Dean Winter Presents CEAP Initiatives at Governor Cooper's DRIVE Task Force Stop in Asheville

 College of Education and Allied Professions      October 10, 2023

Since the inception of the DRIVE Task Force in 2019 through an executive order signed by Governor Roy Cooper, its primary focus has been on the recruitment, preparation, and retention of educators from diverse backgrounds. DRIVE, which stands for "Develop a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education," is a collective effort comprising parents, guardians, K-12 educators, state and local government officials, as well as representatives from both the UNC System and community colleges. In 2021, this collaborative entity released a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity within North Carolina's educator workforce.

In recent months, the task force has embarked on a statewide tour to investigate organizations and initiatives aligned with their objectives. On September 21, their journey brought them to Asheville. During this visit, Dr. Kim Winter, the Dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions (CEAP), presented to the group. She highlighted several programs, including Call Me MiSTER, STEP with WCU, LEAF in ECE, NC Principal Fellows, LEAP, TRUE with WCU, and the Participate Learning Partnership, all of which exemplify Western Carolina University's commitment to fostering diversity in educational leadership.