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Congratulations to the 2021-2022 CTE Teacher of the Year Finalists

For the first time ever, North Carolina Career and Technical Education (CTE) is going to recognize a NC State CTE Teacher of the Year. To begin to get a list of deserving teachers, each high school and middle school in UCPS named a CTE Teacher of the Year nominee. Much like the UCPS Teacher of the Year process, each of these individuals were given an opportunity to submit a portfolio to be reviewed. Using the portfolio responses, five finalists have been selected, out of which one will be named the first ever UCPS CTE Teacher of the Year and will be submitted to compete at the state level. Congratulations to all those nominated by their schools and to the five finalists listed below.  

Laura Gardner – Agriculture Teacher – Piedmont High School – 15 Years of Experience

Laura Gardner is originally from Taylorsville, NC.  She currently serves as the Agriculture Teacher and CTE Department Chair for Piedmont High School.  She graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Agriculture Education in 2007, and graduated with a Master’s in Agriculture Education in 2012 and became National Board certified in 2018. She says, “ Teaching was not my first choice for career paths when I graduated high school.  Growing up with two parents as teachers it wasn’t even on my radar. I also heard that if you enjoy what you do daily you won’t work a day in your life… so I took my two passions and put them together.  When I reflected on my life going into college I realized that agriculture was my passion.  However, I also seemed to teach in every other aspect of my life, whether it was swimming lessons, Sunday school, young 4-H groups…. I always taught. So 4 schools and 15 years later, here I am.”

Heather Grant – Health Science Teacher – Cuthbertson High School – 8 Years of Experience

Union County has been Heather’s life-long home. She graduated from Forest Hills High School and later from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Since graduating from college, she has worked as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina. For the first nineteen years of her career, she worked alongside an incredible surgeon who she credits as her mentor and teacher. As a baccalaureate-prepared RN, she came into education through the lateral-entry process and earned her North Carolina Educator’s License. As a mother of two Union County students, education has been of utmost importance to her. She transitioned into teaching eight years ago as a means to bring years of healthcare experience into Cuthbertson High School as well as invest in the lives of her very own young men, Trevor and Matthew, as Cuthbertson Cavaliers.

Carolyn Hoobler – Family and Consumer Science Teacher – Parkwood High School – 7 Years of Experience

Carolyn Hoobler is a graduate of Houghton College with a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Science. She has taught Food & Nutrition and Culinary Arts  at PWHS for 8 years and loves combining her culinary passion with her love for working with high school students. Together they learn all about food and nutrition, preparing food for the family and for service, and create delicious recipes in class! Teaching curriculum principles while building relationships with her students and watching them gain new skills fuels her joy each day. Ms. Hoobler has been married to her husband Jim for more than 36 years and they have 3 sons, and 4 grandchildren. She enjoys cooking with others, including her brothers, who together cater their annual family reunion. 

Kevin Kitchen – Electrical Trades Teacher – Monroe High School – 10 Years of Experience

• • • • • Kevin Kitchen began his electrical field training as an apprentice in 1987. After completing the electrical apprenticeship program, Mr. Kitchen worked his way through the ranks as a journeyman electrician, job foreman, job superintendent, project manager, and estimator.  He has been qualified for the North Carolina limited and unlimited electrical contractor licenses as well as the Level 3 certification as a NC electrical inspector.  Mr. Kitchen continued his education and obtained an Associate of Applied Science in Electrical/Electronic Technology degree from Central Piedmont Community College. When the opportunity presented itself, Mr. Kitchen decided to take a leap of faith with the hopes of passing on his passion for electrical work to the next generation.

Kenisia Taylor – Marketing Teacher – Porter Ridge High School – 9 Years of Experience

Education is Ms. Taylor’s passion, and she knew that she wanted to be a teacher at a young age, when you’d often find her pretending to teach her dolls! Ms. Taylor’s mother is a retired Math teacher and her constant inspiration. She was awarded the NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship Award as a Senior in high school and obtained a B.S. degree in Mathematics Education at N.C.State University. Ms. Taylor  started her career as a high school Math teacher, but soon left the profession to pursue business. After obtaining an M.B.A from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ms. Taylor worked at a prominent investment bank in New York. A significant portion of her career, before returning to teaching, was spent at Bank of America in Charlotte. She decided to return to her love of education, and has taught math, marketing and business classes in high schools in Mecklenburg and Union counties. Teaching is so fulfilling to her, as she has an opportunity to inspire students and encourage them to enjoy life by learning new skills and being their best each day. She especially enjoys teaching CTE courses as students can directly apply what they’ve learned to their future careers! She says she is also blessed to be a wife and mother and cherish time with family.