Summary of Activities

July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011

Most citizens believe that the primary role of public schools is to educate our children so they can grow up to become productive members of society. Although there are many theories about the best way to accomplish this goal, experts agree that the most significant factor contributing to student learning is teacher quality. And that’s where NCCAT plays a vital role. NCCAT positively impacts public education by providing extraordinary professional development for North Carolina teachers throughout their careers. NCCAT’s instructional programming is designed to give teachers the support and resources they need to be highly effective and to enhance student achievement.

Beginning Teacher Programming
Connect to Your Future: Celebrating Success in the Classroom (ten seminars) • Cullowhee and Ocracoke

NCCAT Connections—A comprehensive yearlong induction program designed for first-year teachers in Bertie, Edgecombe, Hertford, Johnston, Jones,* Martin, Montgomery,* Rockingham,* and Wake counties that is held in their school districts and at NCCAT’s Cullowhee campus.

*Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation supported NCCAT Connections in these Tier 1 counties.

Arts, Humanities, Cultural Diversity, and Leadership Seminars
Ain’t Misbehavin’: Ethics, Law, and Conflict Resolution for Educators • Ocracoke
Best Practices for Motivating African American Students (two seminars) • Cullowhee
From Biltmore to the Blue Ridge: The Vision of George W. Vanderbilt • Cullowhee and Mount Pisgah
Front Porch Swings and Onion Rings: Enduring Myths and Emerging Realities • Cullowhee
Gathering of Holocaust Educators: Propaganda, Children, and The Holocaust • Cullowhee
History Hits Home: World War II on the Outer Banks • Ocracoke
Is There a Children’s Book in You? • Cullowhee
Leadership, Creativity, and Change: Positive Paths for North Carolina Teachers • Cullowhee
Learning through Movement and Music: Folkmoot USA • Cullowhee
Let Freedom Ride! Traveling the Road to Civil Rights in America • North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama
Lighting the Fire: Using Books to Raise Student Achievement • Cullowhee
Make Thinking Visible: Integrating Art into the Curriculum • Cullowhee
North Carolina Voices: Civil Rights Teacher Scholars • Cullowhee
Oral History: Capturing North Carolina’s Diverse Heritage • Cullowhee
Place of Refuge: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park • Cullowhee
Reading and Writing by the Sea • Ocracoke
Salty Dogs and the Lore of the Sea • Ocracoke
Survival Spanish: A Language Immersion Experience • Cullowhee
Teaching Reluctant Readers: Bringing Boys to Books (two seminars) • Cullowhee
Teaching the Holocaust: Resources and Reflections • Washington, DC
Teaching Writing Through Children’s Literature • Ocracoke
The Hip-Hop Education Guide for Teachers • Cullowhee
The Landscape of Democracy: Our National Parks • Ocracoke
The Last Dropout: Keeping Students in School • Cullowhee
The Power of Words • Cullowhee
The Principal People: Cherokee Art, Culture, and History • Cullowhee
Titanic: History and Mystery of the Ship of Dreams • Ocracoke
US Coast Guard: Guardians of the Sea • Ocracoke
Writing from Sound to Sea: Awakening Creativity by the Shore • Ocracoke
Young, Black, and Male in the 21st Century • Cullowhee
Your Story, My Story: Navigating Difference in the Classroom • Cullowhee
Youth at Risk: Anti-bullying Strategies for the Classroom • Cullowhee


Independent Study and Research
Teacher Scholars in Residence (five seminars) • Cullowhee


National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Seminars
Seventeen National Board Support Seminars were held for teachers who are candidates for national certification • Cullowhee and Ocracoke


Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Seminars
A Brain at Work: Moments of Genius • Cullowhee
Catching Up with Your Students: Navigating Technology for 21st Century Classrooms • Cullowhee
Crime Scene Investigator: The New Sherlock Holmes • Cullowhee
Dollars and Sense: Building Financial Literacy • Ocracoke
Emotional Intelligence and Wellness in the Classroom (two seminars) • Cullowhee and Ocracoke
Empowering Student Learning in the Digital Universe • Cullowhee
Endangered Species: Saving the Loggerhead Sea Turtle and Piping Plover • Ocracoke
Everyone Needs a Little Mystery: CSI in Your Classroom • Cullowhee
Fearless Science: Awakening Your Inner Einstein • Ocracoke
From Sound to Sea: The Ecology of the Barrier Islands • Ocracoke
Get the Picture? The Math, Science, and Art of Photography • Cullowhee
How to Play the Game: 21st Century Technology • Cullowhee
Hurricanes: In the Eye of the Storm (two seminars) • Ocracoke
In the Kingdom of the Tides: The Dynamic Outer Banks • Ocracoke
Mission to Mars • Cullowhee
Multimedia in the Classroom: Empowering Student Learning • Cullowhee
NASCAR: A North Carolina Legacy of Motorsport History, Economics, and Science • Concord
New Year, New You: Renewing Our Commitment to Healthy Classrooms • Cullowhee
Planet Wetlands: Living Marshlands of the Outer Banks • Ocracoke
Rivers of Sand: Exploring the Natural History of the Outer Banks • Ocracoke
Sea Level Rise: The Impact of Climate Change on the Outer Banks • Ocracoke
Sea, Sand, and Human Hands: The Changing Face of the Outer Banks • Ocracoke
Starry, Starry Night (two seminars) • Ocracoke
Stress, Health, and Learning (two seminars) • Cullowhee
The Age of Sail • Ocracoke
The Outdoor Classroom: Integrating Natural Experiences with the Curriculum • Cullowhee
The Outdoor Classroom: Life at All Levels • Cullowhee
Wiki, Wacky, What? Understanding Web 2.0 Applications • Cullowhee
You Go Girl! Empowering Girls in Math, Science, and Technology • Cullowhee


Programs for Educational Groups
Best Practices for Motivating African American Students: Public School Forum of North Carolina • Cullowhee
Kenan Fellows Summer Institute • Cullowhee


Weekend Seminars for Alumni
Front Porch Swings and Onion Rings: Enduring Myths and Emerging Realities • Pinehurst
History Hits Home: World War II off North Carolina’s Coast • Atlantic Beach
Musical Traditions of North Carolina • Cullowhee