September 14, 2012
Dear Superintendent:
This is a follow-up to the letter I sent you last month about an AT&T endeavor that the Department of Public
Instruction is supporting.
AT&T has undertaken an aggressive public safety campaign designed to educate people on the dangers of
texting while driving. Entitled “It Can Wait,” the campaign conveys a simple message: no text message is so
urgent that it is worth the risk of death or serious injury.
Research has found that drivers who text or send e-mail while behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to be
in a serious accident than are attentive drivers. While nearly all teenagers will admit to researchers that the
practice is unsafe, 43 percent admit to texting while driving themselves and 75 percent say that texting while
driving is common among friends.
Material from AT&T’s campaign is being used by driver’s education instructors across the state. Many
schools are working directly with the company to encourage students to drive safely and obey North
Carolina’s laws prohibiting texting while driving.
I am particularly excited about the commitment of one of your peers, Dr. Don Martin, Superintendent of
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Working with AT&T, the school district is asking the principals of
all its high schools to:
 broadcast a 90-second non-commercial video over the schools television network on
September 19, designated as “No Text On Board – Pledge Day” nationally
 enlist a student service club to facilitate students signing a pledge not to text and drive
 display a poster with the students’ signatures to reinforce their commitment.
As educators, we have a responsibility to help our students grow in wisdom and responsibility, not simply in
knowledge. I applaud Dr. Martin and Carol Montague-Davis, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary
Education, for their commitment to this project and hope you will consider encouraging something similar in
your school system.
If you have questions or would like more information about AT&T’s campaign, please contact Carlos E.
Sanchez at (704) 417-7622 or by email to cs6325@att.com .
Thank you for all you do every day as educators and as leaders in your community. You are making a
difference in the future of North Carolina.
Sincerely,
June St. Clair Atkinson
JSA:SB:mw
OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT
June St. Clair Atkinson, Ed.D., State Superintendent | June.Atkinson@dpi.nc.gov
6301 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6301 | (919) 807-3430 | Fax (919) 807-3445
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER