For several years, Duke faculty, staff and students have been working with colleagues at North Carolina State University, as well as public school teachers and resilience practitioners, to develop, implement and expand a middle school program called Ready, Set, Resilience. Led by Liz DeMattia of the Duke Marine Lab and Kathryn Stevenson of NC State, the program is intended to help kids navigate personal and communal hardships, be they natural disasters or relationship struggles. At the heart of the program is a book of fables about animal and plant protagonists persevering through difficult ecological and social situations. The program also includes lesson plans aligned with North Carolina educational standards and complementary activities modifiable for different ages and educational settings. First piloted in Carteret County in 2022, Ready, Set, Resilience has expanded to five counties across the state, including areas devastated by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. This momentum reflects a growing need to support students through various crises that disrupt lives and learning. It’s also testament to the dedication and partnership of North Carolina teachers who have been instrumental in shaping a versatile and valuable program that benefits kids and grownups alike. READ MORE.
Video by WRAL
Photo: Students from Broad Creek Middle School in Newport, North Carolina, traveled to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham to perform a shadow puppet show inspired by fables about ecological and social resilience. The fables anchor a suite of classroom curriculum materials and companion activities co-produced by North Carolina teachers, including Robert Condie (kneeling, with sunglasses on his head) and Cristina Quattrone (kneeling, in light pants). Photo courtesy of Cristina Quattrone.