A Brief History of Triangle High Five

Triangle High Five started as a partnership known as High Five in 2003. Orage Quarles III, president and publisher of The News & Observer, wondered what could happen if his company, and several others, joined forces to fund a major initiative to improve public schools.

What would you do, he asked the superintendents of the Triangle’s five public school systems. How would you work together? Where would you focus your efforts? How would we measure success?

That led to a series of round-table discussions among the superintendents and leaders of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Progress Energy, Capitol Broadcasting, SAS and The News & Observer.

In November 2003, the superintendents proposed a regional consortium for excellence in education that would focus on high school reform. The project would tackle the issue of high school dropouts. It would raise expectations for student achievement. It would compel collaboration across district lines to share best practices.

Their vision: All students will graduate with a high school diploma, well prepared to pursue higher education and a career of their choice.

Over the next few months, a steering committee worked on details of the initiative, and High Five took shape as a 501(c) 3 corporation. Board members were recruited, and a kickoff event planned.  On April 2, 2004, five corporate sponsors and five school systems announced their five-year, $2.5-million commitment to improve high schools.

2011-2012

During the first five years of High Five, the superintendents, principals, teachers, counselors and other school staff realized that professional learning communities played a powerful role in supporting student achievement. School leaders also realized that the original high school reform effort had evolved into a K-12 collaborative effort. As each high school embraced the guiding principles of a professional learning community, it became evident that the entire school district should work together in a similar manner.

High Five changed its name to Triangle High Five and the Board of Directors consists of:

Dr. Ed Croom, Chair (Johnston County Schools, Superintendent), Dr. Thomas Forcella (Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Superintendent), Dr. Eric Becoats (Durham Public Schools, Superintendent), Mr. Patrick Rhodes (Orange County Schools, Superintendent), and Mr. Anthony Tata (Wake County Public School System).

One of the main goals of Triangle High Five is to support the development and sustainability of Professional Learning Communities within the Triangle Region and across the state.

Professional Development plans for this year include:

• Dr. Cathy Seeley
  The Role of Algebra in a 21st Century World:
  What Does It Mean for Students and Their Teachers?
• Nicole Vagle
  Motivating Students
• Dr. Rick and Becky DuFour
  Professional Learning Communities at Work®:
  Bringing the Big Ideas to Life
• Rick Wormeli
  Differentiated Instruction: Tiering Assignments and Walking Through Lessons