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Young Eastern Carolina School Principal Fights For Change

At just 26 years old, Donnell Cannon got the call to become the school principal at North Edgecombe High in Eastern North Carolina. It's a school where poverty is pervasive and 100 percent of students receive government subsidized lunches. The story is familiar for Cannon as he also grew up in poverty. His mother was 16 when Cannon was born, and his father was not part of his life. In his first year at North Edgecombe, Cannon channeled his youthful energy to shape major changes at the school and create positive outcomes for students. Host Frank Stasio speaks with Cannon about why an understanding poverty and social justice is at the heart of being a good teacher. 

Copyright 2017 North Carolina Public Radio

Laura Pellicer is a producer with The State of Things (hyperlink), a show that explores North Carolina through conversation. Laura was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, a city she considers arrestingly beautiful, if not a little dysfunctional. She worked as a researcher for CBC Montreal and also contributed to their programming as an investigative journalist, social media reporter, and special projects planner. Her work has been nominated for two Canadian RTDNA Awards. Laura loves looking into how cities work, pursuing stories about indigenous rights, and finding fresh voices to share with listeners. Laura is enamored with her new home in North Carolina—notably the lush forests, and the waves where she plans on moonlighting as a mediocre surfer.
Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.