News

Our NCCAT office in Cullowhee has reopened. All professional development programs scheduled for October 7-11 and October 14-18 at our Cullowhee Campus have been canceled. We will share updates on future sessions as soon as they are available. We hope to resume programing the week of Oct. 21st.

Our hearts are with our Western North Carolina community, employees, neighbors, friends, and families affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. We are inspired by the outpouring of support and are grateful for everyone’s efforts during this challenging time. NCCAT schedule updates and information about future programs in the article. Click links to read more, including ways to help.

Due to the devastation of Hurricane Helene and the impact of the storm on the communities in western North Carolina, we are canceling our professional development on the NCCAT Cullowhee Campus for the week of October 7-11. We have canceled this week’s program and the NCCAT 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year Recognition Event on Thursday, October 3, 2024. We will reschedule. Professional development in Cullowhee has been cancelled for the week. Communication remains challenging we will respond as soon as possible.

Do you have Base 10 blocks sitting on shelves in your classroom that you would love to use in a powerful way? Join us for "Unlocking Math: The Power of Base 10 Blocks" at NCCAT Cullowhee. This hands-on seminar and experience the power of this tool in building an understanding of our Base 10 number system. Sessions will include work with operations and work with how to use the blocks to represent decimal numbers. The program takes place Dec. 9-11.

NCCAT is proud to see our Senior Math Specialist, Emily Myers, participate in this excellent podcast, The Amplifying Voices "We All Speak Math." The discussion was great, and it focused on the importance of fostering a collaborative and inclusive classroom environment where students feel empowered to share their evolving ideas and engage in continuous improvement through revision.​ More on how to listen with story.

Calling all K-5 social studies teachers! Join us at NCCAT Ocracoke for K-5 Social Studies: Where Inquiry Sets Sail. Dive deep into the Inquiry Design Model (IDM) and craft engaging inquiry opportunities that will captivate your students. You'll learn how to develop thought-provoking questions, evaluate sources, and use evidence to build strong claims in the social studies classroom. This is more than just professional development—it's a chance to elevate your teaching and inspire your students. Join us and bring new knowledge, skills, and best practices back to your classroom for improved student performance and achievement.

Want to stay informed about upcoming professional development? Subscribe to the NCCAT newsletter and get the information you need right in your inbox. Information on Spring 2025 professional development will be coming out in the Fall. Find out about it first with the NCCAT newsletter. NCCAT provides teachers with new knowledge, skills, teaching methods, best practices and information to take back to their classrooms through high-quality professional development. The ultimate result is improved performance and achievement by North Carolina’s students. We serve every school district in North Carolina. Meals and lodging are provided.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is thrilled to partner with Jackson County Public Schools' Career and Technical Education (CTE) program to offer hands-on learning opportunities. Jackson Bowers, a student at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva, will be gaining valuable work experience by assisting Joshua Brooks, the NCCAT Cullowhee Grounds Supervisor, for approximately 8 hours each week.

It’s time! Back-to-school for great North Carolina teachers positively impacting students and families across our state. The NCCAT faculty has put together these recommendations hoping it will help you start the year off on the right track! Educator collaboration, classroom setup, building community, and meet the teacher ideas all here. NCCAT wishes all teachers a wonderful school year please make us part of the journey when possible. Have a great year!

Calling all beginning teachers! Enhance your teaching journey and earn an NCCAT Beginning Teacher Badge by completing all four sessions in our comprehensive series. This program is designed to equip you with the tools you need to excel in the classroom and make a lasting impact on your students. Join us September 16-19, at NCCAT Cullowhee. Food, lodging and materials are free.

Apply now to join NCCAT for "Student-Centered Instructional Coaching K-12" at NCCAT Ocracoke. Instructional coaching is a dynamic part of school communities. Supporting coaching cultures where students are at the center is essential to this work. Join us at NCCAT for the August session to embrace the components of student-centered coaching.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is pleased to announce that Stephanie Uhrich, a dedicated Math and Science teacher at Saluda Elementary School in Polk County Schools, has been awarded the prestigious Susan S. McHugh NCCAT Honored Educator Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year. This distinguished scholarship, generously funded by the Stuart and Margaret L. Forbes Foundation of Polk County, provides crucial support by covering substitute teacher costs and offering $250 for classroom use.

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger has reappointed Dr. Aaron Fleming of Lillington, N.C., and Mrs. Julie Hart von Henner of Arden, N.C., to the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT). NCCAT is a recognized national leader in professional development programming for North Carolina teachers. "We are delighted to welcome back Dr. Fleming and Mrs. von Henner to the Board,” said NCCAT Executive Director Dr. M. Brock Womble.

Shea James, a dedicated teacher of AP Physics, AP Chemistry, and Physical Science at Green Level High School, has been awarded the prestigious Robert E. and Hattie H. Bridges NCCAT Honored Educator Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. This esteemed scholarship covers substitute teacher costs and provides $250 for classroom use. Ms. James is pictured with NCCAT faculty member Jason Lineberger during the "Your Move: Harnessing Design Thinking Using Tabletop Games" program recently at NCCAT Cullowhee.

Open to teachers in their first, second, or third year of teaching, this program supports motivated beginning teachers by strengthening their knowledge base and classroom expertise join us for "Success from the Start" at NCCAT Cullowhee. Teachers will develop their craft by understanding how to teach to the depth of their standards and differentiating for multiple levels of learners.  Beginning educators will also have the opportunities to refine their teaching philosophies and class expectations.  Within this seminar, teachers will identify their most immediate needs for their classrooms, and time will be spent exploring solutions to those needs.