As a storm crept into the skyline overhead, dozens of Durham residents and public officials huddled into Zweli’s in Brightleaf Square on Monday evening. The crowd waited anxiously for North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein, who was in town to celebrate teacher appreciation week and galvanize voters around education, a topic his campaign thinks is a winning issue for the state’s Democratic slate in this fall’s election.

Before Stein took to the podium, a couple of opening acts were on hand to hype up the audience. The first speaker was Mo Green, candidate for NC superintendent of public instruction.

“I’m calling on individuals who are champions of public education to announce who they are. Will you do that for me?” asked Green exuberantly.

Zweli’s co-owner and Durham mayor Leo Williams followed Green. He told the crowd that they needed to prepare to “get uncomfortable” in making the push to reach voters outside of Durham, a statement that Stein would later echo in his speech. Williams left quickly after his remarks. 

“I have a council meeting to go to. Pray for me,” he said, drawing a laugh from the crowd.

Stein took the mic next, and made the case against the Republicans in the state legislature who are set to consider an expansion of the private school voucher program.

“They are taking money out of our public school kids’ backpacks to put it into the bank accounts of rich people sending their kids to unaccountable private schools and it is wrong,” Stein said.

While invoking policy is one way of motivating a crowd, appealing to their fears is another; Stein touched on some of the more outlandish statements from his GOP opponent, NC Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson (who perhaps not coincidentally struck a conciliatory tone towards public schools at an education event in Raleigh this week).

“He calls teaching indoctrination,” said Stein. “He called public school teachers demons and wicked people. It’s unfathomable that anyone would think these things about public school educators…let alone say them out loud.”

Attacks on teachers’ character and their pay has caused upheaval across the state. Stein said that one out of nine teachers have abandoned the profession, a 50 percent increase from the previous year. 

“This is a real crisis, one that we must take on full force,” Stein said. “Our teachers need fair pay and as governor, I will fight to raise teacher pay to ensure that they are getting a competitive salary not only compared to other states, but to other professions in the economy.”

Stein emphasized the need for strong support staff such as school nurses, bus drivers, and custodial workers who help create a safe and positive learning environment for students.

“When we do all of these things and more,” Stein said, “we will begin to deliver on the promise of North Carolina and build a better and brighter future for our young people, one that is rooted in our shared values of freedom and opportunity for every person. Those are the values my folks taught me growing up and I expect those are the values your parents taught you.”

Stein said that his father, Adam Stein, was one of the lawyers who helped unify the segregated Black and White teachers associations in the 90s into what is now the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE).

Durham has recently faced its own reckoning with public school workers’ salaries. The  Durham Association of Educators (DAE) led educators and staff to protest through “sick-outs” and demonstrations and DPS administrative buildings earlier this year.

In April, the Durham Public Schools Board of Education passed its 2024-2025 proposed budget. The board asked for an additional $26 million in local funding from Durham County, the most the board has ever requested. 

The Durham County Board of Commissioners will hold its next public hearing on May 28 before voting on a final budget on June 10.

Follow Reporter Justin Laidlaw on Twitter or send an email to jlaidlaw@indyweek.com. Comment on this story at backtalk@indyweek.com.