In reading the list of the sixty Influencers recruited by the major newspapers in North Carolina, I did not notice any teachers or school principals. And, if I read the list correctly, only two religious leaders are present, and no law enforcement officials.
The short bios are impressive, but I think the list needs to be more reflective of the common citizen in our state. In my mind, a teacher who struggles with a classroom that has too many students has much to offer concerning policy; the school principal who must deal with a range of discipline issues, knows much about public policy; and, let us not overlook the teacher/coach who struggles to find enough funds to offer a quality program.
I applaud the intent, but I think a more diverse panel would help a great deal.
