The former head of the North Carolina Association of Educators has died. Rodney Ellis' passing has brought condolences from across the state.
Ellis was a former teacher in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system. But it was his advocacy for public schools where he might have made his biggest mark - first as a member of the Forsyth County Association of Educators and then as president of the statewide organization.
During his tenure, Ellis pushed for higher teacher pay and opposed using taxpayer dollars for private school vouchers.
An arrest during a Moral Monday protest showed he wasn't afraid to court controversy. At a community forum on education at Wake Forest University three years ago, Ellis said he wanted to guarantee great public schools for every child in North Carolina.
Gov. Pat McCrory - whose policies often clashed with Ellis' ideals - was among those offering condolences, saying Ellis' devotion to North Carolina students was a labor of love.
The North Carolina Democratic Party also released a statement noting Ellis' passing, describing him as "a gentle but tough-minded advocate for teachers and students."