NEA Foundation award honors Cavnar as the nation ’ s best teacher
He already has county , regional , and state Teacher of the Year honors . Now , Bobbie Cavnar has a national one .
Cavnar received the NEA Foundation ’ s national award for teaching excellence during the organization ’ s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in Washington , D . C ., on February 9 . The award includes a $ 25,000 prize .
Cavnar discovered he was a finalist for the teaching excellence award in August when he and four other finalists from across the country were announced .
The honor is officially called the 2018 NEA Member Benefits for Teaching Excellence Award . For Cavnar , it is a prestigious recognition that gives him an opportunity to bring more attention to public education and be a bigger voice for students and teachers .
“ Receiving this award is an incredible honor ,” Cavnar said . “ It is a privilege to represent teachers not only in Gaston County and North Carolina , but also to represent educators all across the country and be an advocate for public education on a national level .”
December 2015 , and the North Carolina Teacher of the Year in April 2016 .
As the 2016-2017 North Carolina Teacher of the Year , Cavnar spent time traveling the state and country as a proponent for teachers , students , and public schools , speaking to educators , elected officials , community leaders , and others . He also served as an adviser to the North Carolina State Board of Education and the State Superintendent ’ s Advisory Council .
Cavnar , who began his teaching career in 1999 in Florida and has been at South Point for 15 years , stressed the importance of public education in his acceptance speech .
“ Many of our great artists , thinkers , and inventors were born into poverty and were given the opportunity to let their genius show ,” said Cavnar . “ That ’ s how a public education equalizes life .”
The Washington ceremony was a celebration of the men and women who work in America ’ s public schools . There were more than 40 awards given to exceptional educators , but Cavnar ’ s honor was the ceremony ’ s grand finale .
Cavnar is an English teacher at South Point High School in Belmont . His journey to being the nation ’ s best teacher began in 2014 when he was chosen as the school ’ s Teacher of the Year . He was named the Gaston County Teacher of the Year in May 2015 , the Southwest Region Teacher of the Year in
Despite having the spotlight on him in Washington on a Friday night , Cavnar made it back home to Gaston County in time to attend the weekends Sweetheart Ball with his daughter , a student at Belmont Central Elementary . For this teacher , the focus is always on the children .
Lowell Elementary wins annual “ Are You Smarter …” competition
The Lowell Elementary and PSNC Energy school / business team was the winner of the annual “ Are You Smarter Than a Gaston County Fifth Grader ?” competition held Thursday , February 8 at Stuart W . Cramer High School .
The popular program that pairs business partners with elementary schools in a game show format raised $ 40,000 for the Gaston County Education Foundation . The Foundation will use the money to fund the Ron L . Ensley grant program that provides funds to teachers for innovative classroom lessons and activities .
Last year , the Foundation awarded more than $ 50,000 in grants to teachers at schools across the county . Grants will be presented in June for the 2018-2019 school year .
The Gaston County Education Foundation organized the competition , which was sponsored by American & Efird . Others sponsors included CaroMont Health , Wells Fargo , Duke Energy , PSNC Energy , Tindol-Ford Subaru-ROUSH , and United Oil of the Carolinas .
Here is a list of the award winners : First Place : Lowell Elementary and PSNC Energy Second Place : Lingerfeldt Elementary and CaroMont Health Third Place : Sadler Elementary and Firestone Fibers and Textiles Team Spirit : Pinewood Elementary and McLean Funeral Directors
People ’ s Choice Award : Woodhill Elementary and PNC Bank
Other school / business teams participating in the competition were :
• Brookside Elementary and Allen Tate Realtors
• Rankin Elementary and American & Efird
• Catawba Heights Elementary and Duke Energy
• W . B . Beam Intermediate and FleetNet America
• North Belmont Elementary and Gastonia East Rotary Club
• Pleasant Ridge Elementary and Gastonia Grizzlies and GSM Services
• Sherwood Elementary and Leadership Gaston
• Kiser Elementary and Next Generation
• Gardner Park Elementary and Tindol Ford-Subaru-ROUSH
Good Apple Award : McAdenville Elementary and Pharr Yarns 2 • March / April 2018 • Parent Teacher Magazine