Eastern North Carolina Teachers of the Year Honored at Event

Jennifer Lilly, a Teacher of the Year from CamTech High School in Camden County, speaks to colleagues at a celebration for outstanding teachers sponsored by ECU’s College of Education on Dec. 6. (Contributed photos)

Eighteen Teacher of the Year recipients from eastern North Carolina were honored at a Dec. 6 event sponsored by East Carolina University’s College of Education. The event, titled “Each One-Reach One,” served as a celebration of outstanding educators and their positive impact within the region.

Joining the Teachers of the Year were first- and second-year educators. The novice and veteran educators represented the following counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Clinton City, Craven, Cumberland, Edgecombe, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Northampton, Onslow, Pitt, Vance and Wilson.

Invitations were issued to each member of the Latham Clinical Schools Network, which comprises 36 counties within eastern North Carolina. Several of the educators honored are alumni of the College of Education’s teacher education programs. During the event, the educators brainstormed how to better promote the profession of teaching. When asked what kind of individuals they wanted to see join the profession in the future, the educators noted they wanted to see new teachers who were “passionate about the profession, compassionate about others, and tech savvy to meet the needs of 21st century learning.” Within the discussion on how to promote teaching as a career choice, the Teachers of the Year shared that there is a need to “get the media and legislators more involved in understanding the positive experiences that are happening in classrooms.”

In addition to sharing recruitment strategies, these outstanding educators were asked to videotape themselves sharing their thoughts about why they teach. The individual clips will be combined to create a promotional video to share with potential teacher education students at spring recruitment events. The positive messages shared will provide prospective students with excellent examples of quality teachers who are proud of their profession.

For more information about recruitment efforts for the College of Education at East Carolina University, please contact Laura Bilbro-Berry, Assistant Director of Teacher Education, at bilbroberryl@ecu.edu or via phone at 252-328-1123.