Office Hours Feb. 27, 2026: When A First Name Becomes A Flashpoint
In a district where history, power, and race shape how moments land, clear, mutual norms around respect matter - especially when the work is about schools.
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Durham’s latest controversy started with something that sounds small: first names versus titles in a formal meet-and-confer meeting between DPS Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis and Durham Association of Educators president Mika Twietmeyer. But the reaction was anything but small.
In this episode of Southpoint Access Office Hours, I walk through what was said on the record and why many community leaders saw the exchange as part of a larger pattern of disrespect toward Black leadership. I also address a seeming inconsistency — that Dr. Lewis used Twietmeyer’s first name first — and explore what consistency and professionalism can look like in high-stakes public settings.
The takeaway: in a district where history, power, and race shape how moments land, clear, mutual norms around respect matter — especially when the work is about schools.
Plus:
Southpoint Access is sharing revenue with Rogers-Herr Middle School Music Boosters until March 31.
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