By Susan Shinn Turner

For The Salisbury Post

There’s a movement afoot in the state of North Carolina, and that movement is to support public schools. 

Pastors for North Carolina Children is just one of those groups. The Rev. Suzanne Miller, executive director, will speak at St. John’s Lutheran Church this Thursday, Oct. 17. 

“Building Bridges: Our Community Commitment to Transforming Public Education” will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Ritchie Hall, 200 W. Innes St. This event is free and open to the public. It’s for pastors, parents, and anyone interested in the well being of public schools. 

“Building Bridges” is hosted by the congregation’s Public School Outreach and Support team, formed at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. The team’s goal is to lift up the community’s public schools through lay leader partnerships and advocacy. It continues the congregation’s longtime partnership with Isenberg Elementary School.

Retired educators Carol Everhart, Celia Jarrett, and Karen Puckett are all members of that team. 

“We see education through a faith-based lens,” Puckett says. “God wants us to take care of the children, and the public schools are a common good for everybody.”

However, money is funneled to private schools. Currently, North Carolina ranks 46th in public school spending. 

Miller’s organization is funded by a Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation grant. Miller is based in Raleigh, and advocates often at the legislature. 

“She spoke several years ago in Salisbury, and the event was well attended,” Puckett says. 

The women acknowledge there are a variety of reasons that parents send their children to private schools. 

But, Jarrett says, “We are called to be a just society, and our public schools have always been a beacon for equity. People can come to this event to be educated.”

“I feel very strongly that we need to support public education, because our most vulnerable are the one who suffer when our education system is not strong,” Everhart says. 

The gathering aims to explore the historical context, current challenges, and future opportunities for North Carolina’s public schools.

“We have a faith-based, ecumenical lens on a social issue,” Jarrett notes. 

“This is a natural progression of joining hands with schools and students,” Puckett says. 

“There are a lot of good things that are happening in public schools,” Jarrett says. “We just have to do a better job of communicating that. Everything goes back to education.”

Puckett agrees. 

“It’s part of being a civilized society,” she says. 

“We are growing good citizens,” Jarrett says. “And leadership starts at the local level. We can build up leaders in churches and civic organizations.”

“Public schools can help children achieve,” Puckett says. “We need to participate in them.” 

“I want our state to be top in education,” Jarrett says. “That’s my goal. I hope people will feel empowered after this event to let their voices be heard.”

For more information about Pastors for Public Schools, visit pastorsforncchildren.org. 

Susan Shinn Turner is staff writer for St. John’s Lutheran Church.