Is your school interested in using the NC STEM Schools of Distinction Rubric for school improvement or to receive the STEM School of Distinction designation?  During this planning institute schools will review the overarching principles of the Rubric, consider what each principle means in the context of their individual school, assess the school’s readiness, draft a strategic plan and develop next steps for school improvement or to apply for the NC STEM Schools of Distinction.

SAMR is a helpful framework for mindfully integrating technology. The acronym stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. Participants in this seminar will learn approaches for Modifying and Redefining lessons through technology as they rewrite lessons with the support of colleagues. This program is appropriate for teachers grades 3-12.

Kirby Forbes, a second-year match teacher at Lee County High School in the Lee County School system, was named the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2023 Empower NC Beginning Teacher of the Year in a special ceremony at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University Thursday March 9th.

Natalia Mejia, a teacher at CC Griffin STEM Middle School in Cabarrus County Schools, was named the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2023 Empower NC Beginning Teacher of the Year in a special ceremony at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University Thursday March 9th.

Honored Educator Scholarships (HES) provide an opportunity for selected teachers to attend an NCCAT seminar of their choice. An HES covers all costs associated with participation in a five-day NCCAT seminar, including program materials, instruction, food, lodging, transportation, and substitute teacher. The honored educator also receives $250 for use in the classroom. Applications for 2023 are currently being accepted. The application period will close on April 30.

SAMR is a helpful framework for mindfully integrating technology. The acronym stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. Participants in this seminar will learn approaches for Modifying and Redefining lessons through technology as they rewrite lessons with the support of colleagues. This program is appropriate for teachers grades 3-12.

NCCAT visited Buncombe County Schools recently as Chief Academic Officer Dr. Bonnie Bolado led instructional coaches in professional development during the Buncombe County Schools Coaches Academy. Would you like NCCAT to come to your district or school? NCCAT offers a variety of K–12 school-based programs available to public schools and districts across the state of North Carolina.

Join NCCAT April 24-27 for "Bringing Learning to Life Through Movement" in Cullowhee. A wealth of research supports the hypothesis that physical activity can boost comprehension, retention, and self-regulation in students of all achievement levels. Teachers who build movement into their lessons have students who are more engaged. Teachers will learn a variety of strategies for integrating instruction with physical activity, but not at the expense of intellectual rigor.