Wake County Schools Introduces New Learning Model to Personalize Education, Improve Results
Model is built around four key principles: See me. Challenge me. Engage me. Know me.
Holly springs, NC, Mar. 1, 2025 — On February 26, 2025, Wake County Public School’s Superintendent Dr. Robert P. Taylor unveiled a new Student-Centered Learning Model designed to enhance personalized learning, mental health support, and career readiness. The program officially launched as a pilot in August 2024 and is currently being implemented across the district.
"This model encourages administrators, teachers, and staff to view everything through the student lens," Dr. Taylor said. "We believe this model will help reduce disparities in student outcomes."
A New Approach to Learning
The Student-Centered Learning Model is built around four key principles:
See Me – Every student deserves to feel recognized, valued, and supported. Schools integrate structured lessons on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and relationship-building into classroom instruction. Teachers are trained to identify individual learning styles and emotional needs to ensure students receive the proper support. "Student well-being is being integrated into daily classroom instruction with structured lessons focused on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and relationship-building skills," Dr. Taylor said.
Challenge Me – Students thrive when pushed to excel in a supportive environment. Wake County is expanding access to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, ensuring that all students have access to advanced learning opportunities. "Forty percent of high school students are now enrolled in rigorous coursework, such as AP and IB courses, up from 35% in the 2022-23 school year," Dr. Taylor noted. Schools also identify and address barriers that prevent historically underrepresented students from taking advanced courses.
Engage Me – Students learn best when education connects to real life. Wake County is expanding hands-on learning experiences, early college programs, STEM initiatives, and career pathways that allow students to apply what they learn in practical settings. "We have seven early college programs focused on everything from health sciences, gaming, and information and technology leadership, child development, and welding," Dr. Taylor said. At the event, Apex Middle School’s Cougar Bots robotics team showcased their engineering projects, demonstrating the impact of interactive STEM education.
Know Me – Students have unique learning needs, interests, and challenges. Schools use personalized learning plans, real-time data analysis, and tailored instruction to ensure each student receives the right level of support. "We are using personalized learning plans for all students with academic intervention needs," Dr. Taylor said. "None of these efforts will bear fruit if students aren’t in the classroom consistently." Additionally, stronger family-school partnerships are being developed to improve communication between educators and families.
Expanding Opportunities for Students
To give students more ways to succeed, WCPSS is increasing access to AP, IB, and CTE courses while investing in STEM education.
A significant step forward is a "$15 million grant to launch a five-year STEM-focused magnet program in East Wake County" to support "engineering and computer science exposure."
"Our students aren’t just preparing for the future, they’re shaping it," Dr. Taylor said.
Strengthening Mental Health Support
Recognizing that student success is more than academics, WCPSS is expanding mental health resources.
"We prioritized addressing the mental health needs of our students. We knew that had to happen before the academic recovery could begin," Dr. Taylor said. The district used federal funds to "hire more school counselors, social workers, and psychologists" and has since "expanded access to mental health services through our school-based mental health program."
Currently, "students and families in about half of our schools can now connect with licensed therapists, and we hope to expand that access to all of our schools within the next year."
What Comes Next?
As part of the rollout, WCPSS is working to "develop up to 10 Lab Schools throughout the contract, beginning with up to five in the first year." These schools will serve as models for applying the learning system district-wide.
"The Wake County Public School System continues to be on the forefront of public education in this nation, and that is very important," Dr. Taylor said. "The work will continue because it must."
Contact Information for WCPSS Board Members Serving Holly Springs, NC Schools
Residents of Holly Springs, NC, are represented by the following Wake County Public School System Board of Education members:
District 5: Ms. Lynn Edmonds
Email: ledmonds2@wcpss.net
Schools Represented:
Holly Ridge Elementary
Holly Ridge Middle
Holly Springs Elementary
District 8: Ms. Lindsay Mahaffey
Email: lmahaffey@wcpss.net
Schools Represented:
Holly Grove Elementary
Holly Grove Middle
Holly Springs High
For more information or to get involved, please get in touch with your respective board member.
Note: School board district boundaries may change; please verify your specific district and representative by visiting the WCPSS website.
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