14-02-2025
Pair of CMS teachers honored with governor's award to pursue professional development
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Two teachers serving Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were honored Friday with the Governor's Educator Discovery Award.
Gov. Josh Stein's office awarded 10 teachers statewide. The award is a stipend of up to $1,000, awarded to PreK-12 traditional public and public charter educators to pursue a professional development experience of their choosing.
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'Our students benefit when their teachers prioritize their own continued education,' said Stein in a statement. 'I am proud to award these professional development grants to teachers who are striving for excellence, and I am excited to hear how they leverage this additional education in the classroom.'
Teachers submit a proposal detailing their teaching experience, the professional development activity they wish to pursue, and how it would enhance their efforts to create work-based learning activities for their students. These applications then go through a rigorous review process and are narrowed down to 10 winners.
The 2024 winners were from the 12th and 13th cycles of teachers to receive the award since its inception in 2019. Growing interest in the program has enabled it to expand, bringing the total number of grants awarded to 51.
The local recipients are:
Franchone Bey, English teacher, West Charlotte High School
Bey attended the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention in Boston. The event offered ELA educators the chance to collaborate with teachers from across the country, meet research scholars, and hear from prominent authors like keynote speaker Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Alicia D'Joi, STEM teacher and robotics coach, JM Alexander Middle School
D'Joi used the grant to attend the AIM Conference hosted by NCDPI in Raleigh. She led a session titled 'Robotics for Rookies: Your First Steps into the Future,' where she provided an exciting and hands-on introduction to the world of robotics. In her session, rookie participants learned to design, build, and code a robot.
The Educator Discovery Awards are funded by N.C. Business Committee for Education member companies. The next cycle of the Governor's Educator Discovery Award is currently open and accepting applications.
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