Released on: June 27, 2008, 10:58 am

Press Release Author: Cindy Stranad

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: Phil Kirk has been named the sixth chair of the Public School
Forum of North Carolina. Kirk will become the organization\'s volunteer leader.

Press Release Body: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phil Kirk Named Chair of North Carolina Public School Forum

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 27, 2008) - Phil Kirk, vice president for external relations at
Catawba College and longtime state education leader, has been named the sixth chair
of the Public School Forum of North Carolina, a not-for-profit policy think tank
that has made significant contributions to the advancement of North Carolina
schools. Kirk will become the organization's volunteer leader on July 1, succeeding
N.C. Sen. Katie Dorsett.

Kirk served six years as chairman of the State Board of Education and five years as
vice-chairman of the State Board of Community Colleges. He also was the president
and CEO of the former North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry (NCCBI), now
known as the N.C. Chamber.

\"I am excited about this opportunity to continue to influence public education
policies,\" Kirk said. \"We need to provide a seamless system of education across all
systems and institutions. The Public School Forum has a history of providing
leadership on key educational issues, and I intend to advance the Forum in the role.
Everything we do should be based on what is best for the students, even if we have
to take unpopular positions.\"

The Public School Forum of North Carolina is composed of approximately 45
representatives from elementary, middle and high schools; public and private
colleges and universities; community colleges; elected officials; nonprofit
educational groups; and the business community. The Forum remains committed to
educational excellence and works together to make North Carolina \'s public schools
second to none.

\"The Forum has been blessed with strong leaders who are passionate about giving all
of North Carolina \'s young people a decent education," said John Dornan, executive
director of the Public School Forum of North Carolina. "We have worked closely with
Phil Kirk throughout his career including in his capacity as chair of the State
Board of Education and in his role as president of NCCBI. During that time, Phil was
tireless in his advocacy for education, heading up major bond initiatives and
leading the implementation of the state\'s ABCs accountability program. He is known
and respected by elected officials, business leaders and educators, and will
continue the Forum\'s tradition of strong, caring board chairs.\"

Previous Forum chairs include: former N.C. Sen. Gerry Hancock; former state
Transportation Secretary and Mayor of Raleigh and Baldhead Island Tom Bradshaw;
President of the NC Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Center Sam
Houston; and former Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Executive Director Tom Lambeth.

About Phil Kirk:
Phil Kirk is the Vice President for External Relations at Catawba College in
Salisbury and owner of a speaking and consulting firm. In 1970, Phil was elected as
the youngest state senator in North Carolina . In 1989, Phil became president of
North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry (NCCBI) and was consistently
ranked among the top 25 most effective N.C. lobbyists. As politician, government
official, president of NCCBI and chairman of the State Board of Education, Phil has
delivered more than 6,000 talks. For more information or to book a speaking
engagement, visit www.phillipkirk.com or e-mail bookings@phillipkirk.com.

About the Public School Forum of North Carolina :
The Public School Forum of NC is a not-for-profit policy think tank which is a
partnership of business, education and government leaders in North Carolina . Since
its foundation in 1985, the Forum has evolved into an organization that has made a
significant contribution to schools across North Carolina . In addition to research
and work in the public policy arena, the Forum oversees programs in communities
across the state. The organization most recently created a network of 20 elementary
and middle school programs that offer young people the hourly equivalent of 80
additional days of school, and another network of high schools that have introduced
hands-on technology training into their curriculums. The Forum also began a new
leadership development program for school administrators this year. For more
information, visit www.ncforum.org.

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Web Site: http://www.phillipkirk.com

Contact Details: Media Contacts:
Cindy Stranad
(919) 232-5008
cindy@articulon.com