The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, April 23, 2026, celebrating its Cullowhee Campus expansion and renovation project. Senator Kevin Corbin was in attendance, along with members of NCCAT’s Board of Trustees and the Development Foundation of NCCAT, Inc. Board of Directors.
“We’re deeply grateful for the support that made this possible for North Carolina’s educators,” NCCAT Executive Director Dr. M. Brock Womble said. “That growth means we can serve more teachers from across the state in content-focused programs that strengthen their work with students.”
From left, Karen Sumner, Rick Stout, Scott Penland, Cory Causby, Kevin Corbin, Desarae Kirkpatrick, and Brock Womble celebrate NCCAT's groundbreaking ceremony. The construction project plans to offer an additional 51 beds for residential programming in Cullowhee. (Swinney Creative/Gabriel Swinney)
The construction plans include adding two new residence buildings, a literacy center, and expanded professional development space. Existing infrastructure, such as the kitchen and dining room, will also be enlarged. After its completion, NCCAT will be able to host five residential programs per week, serving up to 122 educators across its Cullowhee and Ocracoke campuses.
“We’re proud of what this will become, and even more excited about the impact it will have in classrooms across North Carolina,” NCCAT Deputy Executive Director Dr. Karen Sumner said.
Emilee Higdon, the NCCAT 2021 Prudential NC Beginning Teacher of the Year, shared her experience with NCCAT and how it impacted her as an educator.
“NCCAT gave me back the spark I lost,” Higdon said. “I would not be who I am today without the impact of NCCAT. I’m not even sure I would be in education, but here I am, writing recommendation letters to colleges across the country, watching my students excel in vocational competitions, and enjoying the classroom.”
NCCAT plans to reopen its Cullowhee campus for residential programming in 2027.
