CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools named its 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year and Teacher Assistant of the Year at a ceremony held at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology on May 22. Lecia Shockley of Selwyn Elementary won Teacher of the Year and Cindy Corwin of J.H. Gunn Elementary won Teacher Assistant of the Year.
Shockley, a second-grade teacher, began her career in 1999 at the former CMS school Derita Elementary. She is a National Board-certified teacher, a 2011 Teaching Fellow, member of the Classroom Teachers Association, the Golden Key National Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi and Pi Kappa Phi.
Shockley says she learns from her students. One particular lesson was from a new Saudi student with limited English skills. “No one at our school spoke Arabic, so we had to figure out a way to communicate on our own,” said Shockley. Using strategies such as illustrating and visual cues helped Shockley communicate with her student and she soon began using these skills to interact with all of her students. “While he expanded his understanding of English, I got the opportunity to expand my repertoire of teaching practices,” said Shockley. “I learned to better communicate without words. We were both changed by our time together.”
Selwyn Principal Shane Lis said, “Ms. Shockley is a phenomenal educator, who integrates arts with data and real world experiences … she’s a shining example of the positive outcomes from being a public servant.”
Other finalists in the Teacher of the Year competition were: Brad Baker of William A. Hough High, Willie Brooks of James Martin Middle, Denna Chinault of Endhaven Elementary, Darrell Potts of West Mecklenburg High, Kristin Ward of West Charlotte High and Emily Wegener of Albemarle Road Elementary.
Corwin has worked at J.H. Gunn as a teacher assistant for 10 years. She teaches reading and math to kindergarten, first-, third- and fifth-grade students. This year, all of her students achieved at or above grade level in their literacy assessments. Prior to serving at J.H. Gunn, Corwin taught pre-school at Wilson Grove Baptist Church for more than a decade. In 2012, she was named the CMS Teacher Assistant of the Year. The Charlotte native said Gunn is dear to her heart because all three of her children received their elementary education there.
Principal Monique Davis said, “Corwin cares about treating her students as individuals and takes pride in educating them. She’s like a mother eagle that looks forward to the day our eagles soar from the nest.
Other Teacher Assistant of the Year finalists were: Christina Saladino of Grand Oak Elementary, Holly O’Brien of Highland Mill Montessori and James Wideman of Cornelius Elementary.
CMS Superintendent Heath Morrison presented Shockley with a certificate, a basket of prizes and a set of keys to a car from Keffer Volkswagen, which Shockley will have for a year. Corwin received a certificate and a basket of prizes.
