Cato Excellence in Teaching Awards
ASC is seeking nominations of exceptionally creative classroom teachers who have distinguished themselves in teaching the Arts, Sciences or History or who have demonstrated creative infusion of the Arts, Sciences or History into the core curriculum for Cato Excellence in Teaching Awards.
Six $1,500 awards will be presented through the support of ASC’s Cato Excellence in Teaching Endowment in FY24.
Teachers, principals, school administrators, parents, students or other community members may nominate teachers at any stage of their careers for consideration. Teachers can also self-nominate.
Eligible teachers must be a Pre-K through 12th grade teacher working for a public or independent school in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln or Union counties in North Carolina or Lancaster or York counties in South Carolina.
Nominations for FY24 are closed.
Review Process
Based on a review of nominations received by the deadline, a slate of finalists will be selected to complete a full application with final review by the selection panel.
Finalists and their nominator(s) will be notified the week of February 26th and the following information will be required to be submitted by March 18th:
- Biographical Information
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Teaching Philosophy (2 pages max)
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation from among the following: school administrator, teaching colleague, parent, classroom collaborator, current or former student or community member.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible teachers must be a Pre-K through 12th grade teacher working for a public or independent school in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln or Union counties in North Carolina or Lancaster or York counties in South Carolina.
- Nominees should exhibit a teaching practice marked by innovation and excellence focused on the arts, sciences or history or creative infusion of the arts, sciences or history into the core curriculum; school and community leadership; and dedication to the field of education.
- Educators who have received a Cato Excellence in Teaching Award in the last (3) years (2021, 2022, 2023) are not eligible to be nominated in 2024.
Past recipients include:
ARTS
O’Shae Best, Crestdale Middle School, Mecklenburg County (2023)
Stacey Boone, Jay M. Robinson Middle School, Mecklenburg County (2023)
Crystal Briley, University Park Elementary School, Mecklenburg County (2023)
Cortney Frasier, Mount Mourne, an IB World School, Iredell County (2019)
Erica Hefner, Northwest School of the Arts, Mecklenburg County (2019)
Bridget Burrows, Porter Ridge Middle School, Union County (2018)
Justin Pierce, William Amos Hough High School, Mecklenburg County (2018)
Debbie Faulkner, Larne Elementary School, York County (2017)
Ebone Lockett, Cato Middle College High School, Mecklenburg County (2017)
Leslie Craven, Central Academy of Technology & Arts, Union County (2014)
Pamela Freedy, Sharon Elementary School & Charlotte Preparatory School, Mecklenburg County (2014)
Courtney Davis, Sunset Park Center for Accelerated Studies, York County (2013)
Kenneth Koch, Northeast Middle School, Mecklenburg County (2013)
history
Milagros Ugueto, Olympic High School, Mecklenburg County (2023)
Laura Bauer, Providence High School, Mecklenburg County (2019)
Kelly Martin, Cox Mill Elementary School, Cabarrus County (2019)
Bruce Schulman, Community House Middle School, Mecklenburg County (2018)
Adam Traynor, Pleasant Knoll Middle School, York County (2018)
Stacy Pruitt, Lincolnton Middle School, Lincoln County (2017)
Sarah Wheeler, Randolph Middle School, Mecklenburg County (2017)
Ann Jacob, New Town Elementary School, Union County (2014)
Megan Luzader, Ranson Middle School, Mecklenburg County (2014)
Wayne Phaneuf, Cuthbertson High School, Union County (2013)
Allison Rayson, McAlpine Elementary, Mecklenburg County (2013)
Sciences
Keith Burgess, North Ridge Middle School, Mecklenburg County (2023)
Myra Tranquilino, Lincoln Charter School – Denver Campus, Lincoln County (2023)
Lauren Dixon, Gaston Early College High School, Gaston County (2019)
Andrea Wise, Providence High School, Mecklenburg County (2019)
Kathy Bosiak, Lincolnton High, Lincoln County (2018)
Nancy Bullard, Huntingtowne Farms Elementary, Mecklenburg County (2018)
Luke Abercrombie, Marvin Ridge High School, Union County (2017)
Ted Miracle, Endhaven Elementary School, Mecklenburg County (2017)
Darlene Petranick, Lebanon Road Elementary, Mecklenburg County (2014)
Bianca Yavelak, Ashbrook High School, Gaston County (2014)
Glen Baron, Kensington Elementary, Union County (2013)
Cynthia Dey, Lake Wylie Elementary School, Mecklenburg County (2013)
Additional Information
For more information about the ASC Cato Excellence in Teaching Award, email asc@artsandscience.org.