New documentary offers a look at how the community school model can support transformative growth

by Alli Lindenberg, EdNC.org | January 21, 2026

The guiding belief that fuels many educators is that every child deserves a quality education, regardless of what circumstances they are born into. That belief is at the heart of one community school in eastern North Carolina: P.W. Moore Elementary.

Named after transformative education leader P.W. Moore, who was born into slavery in the 1850s and went on to become the first president of Elizabeth City State University, the school is a true anchor of its community.

Using the community school model, P.W. Moore has experienced growth, supporting the belief that with the right resources, any student can learn and thrive.

EdNC embedded in P.W. Moore Elementary in Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools during the 2024-25 school year. From the first day of school through the last day of school, this film documents the power of the community school model for students, educators, families, and the community.

Here is the link to the North Carolina Community Schools Coalition’s new website. It includes a page about the documentary and a screening kit available for download.

This article first appeared on EdNC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.