Often, the educators who make the greatest impact in our lives do so not through their classroom instruction, but through the ways they inspire us to become all we are meant to be.  

Like a painter and their brush or a sculptor with their clay, educators use their creativity to develop something bigger than any single piece, performance, or project: they create spaces of learning, optimism, and hope.  

At ASC, we understand that integrating the arts, sciences, and history into various subjects and experiential learning is essential for nurturing the next generation of artists, leaders, and community members.  

While classrooms can present challenges, this year’s Cato Excellence in Teaching Award recipients excel at transforming even the toughest days into meaningful lessons that shape and inspire young minds. 

Every year, ASC seeks public nominations from exceptionally creative classroom teachers who have distinguished themselves in teaching the arts, sciences or history, either as core disciplines or across the general curriculum more broadly.  
 

ASC is proud to announce the 2025 Cato Excellence in Teaching Award honorees: 
 

• Kaitlyn Linscheid
 – Matthews Elementary School, Visual Arts (Mecklenburg County)

• Kathy Bosiak
 – Lincolnton High School, Science(Mecklenburg County)

• Jenny Goodfellow
 – Charlotte Country Day School, Theatre (Mecklenburg County)

• Winston Sims – Marvin Ridge High School, Theatre (Union County)

• Pooja Nair
 – JT Williams Montessori, Visual Arts (Mecklenburg County)

• Jen Rankey-Zona
- Trinity Episcopal School, Visual Arts (Mecklenburg County)