Martin County Schools Nominee Named for NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career & Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year
Williamston, NC — Martin County Schools CTE Department is proud to announce that April Joyner, a Career & Technical Education teacher in Family & Consumer Sciences at Martin County High School, has been named a nominee for the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Career & Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year Award.
This nomination places Ms. Joyner among an exceptional group of educators from across North Carolina, each recognized for their innovation, dedication, and ability to prepare students for success through high-quality CTE instruction.
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), in partnership with NCDPI and NCACTE, developed the CTE Teacher of the Year award to honor outstanding CTE educators, promote teacher leadership, and elevate the importance of CTE in North Carolina public schools. John Kirkman, NCACTE Executive Director shared,” NCACTE is pleased to celebrate the outstanding CTE Teachers across the state and the opportunities they provide CTE students.” Through this process, 24 regional finalists will be selected from the pool of nominees statewide. One of these finalists will ultimately be named the 2026 NCCAT Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC CTE Teacher of the Year.
Finalists will participate in a week-long professional development and leadership experience at the Truist Leadership Institute in Greensboro from December 1–5, 2025. The award winner will be announced during a statewide celebration at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro on December 4, 2025.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice "Mo" Green praised the impact of CTE teachers across North Carolina:
"Our Career and Technical Education teachers represent the vital bridge between classroom learning and real-world application for thousands of North Carolina students. These dedicated educators bring industry experience, technical expertise and passionate mentorship to prepare our students for high-demand careers that strengthen our state's economy. Today, we celebrate not just their teaching excellence, but their role in showing students multiple pathways to success.”
Jason Wynne, CTE Director and CIMC for Martin County Schools stated, “We are thrilled to see Ms. April Joyner recognized for her incredible work in the classroom, and in preparing students for technical skill competitions. CTE is a critical pathway for our students, and this recognition reflects the high-quality instruction happening across the MCS CTE program.” Ms. Joyner is also the MCS CTE and MCHS Teacher of the Year.
About the NCCAT CTE Teacher of the Year Process
Nomination: Each school district and charter school in North Carolina may nominate one outstanding CTE teacher.
Regional Finalists: Regional Education Service Alliances and the DPI Office of Charter Schools will determine 24 finalists from the nominees.
Finalist Celebration: Finalists will engage in a professional development week at the Truist Leadership Institute.
Award Announcement: The overall winner will be recognized at a statewide celebration on December 4, 2025 in Greensboro.
Awards & Recognition
Winner: $5,000 cash prize, attendance at national and state ACTE conferences, instructional supply funds for the teacher’s school, and a three-year membership in NCACTE.
Runner-up: $2,000 cash prize and a three-year membership in NCACTE.
All Finalists: Travel expenses, substitute cost coverage for the professional development week, and a one-year NCACTE membership.
About NCCAT
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) supports teachers and impacts students through high-quality professional development, aiming to improve public education by increasing teacher effectiveness. For more information about NCCAT’s programs, visit www.nccat.org or call 828-293-5202.
About Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) is a private foundation dedicated to advancing biomedical sciences and supporting the next generation of scientific researchers and educators. With a strong commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in science, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund has made a significant investment in the realm of STEM education. In the past 25 years, BWF has invested more than $100 million to support initiatives and networks in STEM education. In addition to funding, BWF provides opportunities for interactions with colleagues and engagement with the broader community of educators and grant recipients across other BWF education programs. BWF’s focus on support of education highlights the belief in the pivotal role it plays in shaping the future of scientific discovery and addressing complex global challenges.