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.
Nominations for the 2025 Cato Excellence in Teaching Awards are now being accepted! Six $1,500 awards will be presented through the support of ASC’s Cato Excellence in Teaching Endowment in FY25.
Click here to access the Survey Monkey form for nominators. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 10th.
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 by mid-March, and finalists will be required to submit the following information by early April for the full panel review.
- 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.
NOTE: A nominator who meets this criteria can provide (1) of these letters, but the second one should come from someone else.
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 (2022, 2023, 2024) are not eligible to be nominated in 2025.
Past recipients include:
ARTS
Franchone Bey, West Charlotte High School, Mecklenburg County (2024)
Kathryn Heinen, East Mecklenburg High School, Mecklenburg County (2024)
Jonathan Welch, Gold Hill Middle School, York County (2024)
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
Greg Lekavich, Gaston Day School, Gaston County (2024)
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
Constance Tina Heracklis, Gaston Day School, Gaston County (2024)
Dr. Alfreda Reynolds, Wilson STEM Academy, Mecklenburg County (2024)
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.