CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 22, 2024) – Six exceptionally creative teachers in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region have been honored with the Arts & Science Council’s (ASC) Cato Excellence in Teaching Awards.

These awards recognize educators at any stage of their career who have distinguished themselves in teaching art, science or history, or who have demonstrated creative infusion of arts, science or history into the core academic curriculum. Each Excellence in Teaching Award recipient receives $1,500 and an original artwork.

“Each of these educators are committed to using their passion for art, science and history to enrich the lives of their students and improve their educational outcomes,” said ASC Vice President of Community and Artist Support Adam Santalla Pierce. “ASC is proud to join with The Cato Corporation in recognizing the crucial role they play in helping students become the collaborative, communicative and creative critical thinkers the 21st century workforce requires.”

The 2024 ASC Cato Excellence in Teaching Award recipients are:

Arts

• Franchone Bey, West Charlotte High School (Mecklenburg). Bey teaches English, creative writing, literature and film, speech and debate and journalism at West Charlotte, where she is known for her dedication to student creativity. She created a school literary magazine, a communications hub website and is an advisor for the drama and podcast clubs. She also revitalized the school’s theater program, organizing a Black History Month event and creating an annual talent show competition.
• Kathryn Heinen, East Mecklenburg High School (Mecklenburg). Heinen is choir director and chair of the Fine Arts Department at East Mecklenburg. Her choirs are known for their diverse repertoire, professional demeanor and spirited community. They have performed at Belk Theater, Knight Theater and the Booth Playhouse, singing alongside artists such as the Charlotte Master Chorale, Anthony Hamilton and Caroline Jones.
• Jonathan Welch, Gold Hill Middle School (York). This marks Welch’s 20th year working with student musicians. During his four years at Gold Hill Middle, student performers have received multiple Superior ratings (the highest possible) in the State Performance Assessments and have participated in the State Choral Directors Association’s Honor Choir Festival. They have also been in both the Southern Region and National Conference Honor Choirs of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). 

Science

• Constance Tina Heracklis, Gaston Day School (Gaston). Challenging students to learn with purpose has been a constant theme throughout Heracklis’s teaching career. She provides practical learning for students emphasizing students attaining critical thinking skills, problem solving skills and laboratory skills. While the subject matter taught includes Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science, the life skills she teaches at Gaston Day School include modeling active listening, reflection and self-improvement.
• Alfreda Reynolds, Wilson STEM Academy (Mecklenburg). As the STEM program coordinator and Science Department chair at Wilson STEM Academy, Dr. Alfreda Reynolds organizes and engages students in STEM programs both in- and out-of-school. She is also the founder and executive director of Toteli Ready Educational Services, a 501c3 nonprofit organization committed to the educational well-being of students through extended opportunities focusing on STEAM programs.

History

• Greg Lekavich, Gaston Day School (Gaston). Lekavich began his career at Gaston Day School in 2007 teaching U.S. history, government and economics, and contemporary America. He also began coaching varsity boys’ and girls’ soccer. In 2013 Lekavich was named Gaston Day Teacher of the Year. By 2015 he had earned the position of department chair. Lekavich overhauled the history department’s writing rubrics, a process that helped students bridge the gap from eighth to ninth grade.

Additionally, $300 awards were given to the nine finalists for the Cato Excellence in Teaching Award. ASC received 49 nominations.

Cato Excellence in Teaching Award finalists are:

• Arts: Cameron Banning, Palisades High School (Mecklenburg); Amy-Lyn Foster, Royal Oaks School of the Arts (Cabarrus); Jenny Goodfellow, Charlotte Country Day School (Mecklenburg); Minah Lee, Endhaven Elementary School (Mecklenburg); Winston Sims, Marvin Ridge High School (Union); Chloe Sprinkle, Carmel Christian School (Mecklenburg)
• Science: Jennifer Thompson, Lincoln Charter School (Lincoln)
• History: Ashley Mills, Kannapolis Middle School (Cabarrus); Laura Suggs, Lincoln Charter School (Lincoln)

The awards are made possible through an endowment gift made to ASC from The Cato Corporation.

To be considered eligible for the award, individuals 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.

About ASC

ASC is the chief advocate, resource hub and steward for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region’s cultural community. Its core functions include advocacy, cultural education programs, cultural planning, fundraising, grant making, public art and workshops and trainings for the cultural community. ASC works to ensure Culture For All by combining resources from local and state government with those of the private sector to maximize community impact throughout the cultural sector.

ASC’s mission is investing in people, programs and ideas that move us to a more equitable, sustainable and innovative creative ecosystem. Stay up to date on ASC news and happenings at ArtsAndScience.org and on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).