lost loved ones in the war. The agency is assisting all deserving veterans and their families in receiving a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta in honoring their service during the Korean War.

    Please fill out the form linked here to submit a certificate request. This request form is for Korean War Veterans who currently live in North Carolina.

    Office of Lt. Governor Walter Dalton
    20401 Mail Service Center
    Raleigh, NC 27699-0401