The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) proudly announces

Caroline McKee, an agriculture teacher at Trinity High School in Randolph County Schools,

as the runner-up for the NCCAT 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career and Technical

Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year Award. McKee was honored at a recognition event

held on October 29, at the Concord Convention Center in Concord, NC.

McKee prioritizes "hands-on, real-world learning" in her classroom. Along with traditional

career and technical education coursework, students learn life skills such as checking tire

pressure, table etiquette, and reading analog clocks. A parent shared, "I believe that when

someone believes in you the way that Mrs. McKee does her students, this can change lives

and can shape them into the adults they become."

The winner of the NCCAT 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC CTE Teacher of the Year

Award is Christopher Hicks, an agriculture teacher at Eastern Wayne High School in Wayne

County Public Schools.

The award, now in its fifth year, celebrates exceptional career and technical education

teachers who go above and beyond in their classrooms, valuing leadership, innovation,

and a demonstrated passion for student success. Twenty-four finalists gathered for a week

of professional development prior to the ceremony.

"Career and technical education is critical to the development of our future leaders, and

this group of educators proves that our students are well-equipped for any path they

choose,” said NCCAT Executive Director Dr. M. Brock Womble.

The finalists for the NCCAT 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC CTE Teacher of the Year

are:

• Adara Barnes, Alamance-Burlington Schools

• Justin Deal, Alexander County Schools

• John Moody, Asheville City Schools

• Elizabeth Roberson, Bladen County Schools

• Kelly Richardson, Brunswick County Schools

• David Brotherton, Caldwell County Schools

• Amanda Forbes, Camden County Schools

• Clare Matusevich, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

• Matthew Wykoff, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

• Tammy Cox, Cumberland County Schools

• Deni Pickell, Currituck County Schools

• Marie Antonette Jimenez, Discovery Charter School

• Regina Smith, Guilford County Schools

• Kimberly Hackett, Harnett County Schools

• Austin Rash, Iredell-Statesville Schools

• Caitlin Goforth, Madison County Schools

• Sophie Voris, McDowell County Schools

• Luke Smith, Pender County Schools

• David Tripp, Pitt County Schools

• Caroline McKee, Randolph County School

• Bradford Taylor, Rowan-Salisbury Schools

• Donnie Henson, Rutherford County Schools

• Heather Graves, Scotland County Schools

• Christopher Hicks, Wayne County Schools

Awards and Recognition

The NCCAT 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC CTE Teacher of the Year receives:

• $5,000 cash prize

• Participation in a GoGlobal NC professional development trip

• Instructional supply funds for their school

The Runner-Up receives:

• $2,000 cash prize

All finalists receive:

• Travel and substitute costs to attend the week of professional development

Sponsors

NCCAT extends its gratitude to the generous sponsors who make this program possible.

Signature Sponsor:

• Burroughs Wellcome Fund

Gold Sponsor:

• iCEV

Global Education Sponsor:

• Participate Learning

Silver Sponsors:

• Bojangles

• McGraw Hill

• The Positivity Project

Bronze Sponsors:

• Blum Construction

• Pinnacle Architecture

• Schneider Electric

• Schwartz Law, PLLC

• SFLA Architects

Patron Sponsors:

• Builder Services

• Campbell Shatley, PLLC

• Carolina Training Associates

• Dr. June Atkinson

• Farm Bureau – Ag in the Classroom

• McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture

• NASCAR Hall of Fame

• Panorama Education

• Paxton Patterson

• Performance Services

• Pierce Group Benefits

• Schoolinks

• Tharrington Smith, LLP

Special Thanks

• The CTE Teacher of the Year Steering Committee

• The Development Foundation of NCCAT, Inc. Board of Directors

• The NCCAT Board of Trustees

• Programming for the week of professional development has been provided in part

by Hendrick Motorsports and the Cabarrus County Visitors Bureau. Thank you for

your support of Career and Technical Education in North Carolina!

About NCCAT

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) supports teachers

and impacts students through exemplary professional development programs. By

increasing teacher effectiveness, NCCAT strengthens public education across the state.

NCCAT equips educators with innovative teaching methods, best practices, and resources

to take back to their classrooms. To learn more about NCCAT’s programs, visit

www.nccat.org or call 828-293-5202.

About Burroughs Wellcome Fund

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) is a private foundation dedicated to advancing

biomedical sciences and supporting the next generation of scientific researchers and

educators. Recognizing the essential role of education in scientific discovery and

innovation, BWF has invested more than $100 million over the past 30 years in STEM

education initiatives and networks. Through its grantmaking and partnerships, BWF

supports educators, strengthens educational opportunities, and fosters connections

among teachers, researchers, and communities. These investments reflect the Fund's

commitment to cultivating scientific curiosity, expanding opportunities for students, and

preparing future generations to address complex challenges.