EDUCATION

Top of the class

Eric Wildstein
ewildstein@gastongazette.com
Carmin Adams

Four Gaston public school teachers and administrators have been honored as the school system’s most outstanding educators for 2018-2019.

The educators earned the prestigious honors during Gaston County Schools’ annual Evening of Excellence ceremony, sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, on Thursday at the Gaston Country Club.

“The Evening of Excellence ceremony gives us an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many excellent contributions and accomplishments of our employees,” said Superintendent of Schools Jeff Booker. “We congratulate the award recipients and applaud all educators in Gaston County Schools for what they do every day to help children and inspire success.”

The Teacher and Principal of the Year honorees were each presented a handcrafted Wells Fargo Bank Educator Apple and $1,250 to use for professional advancement. Both were selected by their peers among four other finalists, who each received $250 to use for professional advancement, in their respective categories. Each of the Principal and Teacher of the Year finalists received $250 to use for professional advancement.

You can reach Eric Wildstein at 704-869-1828 or Twitter.com/TheGazetteEric.

Gaston County Teacher of the Year

Carmin Adams, third grade teacher at Belmont Central Elementary

A graduate of Hunter Huss High School, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Belmont Abbey College. She taught previously at Catawba Heights Elementary. She says one way her classroom is unique is because she gives students choices by using project-based learning, a variety of technology tools and flexible seating. She will go on to represent Gaston County in the Teacher of the Year regional competition for 2018-2019.

Gaston County Principal of the Year

Denise McLean, from Highland School of Technology

McLean holds a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from East Carolina University. She received a master of arts in teaching from Winthrop University and a master’s in school administration from UNC Charlotte. She has served as a marketing teacher at South Point High, assistant principal at East Gaston High and Highland, principal at Cramerton Middle, and executive director for secondary/middle school instruction. She will go on to represent Gaston County in the Principal of the Year regional competition for 2018-2019. She recently led Highland to be named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

Assistant Principal of the Year

Meghan LeFevers, from Bessemer City High

LeFevers is a graduate of Cherryville High and Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She earned a master’s in educational leadership from UNC Charlotte and was named the 2018 N.C. Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year and the Milken Educator Award winner for North Carolina. She taught previously at W.C. Friday Middle and completed a Principal Fellows internship at Bessemer City High.

Central Office Administrator of the Year

Carrie Minnich, Executive Director for Exceptional Children

Minnich is a graduate of UNC Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in exceptional children and a master’s in educational administration. She has served as a teacher at Warlick Elementary and Brookside Elementary, assistant principal at Robinson Elementary, principal at Grier Middle and Lowell Elementary, and executive director for elementary instruction.