Craven County Schools Hosts Inspiring Craven Summit for Educators

Craven County Schools proudly hosted the Craven Summit, a two-day professional learning event on February 10th and 11th, 2025, designed to empower educators with innovative tools and strategies to enhance their instructional practices and professional growth. Over 900 educators participated in this dynamic event, which featured more than 100 sessions covering diverse topics such as technology integration, data analysis, artificial intelligence in education, classroom management, AVID strategies, and mindfulness.  

The summit opened with an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Pat McLaughlin, a Jon Gordon Certified Coach and leadership expert. Dr. McLaughlin shared insights from The Energy Bus, emphasizing positivity and resilience in education. His message energized participants, offering practical strategies to overcome challenges and foster a culture of collaboration and growth.  

The Craven Summit highlighted the district’s dedication to providing meaningful professional learning opportunities for educators. Participants had the opportunity to attend up to five sessions each day, tailored to their unique needs, ensuring they walked away with actionable strategies to enhance instruction in their classrooms.  

Michelle Lee, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, praised her team's efforts and the educators who willingly shared their knowledge, "I am incredibly impressed with the hard work of our Curriculum and Instruction team and our educators who delivered powerful sessions that will enrich the lives of our students. Craven County Schools firmly believes in investing in the best, our educators, and events like this showcase the district's dedication to excellence." 

This year’s Craven Summit marked a significant milestone as the first large-scale professional learning event since the pandemic, providing a platform for educators to collaborate, innovate, and grow together as lifelong learners.  

Craven County Schools is grateful to the local businesses in the community that supported this event by donating prizes for the participants. This was an exciting finale for the educators who left feeling valued and inspired. Local food trucks, Craven County Schools School Nutrition Department, and the NBH PTO also played an important role by ensuring all staff had access to meals and snacks during the two-day event.

The district invites the community to stay engaged with future events that prioritize educational excellence and inspire a culture of growth among both students and staff.