CULLOWHEE - NCCAT Senior STEM Innovator Darcy Grimes participated in an event to encourage student entrepreneurs recently at Cherokee Central School.
Governor Pat McCrory signed the state budget today which includes the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching as a recurring item. You have helped us continue our mission of quality professional development for North Carolina educators.
Thank you so much for your efforts and time on behalf of NCCAT. We were grateful that at least one educator in every county in the state signed an online petition of support created by Charlotte alumni Donald Nagel. And we know many of you wrote to and called Legislators and the Governor. It made a difference.
Applying to NCCAT
Who is Eligible?
North Carolina certified pre-K through 12th grade teachers who are employed in North Carolina public schools, including charter schools, are eligible to attend NCCAT programs.
Reminder: NCCAT has a new registration system. First time applicants in the new system will need to create a new account. Thank you!
Please check with your principal prior to applying to be sure your travel/substitute teacher costs will be covered by your school.
NCCAT offers a variety of K–12 school-based programs available to public schools and districts across the state of North Carolina.
Effective July 1, 2016, a nominal fee shall apply.
Beginning January 1, 2026, school-based programs will now be offered at a rate of $300 per day, plus travel expenses. Travel costs include lodging when required, mileage reimbursed at the state rate of $0.70 per mile, and meals reimbursed at state rates of $10.60 for breakfast, $14.00 for lunch, and $24.40 for dinner.
CULLOWHEE—North Carolina educators have several opportunities from February through June to attend the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), a recognized national leader in professional development programming for teachers.
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is excited to announce that registration is open for April and May professional development programs. These programs offer educators dynamic opportunities to enhance their teaching practices and bring new strategies into the classroom. NCCAT’s professional development programs are designed to provide educators with innovative teaching methods, best practices, and resources that elevate classroom learning. Increasing teacher effectiveness is fundamental to improving public education. NCCAT provides teachers with knowledge, skills, teaching methods, best practices and information to take back to their classrooms.
CULLOWHEE – Summer registration is open at The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a recognized national leader in professional development.
For more on Summer programs visit –
June - https://bit.ly/3DFjGSk
July - https://bit.ly/35I1qLr
August - https://bit.ly/3r3y95x
September - https://bit.ly/3Kbus5i
From The Asheville Citizen-Times - NCCAT alumnae and Evergreen Community Charter School teacher Karen Lechner tackles John Muir trail to raise funds for her school. Good luck Karen!
From the article ...
Karen Lechner has long dreamed of backpacking the 211-mile John Muir Trail through the high Sierras of California. The Asheville schoolteacher has even gotten her coveted permit for the solo trek starting in June.
But while she's living her dream, she wants to make sure her students fulfill their dreams as well.
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is happy to announce the opening of the 2021-2022 NCCAT Honored Educator Scholarship application. The Honored Educator Scholarship Program pays tribute to outstanding educators and individuals whose teaching or influence in public education has made a positive difference in the lives of others. For a list of scholarships available to North Carolina Teachers, visit https://www.nccat.org/programs/honored-educator-schola
Two Math badge opportunities are coming to NCCAT this February. Math I Badge 1: Core Instruction Practices is on February 14 at Cullowhee. Math I Badge 2: Rigor and Representations is on February 15 at Cullowhee. The Math Badge journey focuses on helping educators bring the best practices for math instruction to life in their classrooms. Participants who earn the NCCAT Math Badge will apply their new learning in various settings, including classroom instruction and coaching.
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.
CULLOWHEE – Summer registration is open at The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a recognized national leader in professional development.
Twenty-four outstanding educators from across North Carolina have been named finalists for the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Career and Technical Teacher of the Year Award. These educators exemplify outstanding commitment, excellence, and ability to inspire and empower their students.
CULLOWHEE—Canvas, North Carolina’s Learning Management System (LMS), is your place for one-stop learning and course management. Teachers can find out more about Canvas at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a recognized national leader in professional development programming for teachers.
CULLOWHEE (February 12, 2016)—North Carolina educators have plenty of opportunities throughout the summer to attend the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), a recognized national leader in professional development programming for teachers.
NCCAT will be hosting education leaders from across the state in Cullowhee for the Literacy Leaders Conference Wednesday through Friday. The primary conference goal is to support the statewide efforts for improving early grades literacy. Follow the conference on NCCAT social media at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. NCCAT will be using the hashtag #nccatllc22
Is your school interested in using the NC Global-Ready Schools Implementation Rubric for school improvement or to receive the NC Global-Ready Schools designation? During this planning institute, schools will review the attributes of the Rubric, consider what each attribute means in the context of their individual school, assess the school’s readiness, draft a strategic plan and develop next steps for school improvement or to apply for the NC Global-Ready Schools designation.
Twenty-seven educators from across North Carolina have been named finalists for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award. These exceptional teachers have been recognized for their dedication, innovation, and ability to inspire students to succeed. The award celebrates promising beginning teachers and supports their retention as outstanding educators and leaders in North Carolina public and charter schools. One finalist will be named the 2025 NCCAT Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year, following a selection process by a panel of judges.
This session from Jan. 4-8 is for teachers with access to Canvas. Canvas, North Carolina s Learning Management System (LMS), is your place for one-stop learning and course management.
CULLOWHEE—The Kenan Fellows Program from Teacher Leadership held its 2018 Summer Professional Learning Institute at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a recognized national leader in professional development programming for teachers,
In May, 25 North Carolina public school educators were named 2018–19 Kenan Fellows. They were selected from an applicant pool of more than 70 educators following a competitive application process. The new Fellows began their year together at NCCAT on June 18–22.
CULLOWHEE – The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching thanked Dr. Aaron L. Fleming for his service as Chairman of the Board of Trustees during the June 22nd meeting.
More than 80 educators from across North Carolina attended the second North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Literacy Leaders Conference in Cullowhee Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2022. The three-day conference featured general session presenters, breakout sessions and collaboration to help Literacy Leaders take steps to support literacy instruction in NC.
Greetings from NCCAT! I wanted to let you know about some current NCCAT efforts and what is ahead.
First, we are extremely thankful for your support and the General Assembly action to return NCCAT to recurring status in the state budget. It is a vital step in NCCAT moving forward and continuing to provide high-quality professional development for the teachers of North Carolina.
NCCAT provides teachers with new knowledge, skills, teaching methods, best practices, and information to return to their classrooms through high-quality professional development. The ultimate result is improved performance and achievement by North Carolina's students. NCCAT has several exciting Science programs coming up. Free lodging, materials, and meals are part of the NCCAT residential experience while learning from top instructors and collaborating with teachers from across the state. "Teaching Science is Phenomenal" and "Preparing the Ambitious Science Teacher: Igniting Inquiry and Critical Thinking" coming up soon. Apply now!
NCCAT was honored to host the 2021-22 Kenan Fellows at our Cullowhee Campus as they came together for the first time June 21-26. The Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership offers a wide variety of immersive summer work experiences for K-12 public and charter school teachers in North Carolina. The summer internship is the centerpiece of the program and is supported by a series of professional learning institutes designed and facilitated by a faculty of Kenan Fellows alumni.
CULLOWHEE, N.C. — Twenty-seven educators from across North Carolina have been selected as finalists for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award. These outstanding educators are recognized for their dedication, innovation, and ability to inspire students to succeed.
Earlier this year, Aaron L. Fleming of Apex was appointed to a four-year term by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). During the October 21 NCCAT Board of Trustees meeting, Fleming was sworn in by the Hon. Willis P. Whichard of Chapel Hill, NCCAT trustee. Fleming’s term began July 1.
“I am very pleased to welcome Aaron Fleming to the NCCAT Board of Trustees,” said Elaine Franklin, executive director of NCCAT. “He understands North Carolina education from many perspectives and is committed to being an active and engaged member of the board.”
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) proudly announces Summer Espinosa a kindergarten teacher at W.R. Odell Primary Schools in Cabarrus County Schools, as the NCCAT 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year. The award was presented at a special ceremony held at the Elliott University Center Auditorium on the campus of UNC Greensboro. Prior to the recognition event finalists attended a week of professional development at the Truist Leadership Institute. In its sixth year, this prestigious award aims to honor promising new leaders in North Carolina’s public and charter schools. This initiative recognizes the potential of beginning teachers, providing them with essential support and resources.