News

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 rigorous selection process by a panel of judges.

As the demand for healthcare professionals' skyrockets, inspiring the next generation begins in the classroom. High school educators can play a pivotal role in shaping students' career aspirations and academic achievements by introducing them to the world of healthcare early. Join us at NCCAT Ocracoke in March for an empowering week dedicated to The Role of Nurse Educators in the High School Classroom. Participants will engage with NC DPI Health Science consultants and staff to dive deep into a variety of essential topics. Apply today!

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.

Eastern Wayne Middle School teacher Amanda Holmes has been named the recipient of the prestigious Richard A. Schwartz NCCAT Honored Educator Scholarship. Amanda, who teaches 6th-8th grade Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Life Skills in Wayne County Schools, is celebrated for her dedication to inspiring and shaping young minds. The Richard A. Schwartz NCCAT Honored Educator Scholarship recognizes the significant contributions of Richard A. Schwartz, a nationally renowned attorney and passionate advocate for North Carolina public education. Amanda (center) is pictured attending the NCCAT program, "Teaching the Holocaust: Resources and Reflections," in Washington, D.C.

Meadowlark Elementary School’s Fran Richardson, a dedicated Kindergarten teacher in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, has been awarded the distinguished NCCAT Honored Educator Scholarship A. Craig Phillips Scholarship—Fund I. This scholarship commemorates Dr. A. Craig Phillips, who served as North Carolina's State Superintendent from 1968 to 1988. Honored Educator Scholarships (HES) provide selected teachers the opportunity to attend an NCCAT professional development program of their choice, with all expenses covered, including transportation and substitute teacher costs. Additionally, recipients receive $250 for use in their classrooms.

Educators seeking to enhance their skills and connect with peers have an array of engaging seminars to choose from at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) this February. These programs are designed to empower teachers with innovative strategies and tools to succeed in the classroom. At NCCAT, we support and celebrate teachers—the foundation of student success. Join us this February and take your teaching to the next level! Apply today and join us.

NCCAT welcomed 81 participants from across North Carolina to its 2024 Literacy Leaders Conference, held November 14–15 at the Cullowhee campus. The event focused on empowering educators with evidence-based reading research to provide a clear foundation for student success. Attendees engaged in dynamic sessions, explored classroom-transforming practices, and collaborated with literacy leaders from across the state. NCCAT extends gratitude to the sponsors who made this impactful event possible: Scholastic, 95 Percent Group, Lexia Learning, and Great Minds.

This GivingTuesday (Dec. 3), your support helps us continue to empower North Carolina’s educators! Giving Tuesday is a day to encourage people to give back to their communities, whether through donations, volunteering, or sharing information. Donate to NCCAT and foster innovative teaching practices that impact students each day and help expand our programs and reach even more educators. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 3rd and join us in advancing teaching as an art and a profession.

Project Committee will convene a meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024, at the NCCAT Cullowhee campus, located at 276 NCCAT Drive, Cullowhee, NC 28723, and virtually https://www.nccat.org. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the NCCAT Cullowhee Campus Capital Project.

Step into the future of education with our immersive four-day workshop, AI for Literacy: Empowering Secondary Students with Innovative Tools and Techniques, from January 21-24, 2025, at NCCAT’s Cullowhee campus. This program is tailored for grades 6-12 educators eager to harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance literacy instruction. Through hands-on activities, collaborative projects, and insights into the latest AI advancements, you'll learn how to use AI to elevate reading, writing, and critical thinking skills in your classroom.

NCCAT Cullowhee is hosting a four-day residential program, Flourishing in Math, on January 13-16, 2025. This program brings administrators, teachers, and other stakeholders together to foster a district-wide vision for high-quality elementary math instruction. Districts are encouraged to send a team of four, including a classroom teacher, a school-based teacher leader or instructional coach, a principal, and a district leader.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Ernest H. Johnson, a former faculty member who dedicated 18 years to serving public school educators across the state. During his tenure, Dr. Johnson worked with educators from all 100 counties, including all 115 school systems and two federal schools, leaving a lasting impact on North Carolina’s educational community. Throughout his career, Dr. Johnson led numerous programs at NCCAT’s campuses in Cullowhee and Ocracoke, where his work inspired countless educators.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) has rescheduled the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year Award. The event will now take place from February 17-20, 2025, with the recognition ceremony set for February 20. This prestigious award recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and a deep commitment to inspiring students to reach their full potential.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Board of Trustees will convene their next regularly scheduled meeting at 9:00 am on Friday, November 8, 2024, at the NCCAT Cullowhee campus, located at 276 NCCAT Drive, Cullowhee, NC 28723. 

Join NCCAT this spring to deepen your knowledge and enhance classroom practices with our diverse programs, each designed to support student learning across North Carolina. We proudly serve every school district in the state. Apply today and join us at either campus Cullowhee or Ocracoke. 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.