College of Education
Office of the Dean
East Carolina University
154 Speight Building ● Greenville, NC 27858-4353
252-328-4260 office ● 252-328-4219 fax
www.ecu.edu
May 17, 2007
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Former ECU Student Named North Carolina’s
Teacher of the Year
Edenton, NC - James Bell, an eighth grade English teacher at Chowan Middle School, Edenton-Chowan Public Schools, was named the 2007-08 North Carolina Teacher of the Year. Bell received his teaching certificate from ECU. State Superintendent June Atkinson presented him with the award at a formal banquet held in Cary in early May. Atkinson said, "James has demonstrated excellence in classroom teaching and a strong dedication to the success of his students. He is a true representative of the many outstanding teachers from across the states that have the power and the ability to deliver strong instruction but also to inspire others to be their best."
Bell said his selection to be Teacher of the Year was as much about his students and athletes as about himself. "It is the hundreds of students that I teach, coach or just talk to every single day at Chowan Middle School. They are the real reason that I have been successful as an educator." Bell said he looked forward to representing North Carolina as "we hold ourselves to the highest standards as we strive to lift our students to achieve well beyond anyone's expectations."
Bell has been teaching for nine years, six in his current position. He is a member of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE). Bell has made a number of staff development presentations including "Tricks of the Trade" for first year teachers, explicitly teaching reading strategies to middle grade students, reading strategies to be used during and after reading, reading strategies and teaming in the middle school, and using Thinking Maps while reading poetry. He is currently serving on Edenton-Chowan's System Wide Literacy Team.
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The NC Teacher of the Year spends the school year traveling the state as an ambassador for the teaching profession. The award recipient receives a one-time $7,500 stipend, technology package from SMARTer Kids Foundation, trip to the International Space Camp, an international trip through the NC Center for International Understanding, and a trip to the National Teacher of the Year conference. In addition, the state Teacher of the Year serves as an advisor to the State Board of Education for two years.
NC Automobile Dealers Association (NCADA) also provides the state's Teacher of the Year with a new automobile. The NCADA through its partnership with the Public Schools of North Carolina sponsors the Teacher of the Year event dinner, activities and awards.
For more information contact Jessica Davenport, director of communications for the College of Education at 252-328-2179 or .
East Carolina University is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina. An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer