Rebecca Dearin, 6th-grade teacher at West Craven Middle School, has been selected as a finalist for North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Beginning Teacher of the Year Award. Mrs. Dearin, a second-year teacher, is among 27 talented educators being recognized for their dedication, innovation and ability to inspire students to achieve.
“Mrs. Dearin is a wonderful asset to the West Craven Middle School team and we are so grateful to have her at our school. Her ability to build relationships while teaching her students is admirable and she is very deserving of this special recognition,” stated West Craven Middle Principal, Mrs. Jessica Fortescue. Craven County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Meghan Doyle, added, “We are fortunate to have Mrs. Dearin and, even more, her students are the beneficiaries of an educator who has made it her mission to make learning the most important priority in her classroom. She was recognized by experienced educators in our system last year to be a member of our Rookie Team of the Year. It is fitting that she be selected as one of the finalists highlighting successful beginning teachers across North Carolina. We wish her all the best as the selection process continues.”
The NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year, who will be recognized in a ceremony on December 5, 2019, wins a $5,000 cash prize; participation in a GoGlobal NC trip to Australia in 2020 and instructional supply funds for the teacher’s school. The runner-up receives a $2,000 cash prize. Regional winners will receive travel expenses to participate in NCCAT professional development and leadership development.
“We appreciate the enthusiastic response from all over the state for the Beginning Teacher of the Year Award,” said NCCAT Executive Director M. Brock Womble. “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.”
The NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year process was developed to honor beginning teachers who are the future of education in North Carolina. Information about the program is online at www.nccatbtoy.com.
Submitted by: Jennifer Wagner, Director of Public Relations, Craven County Schools