Equitable and NC NTSP Partner to Strengthen North Carolina’s Educator Workforce

When the boardroom joins forces with the classroom, powerful transformation becomes possible reshaping how we support, develop, and retain educators. In fall of 2024, the NC New Teacher Support Program (NC NTSP) and the Equitable Foundation launched a partnership grounded in a shared belief: investing in educators is essential to building healthy, thriving communities. Together, NC NTSP and Equitable are taking a collaborative approach to ensure every child in North Carolina is taught by a highly skilled, well-supported teacher.

Supporting educators is core to Equitable’s mission. As the nation’s No. 1 provider of 403(b) retirement plans for K–12 educators for ten consecutive years, Equitable has long understood the critical role teachers play in community wellbeing. The organization believes that investing in education strengthens communities, supports employees, and serves as a foundation for vibrant, economically mobile futures. 

Equitable began this work by recognizing the unique needs of beginning teachers in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and saw a natural alignment with its mission to strengthen the educator workforce. The early years of teaching are both exciting and demanding, and Equitable believes that providing beginning teachers with the right tools, support systems, and encouragement is essential. Supporting educators from the start of their careers is not only purposeful but also a responsibility that Equitable is proud to embrace. In the spirit of this commitment, during the first North Carolina Principal of the Year Network Convening, Equitable awarded Dr. Patrice Faison, CMS Assistant Superintendent of High School Performance, $12,000 to partner with the NC New Teacher Support Program in providing support to five beginning teachers. 

Why NC NTSP Was the Right Partner for Equitable

As Equitable learned more about NC NTSP’s university-based coaching model, they were struck by its demonstrated effectiveness and strong track record of supporting beginning teachers across North Carolina. They saw an opportunity to extend this proven support to educators in their own community. For the 2025–2026 academic year, Equitable committed to funding individualized coaching for five beginning teachers in CMS and to providing dedicated time and space for NC NTSP coaches to collaborate in Equitable’s Charlotte office. With many Equitable employees having children in CMS, the organization recognized the importance of ensuring teachers feel confident, supported, and encouraged to remain in the profession.

Equitable’s investment extended beyond funding coaching for beginning teachers. The organization also recognized that the quality of support teachers receive is directly tied to the wellbeing of the instructional coaches who guide them. In response, Equitable expanded its support to all 39 NC NTSP instructional coaches statewide, with a focus on cultivating wellness, connection, and sustainability within the coaching community.

Cultivating Wellness, Community, and Joy for Those Who Support Educators

A cornerstone of Equitable’s expanded investment has been its support of coach wellbeing through professional learning facilitated by Dr. Leah Marone, a mental health and leadership specialist known for her work at the intersection of emotional wellness and organizational culture. During statewide retreats, Dr. Marone [pictured] provides professional learning focused on the following: 

• Building awareness of the emotional impact of coaching and acknowledging the “invisible load” coaches carry as they support new teachers.
  
• Identifying strategies for balance and emotional regulation to prevent burnout in sustained caregiving roles.
  
• Teaching practical “micro-resets”—simple techniques coaches can use daily and share with beginning teachers.
  
• Emphasizing compassionate boundaries that allow coaches to care deeply without compromising their own wellbeing.
  
• Guiding reflection on impact and setting intentions for continued growth.
  
• Encouraging empathy-driven expectations so coaches can model healthy, sustainable practices.
  

This emphasis on wellness and community is a vital investment in the stability and sustainability of the educator pipeline. Following NC NTSP’s winter retreat in December, Equitable sponsored a visit for the statewide coaching team to attend the NC Chinese Lantern Festival. The experience, aligned with the retreat theme “Ignite Growth and Illuminate Educators,” offered a joyful and restorative opportunity for connection. Coaches left feeling reinvigorated and more deeply connected to one another. The evening reflected a simple but powerful truth embraced by Equitable: those who support teachers also deserve to feel supported, valued, and inspired.

Why This Investment Matters to Equitable

For Equitable, supporting coach wellbeing is a meaningful community investment because connected, healthy coaches help cultivate resilient beginning teachers. NC NTSP coaches strengthen classrooms, support educators, and ultimately improve outcomes for students. 

Investing in programs that strengthen schools contributes to stronger communities, directly aligning with Equitable’s mission to foster long-term economic and social mobility. Healthy educators build healthy schools—and healthy schools build healthy communities.

While Equitable is committed to creating lasting impact in the educator workforce, there remains opportunity for others in private industry to join this work. Investing in programs that support education, particularly beginning teachers, yields far-reaching benefits. Jarian Kerekes, Head of Social Impact and President of the Equitable Foundation, often reflects on the phrase, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” to capture the organization’s philosophy and the essential role industry partners can play in public education and workforce development.

The partnership between NC NTSP and Equitable demonstrates what is possible when education and industry collaborate around shared values and purpose. It serves as a model for how private organizations can help elevate educators, strengthen schools, and enrich communities across North Carolina.