Rocky Mount, N.C.—James Bell, an eighth grade English teacher at Chowan Middle School, Edenton-Chowan Public Schools, and a 1998 graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan College, has been named North Carolina Teacher of the Year 2007-2008. Bell received the prestigious award at a formal banquet earlier this month in Cary, N.C.

Howard Lee, N.C. State Board of Education Chairman (left) with James Bell, Teacher of the Year, and June Atkinson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson presented the honor, saying, “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 state who have the power and the ability to deliver strong instruction but also to inspire others to be their best.”

In accepting the award, Bell said that the recognition 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 looks forward to representing the state as “we hold ourselves to the highest standards as we strive to lift our students to achieve well beyond anyone’s expectations.”

Bell has taught for nine years, six of them in his current position. He is a member of the N.C. Association of Educators and currently serves as its Building Representative. He has made several staff development presentations to help first-year teachers improve reading strategies for middle grade students, and to help students read poetry. He also serves on Edenton-Chowan’s System-Wide Literacy Team.

Bell received his bachelor of arts degree in English at North Carolina Wesleyan College, with a minor in journalism, and his teacher certification through East Carolina University.

Awards and recognitions are nothing new to Bell. He also has received the North Carolina Region One Teacher of the Year 2007-08, Edenton-Chowan Schools Teacher of the Year 2006-07, Chowan Middle School Teacher of the Year 2006-07, Albemarle Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 2006-07, and the North Carolina Region One Team of the Year 2005-06.

Bell’s responsibilities as Teacher of the Year officially begin July 1. He will spend the school year traveling throughout North Carolina as an ambassador for the teaching profession and will serve as an advisor to the State Board of Education for two years.

The honor also comes with tangible rewards: a new automobile from the N.C. Automobile Dealers Association, which also sponsored the awards dinner and activities; a one-time $7,500 stipend; a technology package from SMARTer Kids Foundation; a trip to the International Space Camp; an international trip through the N.C. Center for International Understanding; and a trip to the National Teacher of the Year conference.