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NCCAT appreciates these educators from across North Carolina being with us in Ocracoke for the "STEM Schools of Distinction" program. During this planning institute schools reviewed the overarching principles of the NC STEM Schools of Distinction Rubric, considered what each principle means in the context of their individual school, assess the school’s readiness, drafted a strategic plan and developed next steps for school improvement or to apply for the NC STEM Schools of Distinction.

Summer registration will open May 16th for programs at The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Cullowhee and Ocracoke campuses.

We are so proud to see 2022 NCCAT Career and Technical Teacher of the Year runner-up Robert Ballard, an automotive instructor at Chapel Hill High School, honored by WRAL TV as Teacher of the Week. Thanks for all you do for students Mr. Ballard! View the video story by clicking headline link.

We appreciate these teachers from across North Carolina joining us for "All Kids Can Write" at NCCAT Ocracoke recently. They discovered new ways to turn reading strategies into writing opportunities that deepen comprehension and extend student learning. This in-depth, interactive program focused on the power of the teacher as the mentor model in exploring multiple tools for unlocking thinking in the classroom—through the process of uncovering your own writing life.

Our faculty and staff had such a great time with guests from Fairview Elementary School Jackson County Public Schools, NC kindergarten in Cullowhee with learning fun around literacy and digital learning. It was our pleasure to spend time with these awesome students and teachers.

MEETING NOTICE: NCCAT Board of Trustees Meeting

Friday, April 28, 2023 9:00 am The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Board of Trustees will convene their next regularly scheduled meeting on Friday, April 28 at 9:00 a.m., in person at the NCCAT Ocracoke campus, located at 2 Irvin Garrish Hwy., Ocracoke, NC 27960

Successful transition into the workforce force depends on the right training and credentials, but how do we ensure that students have the skills they need to do the job?  This program in May at NCCAT will explore North Carolina’s career development continuum that scaffolds students’ work-based learning opportunities in elementary, middle and high school.

Is your school interested in using the NC STEM Schools of Distinction Rubric for school improvement or to receive the STEM School of Distinction designation?  During this planning institute schools will review the overarching principles of the Rubric, consider what each principle 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 STEM Schools of Distinction.

SAMR is a helpful framework for mindfully integrating technology. The acronym stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. Participants in this seminar will learn approaches for Modifying and Redefining lessons through technology as they rewrite lessons with the support of colleagues. This program is appropriate for teachers grades 3-12.

Kirby Forbes, a second-year math teacher at Lee County High School in the Lee County School system, was named the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2023 Empower NC Beginning Teacher of the Year in a special ceremony at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University Thursday March 9th.

Natalia Mejia, a teacher at CC Griffin STEM Middle School in Cabarrus County Schools, was named the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2023 Empower NC Beginning Teacher of the Year in a special ceremony at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University Thursday March 9th.

Honored Educator Scholarships (HES) provide an opportunity for selected teachers to attend an NCCAT seminar of their choice. An HES covers all costs associated with participation in a five-day NCCAT seminar, including program materials, instruction, food, lodging, transportation, and substitute teacher. The honored educator also receives $250 for use in the classroom. Applications for 2023 are currently being accepted. The application period will close on April 30.

SAMR is a helpful framework for mindfully integrating technology. The acronym stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. Participants in this seminar will learn approaches for Modifying and Redefining lessons through technology as they rewrite lessons with the support of colleagues. This program is appropriate for teachers grades 3-12.

NCCAT visited Buncombe County Schools recently as Chief Academic Officer Dr. Bonnie Bolado led instructional coaches in professional development during the Buncombe County Schools Coaches Academy. Would you like NCCAT to come to your district or school? NCCAT offers a variety of K–12 school-based programs available to public schools and districts across the state of North Carolina.

Join NCCAT April 24-27 for "Bringing Learning to Life Through Movement" in Cullowhee. A wealth of research supports the hypothesis that physical activity can boost comprehension, retention, and self-regulation in students of all achievement levels. Teachers who build movement into their lessons have students who are more engaged. Teachers will learn a variety of strategies for integrating instruction with physical activity, but not at the expense of intellectual rigor.