The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching announces the selection of Dr. Jonathan D. Wade of Cullowhee as director of programming. He will report directly to NCCAT Executive Director Dr. M. Elaine Franklin.
As the director of programming for NCCAT, Wade will be the administrative lead for the programming team. He will oversee NCCAT’s programming faculty in the research, development and implementation of intensive cross-disciplinary seminars and other center programs designed to provide the highest quality professional development for North Carolina public school educators. In collaboration with faculty and staff, Wade will continue to develop and execute short- and long-term goals to accomplish the priorities outlined in NCCAT’s strategic plan.
“As educators today we face an exciting and challenging future,” Wade said. “I am eager to lead our faculty as we explore innovative ideas for improving public education in our state and supporting educators as professionals, scholars and change agents. Since 1985, NCCAT has been delivering meaningful and effective professional development experiences for educators while adapting quickly and powerfully to the needs of the students and schools of North Carolina. We are looking forward to helping teachers be even more successful in the coming years.”
As executive director of NCCAT, Franklin understands the importance of effective leadership. “Jonathan demonstrated strong leadership skills in his former role as the lead fellow at NCCAT. But beyond that, he is also an insightful and innovative thinker who understands how NCCAT can advance educational priorities of the state through high-quality professional development.”
Jason A. Lineberger, secondary curriculum and technology coordinator at Cleveland County Schools, has worked with Wade on several NCCAT programs in the past and believes he will bring the perfect blend of pragmatism and idealism to be successful in this position. “An issue facing North Carolina teachers is the need for a variety of support, both in terms of content-specific training and in effective instructional approaches,” Lineberger said. “Professional development programming at NCCAT can satisfy the nuts-and-bolts needs of the classroom teachers on the frontlines with instructional strategies, technology, common core training and beginning teacher support. But where Jonathan can uniquely support teachers is by sparking that passion for learning and ideas, for creative thinking and collaboration that we all want our teachers to model for North Carolina’s students. What Jonathan brings is the vision and ability to balance the pragmatic and the ideal with the practical and the often-unvoiced need to reignite a love of learning.”
Lisa Hibler, associate director of the Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development, continues to collaborate with Wade on projects and couldn’t agree more. “Change and transition are important issues facing North Carolina public education today. Teachers look to organizations such as NCCAT to provide support, guidance and resources to help them adapt and incorporate strategies to meet newly implemented expectations. Jonathan possesses the awareness of these issues, understands the impact on teachers, and strives to provide effective, relevant solutions.”
Wade, who joined the faculty of NCCAT as a fellow in 2005, was promoted to lead fellow in 2010. Prior to joining NCCAT, he worked at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, as an assistant professor of English and honor studies (2000–2005), assistant director of the honors program (2003–2005) and adjunct online instructor of distance learning (2005–2011). Earlier work included teaching college-level English, composition and rhetoric at universities in Alabama, North Carolina and Texas.
Wade holds an undergraduate degree in history from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, a master’s degree in ethics from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and a doctorate in humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas. He is married to Jodie Wade, a family nurse practitioner at Western Carolina Pulmonary in Sylva. They have two children attending Jackson County Public Schools: Anne, 14, and Nathan, 12.