News

CULLOWHEE—The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) hosted 41 teachers from across North Carolina for its first “Focus Friday” event on Feb. 23 in Cullowhee. Titled “A Deep Dive Into Dyslexia,” participants were able to deepen their knowledge and expertise as it relates to awareness, instruction and assessment of students exhibiting difficulties in reading consistent with dyslexia.

Discussion for the day centered on the science of reading—why students experience reading difficulty—and the causes and characteristics of dyslexia and reading disabilities.

CULLOWHEE—North Carolina educators have several opportunities from July through September to attend the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), a recognized national leader in professional development programming for teachers.

We provide professional development designed for the needs of North Carolina teachers. Topics include Digital Learning, Early Grades Literacy, Differentiated Instruction, Gifted Teaching Strategies, Beginning Teacher Support, Teacher Leadership, Writing Strategies and STEM.

CULLOWHEE—Kara Ball, an alumna of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, has been selected as one of the four finalists for the the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) National Teacher of the Year.

Ball, a 4/5 grade teacher at DeLalio Elementary School teaches science, technology, engineering and math. She attended the program “Catching Up With Your Students: Digital Learning” at NCCAT in 2015. She is the 2018 Department of Defense Education Activity Teacher of the Year.

CULLOWHEE—NCCAT's Honored Educator Scholarship (HES) program pays tribute to outstanding educators and individuals by providing scholarship funds in their names. Scholarship funds can be named in honor of classroom teachers, coaches, administrators, school board members, or community volunteers—anyone whose teaching or influence in public education has made a positive difference in the lives of others. Each fully endowed scholarship is awarded annually to a North Carolina teacher based on criteria determined by the scholarship benefactor.