Immediate Release
December 9, 2011
Contact: Bonnie Reidy
Chief Communications Officer
(704) 866-6118
(704) 867-1711, Evenings and Weekends
e-mail: breidy@gaston.k12.nc.us
Gastonia, N.C. – Lenora Crabtree, a science teacher at Forestview High School, was selected as the 2012 Southwest Region Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made today by Gaston County Schools Superintendent L. Reeves McGlohon and Brandon Patterson of the N.C. Department of Public Instruction during an assembly program in the Forestview auditorium.
Crabtree is one of eight regional winners from across North Carolina who will now compete for the North Carolina Teacher of the Year title. This is the second consecutive year that the GCS Teacher of Year has received this prestigious honor.
Gaston County’s Teacher of the Year, Crabtree was among 115 teachers (one from each school district) throughout the state chosen to submit a portfolio and participate in an interview process. She was one of two southwest region finalists observed in the classroom by a regional selection team before being chosen for this honor. The process (Teacher of the Year) began with more than 2,200 teachers at the local school level and narrowed to 115 district winners, then to the eight regional finalists. The state winner will be announced at a formal awards ceremony this spring.
In the Southwest Region, there were approximately 350 teachers chosen last spring at the local school level. Each of the nine school districts in this region and the charter schools then selected their top teacher to compete for the Southwest Education Region Teacher of the Year. Crabtree was chosen over the top teachers from these nine school districts and the charter schools as the best of the best in the Southwest Region.
As regional winner, Crabtree receives $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to the national conference of her choice and other gifts and professional opportunities. In addition, Crabtree becomes a member of the 2012-2013 State Teacher of the Year team and serves on various state and regional committees including the State Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council.
In Gaston County, Wells Fargo Bank gave $1,250 for professional advancement and a hand-blown glass apple to the Teacher of the Year.
Superintendent L. Reeves McGlohon congratulated Lenora Crabtree for the statewide achievement. He said, “We are extremely excited and pleased for Mrs. Crabtree – this is an outstanding accomplishment and we are extremely proud of her. Mrs. Crabtree is a master teacher who is loved by her students, colleagues and parents. She goes above and beyond expectations everyday to challenge her students and prepare them for college, the work force and adulthood. Without a doubt, Lenora Crabtree takes being a teacher to its highest level – she truly deserves this significant recognition.”
Crabtree joined Gaston County Schools in 2004 as a science teacher at Forestview. She currently teaches Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses in biology and research methods and has taught chemistry and physical science classes. Crabtree previously worked as a high school science teacher at Gaston Christian School for seven years and also served as a reading tutor at W.A. Bess Elementary and substitute teacher.
Crabtree earned a degree in molecular biology from Vanderbilt University and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She also attended Vanderbilt University Medical School. In 2009, she was named the Forestview High School Star Teacher.
Last year, Gaston County Schools also had the Southwest Region Teacher of the Year. Thomas Plecnik, who taught fifth grade at Rhyne Elementary and now serves as an instructional facilitator at Woodhill Elementary, captured the prestigious regional award for 2010-2011.
Click here for a slideshow of pictures of Forestview High School teacher Lenora Crabtree being recognized as the 2012 Southwest Regional Teacher of the Year.