May 2012

          I am honored to be named the North Carolina Teacher of the Year for 2012-2013.  Since I was young I have always had a dream to teach and to help others.  I believe that students today have a great deal of potential within themselves; however they need us to help guide them to be successful.  Through the teacher of the year selection process, I have been able to meet eight outstanding teachers who help their students succeed each day.  These eight teachers are the NC Regional Winners who will now work together to make up the “NC Teacher Team”.  We will be working together this coming school year to be a resource and a voice for all of the teachers in North Carolina.

            Each year the NC Teacher of the Year travels across our beautiful state visiting schools, districts, and universities.  I am very excited to be given this opportunity.  I look forward to meeting many of North Carolina’s wonderful teachers.  Over the next year I want to help teachers connect with other teachers across our state in order to collaborate on lessons to help students learn.  Our students need to work together with students not only in our own schools, but also with students across our state.

In addition to having the opportunity to talk with teachers across the state, I will also have a seat on the State Board to be a voice for all teachers.  I want to extend the offer to contact me if you have any thoughts or concerns that you would like me to discuss.  I look forward to meeting many of you in the upcoming year.