Samantha Fortner.
Samantha Fortner, a third-grade teacher at Deyton Elementary, is one of 27 finalists for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching’s 2023 Empower NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award.
NCCAT announced the list of 27 finalists this past week. Fortner is the lone finalist from the tri-county area.
The winner will be crowned on March 9 at Westen Carolina University.
The Beginning Teacher of the Year will get a $5,000 cash prize, participation in a GoGlobal NC trip next year and instructional supply funds for their school.
The runner-up gets a $2,000 cash prize and all finalists will receive travel expenses and substitute costs to participate in NCCAT professional development from March 6-10.
“We appreciate the enthusiastic response from all over the state for the Beginning Teacher of the Year Award,” said M. Brock Womble, NCCAT executive director. “These finalists provide a snapshot of the lasting impact great teachers have on our students from the first to the last day they step into a North Carolina public school. We are excited about this opportunity to honor teachers for the important work they do in our state.”
NCCAT supports teachers to impact students with high-quality professional development.
Increasing teacher effectiveness is fundamental to improving public education.
NCCAT provides teachers with new knowledge, skills, teaching methods, best practices and information to take back to their classrooms.
For more information about NCCAT’s professional development programs, visit nccat.org or call 293-5202.
More information about the Beginning Teacher of the Year award is at nccat.org/btoy.