Johnston County Public Schools 2022 Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year Gabe Patton was one of 27 educators who were named a finalist for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2023 Empower NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award.
Patton, a CTE-Aviation teacher at Cleveland High, was named the JCPS Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year in April 2022. The title allowed Patton to move on to compete for the NCCAT Empower Beginning Teacher of the Year, which will be presented March 9, 2023, on Western Carolina University’s campus.
“Mr. Patton is an invaluable resource for the students at Cleveland High School,” said Cleveland High Principal Jenna Sauls Hairr. “He is a dedicated teacher who has brought a wealth of knowledge to our school community. We’re proud of all that he’s accomplished and we’re thankful to have in our Ram family.”
Patton is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force. He is a lifelong learner who collaborates with other districts, DPI’s Career & Technical Education Department, and local universities in an effort to grow and expand Cleveland High’s program and generate learning opportunities for students across the state in the CTE-Aviation program.
“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 2023 Beginning Teacher of the Year finalists are:
Gabe Patton, Johnston County Public Schools
Alexis Alfred, Jackson County Schools
Madison (Maddie) Baker, Catawba County Schools
Ratasha Benton-Manley, Northampton County Schools
Christian Boletchek, Roanoke Rapids City Schools
Izabella Botello, Iredell-Statesville Schools
Karen Cardillo, Carolina Charter Academy
Jerico Carrillo, Guilford County Schools
Katelyn Clarke, Pitt County Schools
Breeana (Bree) Clayton, Henderson County Schools
Jamie Conley, Brevard Academy
Kbria Filali, Pender County Schools
Hannah Fitta, New Hanover County Schools
Kirby Forbes, Lee County Schools
Samantha Fortner, Mitchell County Schools
Emily Giardina, Chapel Hill Carrboro Schools
Kenna Gautier, Clinton City Schools
Ariana Hunter, Rutherford County Schools
Goodin Huss, Hoke County Schools
Tonya McGill, Cumberland County Schools
Natalia Mejia, Cabarrus County Schools
Sabrina Moore, Mount Airy City Schools
Darbie Rash, Ashe County Schools
Nancy (Beth) Rose, Wayne County Schools
Maria Sutton, Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies (NEAAT)
Amber White, Rowan Salisbury Schools
Carly Wright, Thomasville City Schools
The NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year will receive:
- $5,000 cash prize
- Participation in a GoGlobal NC trip in 2024
- Instructional supply funds for their school
The runner-up will receive:
- $2,000 cash prize
Finalists will receive:
- Travel expenses and substitute costs to participate in NCCAT professional development
More information about the NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year program is online at https://www.nccat.org/btoy.
To learn more about Patton’s journey to becoming the JCPS Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year, see the press release shared by JCPS in May 2022.
