Twenty-seven teachers across North Carolina have been selected as finalists for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Empower Beginning Teacher of the Year Award for their dedication, innovation, and ability to inspire students to achieve.
One of these talented educators will be named the 2023 NCCAT Empower Beginning Teacher of the Year. The award will be presented on March 9, 2023, at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
“We appreciate the enthusiastic response from all over the state for the Beginning Teacher of the Year Award,” said NCCAT Executive Director M. Brock Womble. “These finalists provide a snapshot of great teachers' lasting impact on our students from the first to the last day they step into a North Carolina public school. We are excited about this opportunity to honor teachers for their important work in our state.”
The 2023 NCCAT North Carolina Beginning Teachers of the Year are:
Alexis Allred, Jackson County
Madison (Maddie) Baker, Catawba County
Ratasha Benton-Manley, Northampton County
Christian Boletchek, Roanoke Rapids
Izabella Botello, Iredell-Statesville
Karen Cardillo, Carolina Charter Academy
Jerico Carrillo, Guilford County
Katelyn Clarke, Pitt County
Breeana (Bree) Clayton, Henderson County
Jamie Conley, Brevard Academy
Kbira Filali, Pender County
Hannah Fitta, New Hanover
Kirby Forbes, Lee County
Samantha Fortner, Mitchell County
Kenna Gautier, Clinton City Schools
Emily Giardina, Chapel Hill Carrboro
Ariana Hunter, Rutherford County
Goodin Huss, Hoke County
Tonya McGill, Cumberland County
Natalia Mejia, Cabarrus County
Sabrina Moore, Mount Airy City
Gabe Patton, Johnston County
Darbie Rash, Ashe County
Nancy (Beth) Rose, Wayne County
Maria Sutton, Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies (NEAAT)
Amber White, Rowan Salisbury
Carly Wright, Thomasville City Schools
The NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year will receive:
- $5,000 cash prize
- Participation for the winner in a GoGlobal NC trip in 2024
- Instructional supply funds for the teacher's school
Runner-up
- $2,000 cash prize
Finalists will receive
- Travel expenses and substitute costs for regional finalists to participate at NCCAT.
- More information about the program is online at www.nccatbtoy.com.
About NCCAT
NCCAT supports teachers and impacts students with high-quality professional development. Increasing teacher effectiveness is fundamental to improving public education. NCCAT provides teachers with new knowledge, skills, teaching methods, best practices, and information to take back to their classrooms. For more information about NCCAT’s professional development programs, visit www.nccat.org or call 828-293-5202.