North Carolina Representation Shines at SXSW EDU 2026

Students, teachers, leaders, and policy advisors from the Tar Heel State showcased their expertise at the annual education conference.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:53am

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North Carolina had a strong presence at this year's SXSW EDU conference in Austin, Texas. Educators, students, and leaders from the state participated in a variety of sessions, from panels on using AI in the classroom to discussions on navigating polarization in civics education. Presenters shared examples of success and current projects, highlighting the innovative work happening in North Carolina schools.

Why it matters

SXSW EDU is a major national platform for sharing best practices and emerging trends in education. North Carolina's robust representation demonstrates the state's commitment to educational innovation and its ability to contribute to the national dialogue on key issues facing the field.

The details

North Carolina participants covered a range of topics, including data-driven decision making, hybrid teaching models, language curriculum design, and education advocacy. Notable presenters included Dr. Andrew Smith from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Moriah Dollarhite from Rockingham County Schools, and Leah Carper, the 2022 North Carolina Teacher of the Year. A documentary film about North Carolina A&T State University, the largest HBCU in the nation, was also screened at the event.

  • SXSW EDU 2026 took place from March 9-12 in Austin, Texas.

The players

Dr. Andrew Smith

Deputy state superintendent for innovation at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) under Catherine Truitt.

Moriah Dollarhite

Director of human resources for Rockingham County Schools.

Leah Carper

The 2022 North Carolina Teacher of the Year and current director of stakeholder engagement for Guilford County Schools.

Helena Ortiz

A sophomore from Rockingham Early College High School who is working with PBS News Student Reporting Labs and co-hosting the upcoming sixth season of the On Our Minds podcast.

Ashley Shanté and Brandon Gerard

The filmmakers of the Emmy-nominated documentary "Our Blues Make Us Gold," which looks at the roots and legacy of North Carolina A&T State University.

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What they’re saying

“Where the work happens is with the kids. We knew we needed to equip our local leaders with information.”

— Dr. Andrew Smith, Deputy state superintendent for innovation at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) (ednc.org)

“Teaching civics is hard. The good news is it's kind of always been hard. We can teach hard things. Civics teachers can teach hard things. We always have.”

— Dr. Emma Humphries, Chief education officer at iCivics (ednc.org)

“If the kids trust that you're giving them the best information that you have, then you can go forward with your work.”

— Valencia Abbott, 2025 National History Teacher of the Year and veteran social studies educator at Rockingham Early College High School (ednc.org)

“Gen Z isn't coming to fill a slot. They are joining a mission.”

— Robyn Fehrman, Executive director of Teach for America North Carolina (ednc.org)

“I probably spend 90% of my time focusing on the culture of my building because I think through the culture of the school we impact the achievement of our students.”

— Christianne May, Principal of Castle Hayne Elementary School in New Hanover County (ednc.org)

What’s next

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction plans to share the state's data collection methods and evidence-driven systems change approach with other states at future education conferences.

The takeaway

North Carolina's strong presence at SXSW EDU 2026 showcased the state's commitment to educational innovation and its ability to contribute to national discussions on key issues facing the field. The diverse representation of students, teachers, leaders, and policy advisors demonstrated the breadth of talent and expertise within the state's education community.