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.
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) proudly announces Molly Todd, a special education teacher at Panther Creek High School in Wake County Public Schools, as the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year. The award was presented at a recognition event held on March 12 at Brendle Recital Hall on the campus of Wake Forest University.
CULLOWHEE—A team of Cleveland County educators worked on creating more teacher leaders in the district during a specialized program from the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a nationally recognized leader in professional development.
For four days in Cullowhee, the 34 educators took part in a variety of efforts to help teacher leadership flourish in the district. The Teacher Leadership Institute program is a new offering designed to respond to the needs of school districts.
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.
Valeska Arriagada and Felipe Santibanez have found much of teaching is the same in the United States since coming from Chile. The husband and wife educators found similarities dealing with students and seeing them grow in knowledge.
OCRACOKE - North Carolina’s 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year joined the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching for “Teacher Leadership Institute: Teacher of the Year” in Ocracoke July 8-12.
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) proudly announces Sophia Foster, a sixth grade ELA teacher at Burgaw Middle School in Pender County Schools, as the runner-up for the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year.
"Sophia fosters a classroom environment where students feel both challenged and supported,” one of Foster’s instructional coaches said. “She is encouraging yet firm, maintaining consistently high expectations while ensuring that every student feels seen, valued, and cared for.”
CULLOWHEE—A team of Jackson County educators worked on creating more teacher leaders in the district during a specialized program from the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a nationally recognized leader in professional development.
For four days in Cullowhee, the 13 educators took part in a variety of efforts to help teacher leadership flourish in the district. The Teacher Leadership Institute program is a new offering designed to respond to the needs of school districts.
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) proudly announces Pieter Westerbeek, a special education teacher at Knightdale High School in the Wake County Public School System, is the runner-up for the NCCAT 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year. In its sixth year, this prestigious award aims to honor promising new leaders in North Carolina’s public and charter schools. Before the recognition event, finalists attended a week of professional development at the Truist Leadership Institute. This initiative recognizes the potential of beginning teachers, providing them with essential support and resources.
From the Chairman, Foundation President, and Executive Director
Created more than a quarter century ago, NCCAT has worked to ensure that public school educators in North Carolina benefit from professional development opportunities that make a difference in the classroom. This year, 2012–2013, was no exception. NCCAT offered seminars that responded to state education initiatives; supported literacy; increased digital learning; and gave teachers proven, practical strategies for dealing with the many challenges they face today.
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) has received a $3,840 grant from Believe in Reading. This funding will allow the purchase of picture books and expert presenters in conjunction with teacher professional development programming in early-grades literacy. The program "The Power of Picture Books" will take place in Ocracoke from May 20-24. Picture books are powerful and engaging texts that can help all elementary students succeed in language arts, math, science, social studies, and the arts.
Thank you to NCCAT alum and North Carolina Teacher of the Year Mariah Morris for a wonderful year. We appreciate all you did this year and will continue to do for education!
Mariah posed the following farewell at the end of her year ...
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.
CULLOWHEE – More than 90 educators from across North Carolina attended the first North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Literacy Leaders Conference in Cullowhee Nov. 8-11.
As teachers we all know that getting students motivated and engaged in their own learning is an important first step in any learning cycle. One successful method of engaging students is to reframe the learning into a more enjoyable context.
CULLOWHEE (May 3, 2016)—Teachers know better than anyone else that learning doesn’t stops in the summer. The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a national leader in professional development, is committed to providing high-quality professional development that helps keep the learning going.
With topics including digital learning, early grades literacy, beginning teachers and more available, the summer is a great to have an NCCAT experience.
Here are a few offerings coming up:
Check out our Spring 2015 science and math seminar listings below. Visit our website for a complete listing of our professional development programs at www.nccat.org or for more information, contact Teacher Services at 828.293.5202 or email [email protected].
NCCAT covers lodging, meals and programming. Participants are responsible for travel cost and substitute teaching fees unless otherwise noted. Applicants must be employed full-time in North Carolina public schools.
CULLOWHEE (October 16, 2014)—GoGo Labs, Inc. announced that it will partner with the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) to provide North Carolina public school teachers with online training in quest-based digital learning.
NCCAT, a recognized national leader in professional development for teachers, will host the online training in GoGo Labs’ 3D Game Lab environment from November 17 through December 5, 2014.
Edutopia recently published this great reminder of the important work teachers do and how it makes a difference.
From Edutopia ...
North Carolina 2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Teacher of the Year, Maureen Stover, who was also named one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year, recently presented in the NCCAT program "Dollar Store Science." In this one day seminar, participants learned ways to design lessons on a budget using inexpensive supplies and tools that you can find at your local discount store.
CULLOWHEE—Teachers explored creative, classroom-friendly activities to build mathematical fluency during “Task, Tools, and Talk to Support Math Literacy in the Upper Elementary Grades” at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a recognized national leader in professional development programming for teachers.
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!
Solution and Planning Teams
14190/August 16–19: Ocracoke; 14191/August 23–26: Cullowhee
14205/September 26–29: Cullowhee
14254/October 18–21: Cullowhee
14268/November 21–23: Ocracoke; 14270/November 29–December 2: Cullowhee
14278/December 19–22: Cullowhee; 14279/December 19–22: Ocracoke
14281/January 3–6: Ocracoke
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 the NCCAT Cullowhee Campus.