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News & Announcements
![BCPS students complete new culinary internship in high school cafeterias]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1765203292/burkek12ncus/alhhbkqfovy7psh7ewjw/NavigateInterns.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1765203292/burkek12ncus/alhhbkqfovy7psh7ewjw/NavigateInterns.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1765203292/burkek12ncus/alhhbkqfovy7psh7ewjw/NavigateInterns.jpg","width":800}])
Three Burke County Public Schools students will soon be the first graduates of the Navigate Internship Program in the district. The culinary internship, a partnership with Chartwells K12 and Navigate, gives students interested in food service and hospitality real-world experience by working in BCPS cafeterias preparing meals, serving lunch and learning about inventory in K-12 kitchens.
![Heritage Middle School DI Team Launches Holiday Service Projects to Support Local Children and Families]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1765202999/burkek12ncus/s2enhloczwwurj1lbgc8/DestinationImagination_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1765202999/burkek12ncus/s2enhloczwwurj1lbgc8/DestinationImagination_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1765202999/burkek12ncus/s2enhloczwwurj1lbgc8/DestinationImagination_1.jpg","width":800}])
A team of innovative students from Heritage Middle School is stepping up this holiday season with a pair of community-focused service projects as part of their work with Destination Imagination (DI), an international nonprofit that provides STEAM-based creative problem-solving competitions for K–12 students around the world.
![Burke County Public Schools to Implement Wand Metal Detectors and Clear Bag Rules]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1761049766/burkek12ncus/fi7akyeyffmmm3y9cj5x/AthleticEventSafety1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1761049766/burkek12ncus/fi7akyeyffmmm3y9cj5x/AthleticEventSafety1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1761049766/burkek12ncus/fi7akyeyffmmm3y9cj5x/AthleticEventSafety1.png","width":800}])
As part of our ongoing commitment to school safety, starting with Patton High School’s home varsity game on Friday, Oct. 17, Burke County Public Schools will implement the use of handheld wand metal detectors at the entry gates. Starting next week, for all home high school JV and varsity football games, in addition to the wand detectors, BCPS will follow a clear bag only procedure.
![Proposed New Eastern Elementary School Community Meetings]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1760448345/burkek12ncus/apyern9uscgqzpm1qpu3/NewSchoolMeeting.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1760448345/burkek12ncus/apyern9uscgqzpm1qpu3/NewSchoolMeeting.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1760448345/burkek12ncus/apyern9uscgqzpm1qpu3/NewSchoolMeeting.png","width":800}])
The Burke County Board of Education had a Special Called Community Meeting at Icard and HIldebran Elementary Schools to discuss the proposed new eastern elementary schools. The meeting took place on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and Thursday, October 2, 2025.
* Update - School Facilities Study document added December 3, 2025
![Draughn’s Hartman named Beginning Teacher of the Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759431837/burkek12ncus/fkaf1bfbi1hf4nvp3jou/HartmanMalloryBTOY20251.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759431837/burkek12ncus/fkaf1bfbi1hf4nvp3jou/HartmanMalloryBTOY20251.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1759431837/burkek12ncus/fkaf1bfbi1hf4nvp3jou/HartmanMalloryBTOY20251.jpg","width":800}])
Mallory Hartman, a science teacher at Draughn High School, has been named Burke County Public Schools’ Beginning Teacher of the Year for 2025. A product of Burke County Schools, Hartman attended Valdese Elementary, Heritage Middle and Draughn High before earning a bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in chemistry and art at Western Carolina University.
![Hildebran’s Johnson named BCPS Principal of the Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759431626/burkek12ncus/leqpnlqngm6mbt72wzcw/POY2025CJohnson10.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759431626/burkek12ncus/leqpnlqngm6mbt72wzcw/POY2025CJohnson10.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1759431626/burkek12ncus/leqpnlqngm6mbt72wzcw/POY2025CJohnson10.jpg","width":800}])
Burke County Public Schools has named Hildebran Elementary School Principal Caroline Johnson the 2025-2026 Principal of the Year for the district. Johnson, who has served as an educator and leader in Burke County for more than a decade, was selected for the honor by her fellow principals. She will now represent Burke County Public Schools at the regional level in the statewide Principal of the Year program.
![Employment Opportunities]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1730303999/burkek12ncus/f1ijekccqpbbhhuzmn0e/BCC02727.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1730303999/burkek12ncus/f1ijekccqpbbhhuzmn0e/BCC02727.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1730303999/burkek12ncus/f1ijekccqpbbhhuzmn0e/BCC02727.jpg","width":800}])
Click "Learn More" to view job listings.
![Global Immersion Academy]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1677517200/burkek12ncus/ocjjbqv9cfx5yukyzcx2/duallanguage.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1677517200/burkek12ncus/ocjjbqv9cfx5yukyzcx2/duallanguage.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1677517200/burkek12ncus/ocjjbqv9cfx5yukyzcx2/duallanguage.png","width":800}])
This is known as a Dual Language 50/50 program; students learn from the Spanish teacher for half of the day and then switch classes and go to the English teacher for the other half of the day.
![Parent Engagement]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1730305234/burkek12ncus/qvgl3fdkqzxnhl53prj7/parent_engagement.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1730305234/burkek12ncus/qvgl3fdkqzxnhl53prj7/parent_engagement.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1730305234/burkek12ncus/qvgl3fdkqzxnhl53prj7/parent_engagement.jpg","width":800}])
Connect with your Child's Educational Journey
![Use of AI in Our Schools]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758563486/burkek12ncus/bgrcja5ksril80xo6m7q/AIwebsite.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758563486/burkek12ncus/bgrcja5ksril80xo6m7q/AIwebsite.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758563486/burkek12ncus/bgrcja5ksril80xo6m7q/AIwebsite.png","width":800}])
Learn How We Safely and Responsibly Use AI in Our Schools
![#ignitelearningbcps]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1730304074/burkek12ncus/x3a7yubdby4qwwaxfezp/school-buses-gd64255916_1920.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1730304074/burkek12ncus/x3a7yubdby4qwwaxfezp/school-buses-gd64255916_1920.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1730304074/burkek12ncus/x3a7yubdby4qwwaxfezp/school-buses-gd64255916_1920.jpg","width":800}])
This section may be used for future announcements or information. Please check back on occasion.
![#allinbcps]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1730304124/burkek12ncus/snbmqvgth5gbuokrtunr/genericstudentpic.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1730304124/burkek12ncus/snbmqvgth5gbuokrtunr/genericstudentpic.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1730304124/burkek12ncus/snbmqvgth5gbuokrtunr/genericstudentpic.jpg","width":800}])
This section may be used for future announcements or information. Please check back on occasion.
Mission & Vision
All-in Promise
Our Mission: Burke County Public Schools will educate all learners, nurture their potential and empower them to be contributing members of our community.
Our Vision: Burke County Public Schools will be a model of exemplary education by inspiring all students to be life-long learners who will contribute to our community.
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