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Former Chiefs WebBrief: Our 250th Anniversary: What Students Are Learning About Civic Education in Our Schools
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 @ 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm EDT
Presented by Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York; and Dr. Lori Carlin, Section Chief, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Moderated by Melissa McGrath, Chief of Staff, Council of Chief State School Officers
This program is part of a series of WebBriefs hosted by The Alliance of Former Chief State School Officers.
There is no CE certificate for this program.
Watch the RecordingListen to the Podcast
Have you ever heard someone say, “We need to teach civics in our schools”? Well, find out about how states are developing students to be informed, responsible, and engaged members of communities and our nation.
In this WebBrief, hosted by the Alliance of Former Chief State School Officers, the Chief State School Officer from New York and the Social Studies Section Chief from North Carolina will share their states’ approaches to developing core knowledge about government structures, rights and responsibilities, and foundational documents. They also talk about their approaches to developing civic skills and character traits essential to a healthy democracy.
The mission of the Alliance of Former Chief State School Officers is to explore and support important education issues with a collegial, thoughtful, reasonable, and just approach that provides perspective and supports leadership in providing excellent and equitable education.
About the Presenters
Dr. Betty A. Rosa is the Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York, appointed permanently to the role in 2021 after serving as Interim Commissioner. She previously served as Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents and is the first Latina woman to hold either position. Dr. Rosa has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent, professor, and statewide education leader, with expertise in bilingual and inclusive education, student achievement, and education policy. She began her career in the New York City Department of Education as a bilingual paraprofessional and later served as Senior Superintendent of the Bronx. Dr. Rosa holds an Ed.M. and Ed.D. from Harvard University, along with additional graduate degrees in educational administration and bilingual education. She has received numerous honors recognizing her leadership, advocacy, and contributions to public education.
Dr. Lori Carlin is a lifelong educator and leader in North Carolina public education. She began her career as a Theatre Arts teacher in Chatham County Schools while earning her doctorate in educational research and policy analysis from NC State University. Dr. Carlin has served in leadership roles in communications, arts education, research, and strategic planning at both the district and national levels. Since 2019, she has served as Section Chief for Arts Education and Social Studies at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, overseeing standards, professional development, and policy implementation. Dr. Carlin serves on the Governor’s Financial Literacy Council, the board for the North Carolina Council on Economic Education, the Volunteerism and Community Service Commission, and the NC America 250 Committee.
About the Moderator
Melissa McGrath is the Council of Chief State School Officers’ Chief of Staff and oversees the Council’s member services, leadership, communications, federal relations, and National Teacher of the Year Program. As Chief of Staff, Melissa is tasked with keeping her pulse on key work across the organization and policy landscape and proactively identifying opportunities to advance CCSSO’s reach. Melissa joined CCSSO in 2014 as the organization’s Director of Communications. Before joining CCSSO, she spent more than seven years as the Communications Director for the Idaho State Department of Education. Melissa holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and government and politics from the University of Maryland. She holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.