Randolph County Schools

UCA receives 10-year renewal

UCA receives 10-year renewal

ASHEBORO — Uwharrie Charter Academy has further confirmation that its long-term future appears bright. Randolph County’s only charter school was notified that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has voted to recommend a 10-year renewal for the school, which has grades K-12. “This is our first renewal, and the max you can get is 10 years,” said Sharon Castelli, the school’s superintendent. “Which means we’re going to be around a little longer.” The final stamp of approval should come from the Charter Schools Advisory Board in the spring, something that’s considered just a formality at this point. UCA is…
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RCSS receives electric bus as part of pilot program

RCSS receives electric bus as part of pilot program

The Randolph County School System is the first public school system in the state to receive an electric school bus as part of a pilot program funded by the North Carolina Volkswagen Settlement program. Various school officials and representatives of other groups gathered last week to document the development. In photo, left to right: Phillip Lanier, Randolph County Board of Education member; Michael Trent, Director of Innovative Energy Solutions, Randolph Electric Membership Corp.; Roy Parks, Western Regional Sales Manager, Carolina Thomas; Dr. Stephen Gainey, Superintendent, Randolph County School System; Elizabeth Biser, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality;…
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Randolph Early College senior recognized before board of education for United States Presidential Scholar selection

Randolph Early College senior recognized before board of education for United States Presidential Scholar selection

ASHEBORO – The Randolph County Board of Education met Monday, Jan. 9 with recognitions and quarterly updates the only items on the agenda. The board recognized the 2023 United States Presidential Scholar Nominee, Toby Cuna Zamora. “Toby Cuna Zamora, a senior at Randolph Early College High School, has been selected by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) as one of North Carolina’s nominees to apply for the United States Presidential Scholars Program in the General Education category,”  said Public Information Officer Tim Moody. “Nineteen nominees were selected from a pool of submissions through an extensive committee review process.…
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Toyota tags funds for education to aid workforce

Toyota tags funds for education to aid workforce

LIBERTY – Toyota wants to help mold the workforce for the new plant at the Guilford-Randolph megasite. In what company officials describe as an effort to boost workforce readiness and exposure, donations totaling $1 million will be used to expand education opportunities. The effort comes to boost what’s called STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics). Communities in Schools of Randolph County and North Carolina A&T University will each receive $500,000 to help strengthen STEAM education programs that support career readiness. This could be a big deal in Randolph County. Grant funds will be used to support students, empowering…
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Elementary teacher takes pride in RCSS honor

Elementary teacher takes pride in RCSS honor

Sophie Herring was selected as the Teacher of the Year for the Randolph County School System. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Once Sophie Herring discovered the joys of teaching, she became hooked. The elementary school teacher has been rewarded for her efforts in classrooms and among her peers by being named the Teacher of the Year for the Randolph County School System. “I know I’m young in the career,” she said. “It’s a huge honor. I’ve been overwhelmed with the love I’ve gotten from this.” She spent the past six school years teaching third grade at Trindale Elementary School. Her selection…
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Things to know as school year about to begin in Randolph County

Things to know as school year about to begin in Randolph County

ASHEBORO – The first day of classes is set for Monday at public schools around Randolph County. Here are a few things to know: Administrators in place The Randolph County School System made several new appointments for the school year during its August board of education meeting. They were: Judi Cagle, principal at Farmer Elementary; Shawn Garrett, assistant principal at Eastern Randolph high school; Jessica Green, assistant principal at Randleman High School; Stephanie Hatcher, assistant principal at Southwestern Randolph Middle School. Food for thought Kelly Green, director of school nutrition for RCSS, said there are 30 total positions vacant within…
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Back-to-School prayer event set for Sunday in Randolph County

Back-to-School prayer event set for Sunday in Randolph County

ASHEBORO — Chuck Powers, founder of the Randolph Christian Men, would like to see a record turnout for Sunday’s Back-to-School Prayer Night. At 5:30 p.m., gatherings are scheduled to begin at about 40 locations that are part of the Randolph County School System and Asheboro City Schools. “We’ll have someone who will lead prayer at each of those facilities,” Powers said. “We’re asking the Lord to bless everyone involved in education.” Turnout for last year’s Back-to-School Prayer Night was more than 500 based on reports Powers, an Asheboro man, received from his group’s members at the school locations. “I think…
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Lighthouse Award adds to Eastern Randolph’s pride

Lighthouse Award adds to Eastern Randolph’s pride

School leaders gathered last winter when Eastern Randolph High School received the Lighthouse Award. Pictured, left to right, are Cecil Mock, former assistant principal; Cathy Waddell, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction with the Randolph County School System; principal Susan Chappell; RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey; math teacher Ashley Inman; and retired JROTC advisor Lt. Col. Mike Williams. (Courtesy photo) School’s deep staff of alums helps define culture RAMSEUR – As principal Susan Chappell of Eastern Randolph High School reflected on the school receiving a major award on a statewide level during the past school year, one thing stood out. That’s…
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Some county schools will see new start times this fall

Some county schools will see new start times this fall

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School Board met Monday and approved a tiered bussing pilot program. The new program is intended to mitigate the current bus driver shortage and meet the State’s Department of Public Instruction efficiency ratings. County bus routes were more than two hours this school year, with pickup times starting before 5:30 am. In some cases, students were being dropped off at home after 5:30 pm. By focusing on elementary and middle school routes, the county expects to significantly cut down route times and limit the number of necessary drivers. This pilot system does not come without…
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Schools set commencement times, activities

Schools set commencement times, activities

Commencement ceremonies for most high schools in Randolph County are scheduled for next Wednesday. June 8 events will take place for schools in the Randolph County School System. Asheboro High School’s commencement will be a night later, coming at 7 p.m. June 9 at Lee J. Stone Stadium on campus. If inclement weather interferes, that ceremony will be held in the South Asheboro Middle School gym. Here are June 8 times: Eastern Randolph (6 p.m.), Trinity (6 p.m.), Randleman (7 p.m.), Southwestern Randolph (7 p.m.), Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve (7 p.m. at Journey Church in Asheboro), Providence Grove (8 p.m.) and…
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