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Shea James, a dedicated teacher of AP Physics, AP Chemistry, and Physical Science at Green Level High School, has been awarded the prestigious Robert E. and Hattie H. Bridges NCCAT Honored Educator Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. This esteemed scholarship covers substitute teacher costs and provides $250 for classroom use. Ms. James is pictured with NCCAT faculty member Jason Lineberger during the "Your Move: Harnessing Design Thinking Using Tabletop Games" program recently at NCCAT Cullowhee.

Open to teachers in their first, second, or third year of teaching, this program supports motivated beginning teachers by strengthening their knowledge base and classroom expertise join us for "Success from the Start" at NCCAT Cullowhee. Teachers will develop their craft by understanding how to teach to the depth of their standards and differentiating for multiple levels of learners.  Beginning educators will also have the opportunities to refine their teaching philosophies and class expectations.  Within this seminar, teachers will identify their most immediate needs for their classrooms, and time will be spent exploring solutions to those needs.

Join us for an immersive journey into the dynamic intersection of technology and mathematics education with the program "Tech-Infused Math: Enhancing Math Instruction." Through hands-on exploration and collaborative learning experiences, educators will discover how to leverage a variety of digital tools to integrate coding with the K-8 math content standards. This program is designed for math educators in grades K-8. NCCAT provides teachers with knowledge, skills, teaching methods, best practices and information to take back to their classrooms.

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. The institute will include whole group discussion to learn from best practices across the state and individual school team planning. 

Apply now to be part of "Classroom Tips: Trauma-Affected Student Support" at NCCAT Cullowhee in August. Participants will explore trauma-informed classroom management techniques and proactive approaches to behavior management, de-escalation strategies, and creating trauma-sensitive routines and rituals. Participants will also learn and practice strategies to build resilience in their own lives and in turn how these practices can be implemented into the classroom environment. Lodging accommodations are available for Thursday evening before the Friday program upon request.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is proud to announce the selection of twenty-four exceptional teachers as finalists for the NCCAT 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year Award. One outstanding educator will be named the NCCAT 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year at an award ceremony scheduled for October 3, 2024, at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University.

The North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA) held its Western Science District Meeting June 14th at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) in Cullowhee. This event aimed to acclimate science teachers in the Western District to the new science standards and resources available to support them. Throughout the day, participants interacted with each other and representatives from local organizations dedicated to supporting science educators in North Carolina.

Are you looking to deepen comprehension in your upper grades' classroom? Do you want to enhance your teaching strategies with evidence-based literacy practices? Join us for the "Creating Readers/Thinkers Across Content Areas" residential program, hosted by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), from August 12-15 in Cullowhee. This engaging session is designed specifically for educators teaching grades 4-8. We will highlight evidence-based literacy practices that align with the development of students’ comprehension skills.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is excited to announce an upcoming professional development program, "Recipe for Problem Solving K-5," scheduled for September. This innovative training is specifically designed for K-5 teachers and will be led by esteemed research scholars from the William and Ida Friday Institute for Education Innovation. The "Recipe for Problem Solving K-5" program aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to computational thinking and practical teaching strategies.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is proud to announce that Jennifer Mitchell, an Honors and AP English teacher at Cuthbertson High School in Union County Schools, has been awarded the NCCAT Honored Educator Scholarship (HES) for the 2023-2024 academic year. Ms. Mitchell is the recipient of the Belk Foundation HES for 2023-2024. She recently participated in the "Unlocking Advanced Learning Differentiation with NC Literacy Instruction Standards" program at NCCAT Cullowhee, which was led by NC DPI presenters Crissy Brown and Kelly Schultz.