Category Archives: News

News

Teachers Reflections on Their Historic Journey

 “The Memorial for Peace and Justice was, by far, the most emotional part of our visit. Like many in our group, I began by taking pictures of the lynching memorials of victims in North Carolina, but quickly found that there were so many that it became overwhelming. Getting through that memorial required multiple stops to collect myself. As Selma director Ava DuVerney said after her visit, ‘Every American that believes in justice and dignity must come here.’”

— Larry Bosc, retired history teacher, East Mecklenburg HS

 “‘The assumption of guilt and dangerousness has been assigned to African Americans.’  This was from The Legacy Museum. It made me weep because I have lived this. Not because of me, but through others’ assumptions of me because I am an African American.”

— DeNise Gerst, science teacher, Barringer Academic Center

“‘Ordinary people do extraordinary things,’  from Dr. Shirley Cherry. I’ve made this a mantra for one of my 4th grade girls! The following poem is from the Peace and Justice Memorial. I keep rereading this because it just calls to me. There is an absolute faith that we can and will all learn to speak the truth of what happened to African Americans in our country and what still happens every day.”

— Tracy Kennedy, 4th/5th grade teacher, E.E. Waddell Language Academy

“For the hanged and beaten.

For the shot, drowned and burned.

For the tortured, tormented and terrorized.

For those abandoned by the rule of law.

We will remember.

With hope because hopelessness is the enemy of justice.

With courage because peace requires bravery.

With persistence because justice is a constant struggle.

With faith because we shall overcome.”

News

26 CMS Teachers Journey to Montgomery, AL

Twenty-six teachers attended the Equal Justice Initiative’s opening ceremonies for the The Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice. The trip was conceived and organized by former East Mecklenburg High School Teacher Larry Bosc. The teachers included:

  • Auset Ari, Reading/Social Studies, Newell Elementary
  • Franchone Bey, English, West Charlotte High
  • Eli Davis, Special Education High School, Lincoln Heights Academy
  • Taylor Elkins, English Language Arts, Ranson Middle
  • Erika Flanagan, Civics/Economics, Independence High
  • Yasmin Forbes, African American Studies/American History II, West Mecklenburg High
  • DeNise Gerst, Science, Barringer Academic Center
  • Mayako Hamrick, Japanese, E.E. Waddell Language Academy
  • Stacey Jarvis, American History, East Mecklenburg High
  • Tracy Kennedy, English/Social Studies, EE Waddell Language Academy
  • Shanique Lee, English, North Mecklenburg High
  • Ebone Lockett, English Language Arts, CATO Middle College High
  • Marielle Matheus, PreK, Pre-K Department
  • Megan McGee, English Language Arts, McClintock Middle
  • Latonda Mitchell, English Language Arts/Social Studies, Mountain Island Lake Academy
  • Lynn Roach, World History, Harding University High
  • Lecia Shockley, 3rd Grade, Selwyn Elementary
  • Nicole Sparrow, AP Language & Composition/English IV, Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences
  • Annette Teasdell, English, North Mecklenburg High
  • Roshan Varghese, American History II/World History, David W. Butler High
  • Robert Walton, EC General Curriculum, Merry Oaks International Academy
  • Torie Wheatley, English, North Mecklenburg High
  • May Winarski, Art, East Mecklenburg High
  • Kathryn Kisner, Social Studies, East Mecklenburg High
  • Paul Arnold, Social Studies, EE Waddell Language Academy
  • Kheiston Tilford, Math and Science, Newell Elementary
CTI News

Ted Miracle’s CU: 3rd grade, identity, and STEM

On March 2, 2018, CTI brought 70 books to Ted Miracle’s classroom at Devonshire Elementary School. Dr. Miracle, one of CTI’s crowdfunding grant recipients, received $500 of books to help implement his CTI-inspired, original curriculum unit, “Living Memorials to Spectacular Scientists, Engineers, and Mathematicians.” Dr. Miracle developed his unit as a 2017 CTI Fellow in the Memorials, Memories, and American Identity seminar.  These 3rd grade students were overjoyed to see these new books donated to their classrooms.  They also had a special visit from CTI Seminar Leader Emily Makas, architectural historian at UNC Charlotte, Scott Gartlan, CTI executive director, and Robin Mara, CTI associate director.  

     

 

 

 

 

Through his CTI-inspired curriculum unit, Dr. Miracle seeks to inspire the next generation of scientists by introducing his students to underrepresented (e.g., African-American, Hispanic, female) scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. To do so, his students will read biographies of great leaders in STEM fields. Then, after choosing one especially inspirational to them, the students will research and build a memorial poster that they present to their class.  The goal is to get students excited to excel in school and follow in the footsteps of scientists from long ago.  

     

This project for 3rd grade students meets a critical need in education today and in the lives of the students in Dr. Miracle’s class. These books feature main characters that represent the diversity of the students in the classroom.  Pursuing a career “in a STEM-related field can be a gateway to economic success”, observed Dr. Miracle. “In short, I think my curriculum unit has the potential to change someone’s life by giving them a vision they may not have otherwise had for themselves.”

     

 

 

 

 

 

CTI News

CTI Awards Crowdfunding-Based Grants to CMS Teachers

Thanks to the generosity of 55 community donors, CTI’s first Crowdfunding Project exceeded expectations by raising $3,622 in Fall 2017. CTI is using these funds to award project mini-grants to CTI Fellows (CMS teachers) to support implementation of new curricula they developed in CTI seminars for their students. View the full list of donors here, along with the many education supporters honored or memorialized through these donations.

CTI Fellows can apply for curriculum unit implementation mini-grants ($100-$500) by completing a brief curriculum unit funding application.

The first three mini-grant recipients are:

For more information contact CTI Director Scott Gartlan at scott.gartlan@uncc.edu.

CTI News News

New JCSU Partnership Deepens, Diversifies CTI Work with CMS Teachers

In a move designed to deepen and diversify its engagement in professional development for teachers, Charlotte Teachers Institute (CTI) has formed a new educational partnership with Johnson C. Smith University to support classroom teachers in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

“Our collaboration with Johnson C. Smith University will add exciting new ideas and expertise to our existing partnership with CMS and with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,” said CTI Executive Director Scott Gartlan. “We will be able to welcome CMS teachers and UNC Charlotte professors to JCSU’s historic West End campus, building on our strong foundation of transforming teachers and students from pre-kindergarten through college by focusing on content knowledge, creativity, collaboration and leadership.”

Through CTI seminars led by UNC Charlotte and JCSU faculty, CMS teachers learn new content, work collaboratively with other teachers and develop new curricula for their students. Teachers serve as leaders in the institute, working collaboratively with university faculty. To date, more than 450 CMS teachers have participated in 68 CTI seminars, producing more than 700 original curriculum units and enriching more than 103,000 students.

“We join this partnership with enthusiasm and with an eagerness to learn and to share our strengths,” said JCSU President Clarence D. Armbrister. “As a historic urban university located in the heart of Charlotte, we are uniquely situated to work with the other partners to better the lives of CMS teachers and students and to contribute to the transformation of public education.”

CTI and its partners provide activities on active learning and leadership opportunities for teachers. Through intensive, seven-month seminars, led by faculty from UNC Charlotte and JCSU, CMS teachers learn new content, work collaboratively with other district teachers and develop curriculum units for their own classrooms. The Charlotte Teachers Institute is housed in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at UNC Charlotte. This fall, JCSU will lead seminars for the first time; CMS teachers are currently applying for spots in the seminars.

“Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools looks forward to continuing the collaborative spirit of our partnership with Charlotte Teachers Institute and UNC Charlotte in the framework of preparing and strengthening the opportunities for teachers,” said CMS Superintendent Clayton Wilcox. “The reach stretches even farther with the addition of Johnson C. Smith University, providing another level of access to quality preparation for our educators.”

CTI is founded on four pillars of strong professional development: content knowledge, creativity, leadership and collaboration. The new partnership will broaden the partnership’s capacity within each of the areas of emphasis.

“We are very pleased to welcome Johnson C. Smith University to this dynamic partnership with UNC Charlotte and CMS to support the Charlotte Teachers Institute,” said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “CTI has served an important role in strengthening Charlotte’s public education system by providing teachers with high quality professional development opportunities.”

CTI’s focus on building social capital among teachers, faculty and graduate students addresses the community-based Leading on Opportunity initiative’s priorities to tackle the community’s upward mobility, stated Gartlan.

“Our work aims at strengthening Charlotte’s education system through early education and college and career readiness,” Gartlan said. “Adding JSCU as a collaborator brings important relationships and knowledge that can help move us forward in a strategic way.”

Photo: Margaret Kocherga, Ph.D. nanoscale science graduate student, UNC Charlotte; Phil Carver, eighth grade science teacher, James Martin Middle School; Tom Schmedake, associate professor of chemistry, UNC Charlotte; Geneva Bell, eighth grade science teacher, James Martin Middle School; participated in a CTI summer research experience.

CTI News

Fellows’ Finale 2017

by Grayson Hollowell

On December 7, 2017, each of this year’s 93 Fellows were celebrated for their accomplishments in the 2017 seminars and Curriculum Units. The celebration took place at the Fellows Finale 2017, held at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. The Fellows and their friends ate, laughed, and reminisced together at the reception before the Finale itself.

During the ceremony, each seminar group took the stage to recognize their Seminar Leaders and to share how the past year with CTI impacted them. Consistent conclusions among what the Fellows shared revealed themselves as the ceremony progressed. Those touching themes included how they had grown as teachers and people, made new friends and memories, and the magnitude of what they learned and what it meant to them and their students.

There are no words to express how proud those of us at CTI are of our Fellows and how excited we are for the upcoming 2018 seminars.

2017 Year in Review Slideshow

2017 Fellows’ Finale Presentation

CTI News News

Cheers to Our 2017 CTI Evening for Educators Presenters!

Cheers to all our great presenters at CTI’s Evening for Educators event Oct. 17 at Discovery Place Education Studio. Presenters included current and former CTI Fellows from CTI Seminars, and CTI Fellows, Seminar Leaders and UNCC graduate assistants who participated in our Summer Research Experience for Teachers.
 
          Our guests — CMS teachers, CTI supporters and local community members — were very impressed with the excellent curriculum ideas provided, and got lots of great ideas to take back to their students and schools. Many thanks to these presenters for sharing their super engaging, innovative work!

CTI Fellows Curricula

  • Justine Busto, English as a Second Language teacher, East Mecklenburg High School: Using Graphic Novels and Picture Books in the High School and Middle School Classroom
  • Matthew Kelly, Spanish teacher, Independence High School:  Una imagen vale mil palabras: Using Hispanic Art with Novice Learners of Spanish
  • Jennifer Ladanyi, language arts teacher, Bailey Middle School:  Graphic Novels: Reading Critically from Texts to Images
  • Pam Shembo, fifth grade French immersion teacher, E.E. Waddell Academy:  Words of African Wisdom through Leuk the Hare in a French Immersion Classroom
  • Amy Thomas, math teacher, Reedy Creek Elementary School:  Number Awareness and Place Value
  • Janet Raybon, forensic science teacher, Myers Park High School:  The Rest of the Story: A Study of Death, Decomposition and Metamorphosis
  • Tyler Godensky, forensic science student, Myers Park High School:  Decomposition and the Life Cycle of the Blow Fly

CTI Summer Research Experience for Teachers (SRET)

Silver Nanoparticles for Enhanced Efficiency in Solar Applications

  • Wendy Potter, apparel and textile production teacher, Butler High School
  • Kari Rhoades, biomedical science teacher, Mallard Creek High School
  • Kathleen Dipple, graduate assistant in chemistry, UNC Charlotte
  • Meesha Kaushal, graduate assistant in chemistry, UNC Charlotte

How You Can Use Fluorescence and Light to Demonstrate Chemistry Concepts in Your Classroom

  • Phil Carver, science teacher, James Martin Middle School
  • Margaret Kocherga, graduate assistant in chemistry, UNC Charlotte
  • Dr. Tom Schmedake, associate professor of chemistry, UNC Charlotte

Examining the Effects of Freeze/Thaw Cycles on Porcine Skin Using Spectral Analysis

  • Curtis Overton, technology & design teacher, West Mecklenburg High School

SRET Graduate Student Research

Studying the effects of Peripheral Alkyl Chains on Exciton Diffusion Parameters in Porphyrin-PCBM Thin Films for OPV Applications

  • Meesha Kaushal, graduate assistant in chemistry, UNC Charlotte

Fabrication of Tunable Silver Nanorod Films for Solar Applications

  • Kathleen Dipple, graduate assistant in chemistry, UNC Charlotte

 

CTI News

Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists

Excited young minds at James Martin Middle School were treated by a collaboration of their teachers and scientist who worked together at this year’s CTI Summer Research Experience for Teachers (SRET). Two 8th grade science teachers from James Martin Middle School, Geneva Bell and Phil Carver, worked with a Ph.D. graduate student and professor of chemistry from UNC Charlotte, Margaret Kocherga and Dr. Tom Schmedake, this summer to research and develop new STEM curricula. This wonderful group wanted to share their expertise and enthusiasm with students, so, they planned a series of four fall activities to show the students and the community the engaging, fun side of science.

It began with James Martin Middle School Curriculum Night on Oct, 10, where students and parents engaged in a variety of scientific activities and lectures. Carver described what students gained from the experience:  “Hands-on lab activities and a new perspective from a professor and graduate student from a large university.” He added, “Dr. Schmedake discussed career opportunities for science-related jobs in Charlotte and North Carolina” including sharing salaries for scientists to his 8th grade students.  The labs included activities such as how to assemble Blackberry Solar Cells from TiO2 nanoparticles and graphite and experiments with dry ice.

On Oct. 11, Schmedake and Kocherga visited Bell and Carver’s classroom with a host of hands-on activities “that were related to various subjects they have already covered in their 8th grade science class,” Kocherga explained. On Nov. 11, the four will share their experiences at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) with scientists, educators and students in a presentation called “Teachers in the Lab:  A Research Experience with Fluorescent Dyes in Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs).”  Finally, on Nov. 15, Schmedake and Kocherga will return to Bell and Carver’s 8th grade science students to continue their project-based learning scientific demonstrations.  

In the end, the research team sought “to break stereotypes about ‘boring science,’ and inspire a new generation to pursue STEM fields and continue advancement in technologies that are used in daily life” as Margaret Kocherga described. The team helped open the young minds at James Martin to a world of possibilities that science provides. It is amazing to see these teachers and scientist inspire the next generation of scientists today to create a better world tomorrow.

 

Written By: Grayson Hollowell

Photos By: CTI Director- Scott Gartlan

CTI News

CTI Fellows Share Collaborative Science Research

Story and photos by Grayson Hollowell, CTI Communications & Administrative Assistant


 

Fascinating research, our awesome CTI Fellows, and many attentive guests all came together for CTI’s Summer Research Experience for Teachers (SRET) Reception on Thursday, September 7, at UNC Charlotte’s Atkins Library.

Eight teams comprised of CTI Fellows, graduate assistants and professors, from UNC Charlotte and Davidson College, collaborated in physics and chemistry research labs during June and July. At the SRET Reception, they displayed posters illustrating their findings and discussed them with reception attendees. CTI Fellows’ posters and research information can be found on CTI’s SRET webpage.

Deans, faculty, staff and and our other CTI Fellows joined us to commend and learn from the great research gleaned from the SRET projects. The public did the same, creating a wonderful, intellectual and casual atmosphere, accompanied by pizzas and drinks.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to all who participated in SRET. Congratulations on your marvelous hard work!

 

CTI News News

CTI Fellows Present at CMS Science Curriculum Day

Six CTI Fellows presented lessons from their CTI Summer Research Experience for Teachers with teaching colleagues at the CMS Science Curriculum Day Aug. 17 at South Mecklenburg High School. SRET Fellows shared what distinguishes CTI’s professional development from other PD, how they became involved in CTI’s SRET, research methods and concepts they explored in university laboratories, and their plans to implement research in their classrooms this fall, with the help of UNC Charlotte graduate students.

CTI presenters included Michelle Faggert (Martin Luther King MS), Namrata Gupta (Nations Ford ES) and Curtis Overton (West Mecklenburg HS) from Dr. Susan’s Trammell’s physics lab; Geneva Bell and Phil Carver (both at James Martin MS) from Dr. Tom Schmedake’s chemistry lab; and Kari Rhoades from Dr. Marcus Jones’ chemistry lab. Each of the three groups presented two 50-minute sessions for other CMS science teachers.
Cheers to these dedicated Fellows for sharing their SRET learning with other teachers!
CTI News

UNC Charlotte Undergraduate Wins Honor Working on CTI Research

Hao Djur presenting her research on CTI at the 2017 Summer Research Symposium (photo credit: Lynn Roberson)
Geraldine Abinader presenting her research on CTI at the 2017 Summer Research Symposium (photo credit: Lynn Roberson)

Two UNC Charlotte undergraduate students participated in UNC Charlotte’s Charlotte Community Scholars program aimed at fostering research skills in the area of civic engagement.  Geraldine Abinader, a mathematics major and Spanish and Urban Youth and Communities minor, and Hao Djur, an anthropology and biology and Urban Youth and Communities minor, completed intensive research projects over the course of the 9-week summer program.  At the 2017 Summer Research Symposium, Geraldine received first place in the “Humanities, Social Sciences, Education, Business, and Art” category for “Student Learning + Retention = Teacher Growth:  A Product Evaluation Case Study among CTI Fellows.”  Read more on College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website.

CTI News

CTI Fellows Start Their Research Engines at the Prospectus Writing & Research Jam May 20

About 25 of our dedicated Fellows rose early on a Saturday morning (May 20) to start their curriculum unit work at the CTI Prospectus Writing & Research Jam at UNC Charlotte Center City. They fueled up with a full breakfast buffet and then got down to energetic planning with UNC Charlotte Librarians Abby Moore and Jenna Rinalducci, CTI teacher leaders and staff, and each other. It was a great collaborative effort to set up Fellows with technology, clear goals and creative ideas for moving forward with their research.

Abby and Jenna shared detailed research support websites they developed for CTI Fellows, designed to explore specific content areas related to each seminar:

http://guides.library.uncc.edu/cti2017

http://guides.library.uncc.edu/memorials

Davidson College Librarian James Sponsel also organized a Davidson research support site for Fellows and an easy to use guide to the Zotero citation and bibliography management tool.

Many thanks to Abby, Jenna and James for their generous dedication to CTI Fellows, and to these experienced teacher leaders who provided valuable feedback to our new and returning Fellows at the Writing Jam:  Steering Committee Members Miesha Gadsden, Deb Jung, Deb Semmler and Connie Wood; and Seminar Coordinators Amethyst Klein,Wendy Potter, Rima Sohl and Amy Thomas.

CTI Fellows will have the summer to research their topic areas in depth and refine their objectives and content focus. All Fellows are charged to bring their seminar learning back to their classrooms through the original CTI Curriculum Units they create, specifically for their own students.

CTI News News

CTI Welcomes 104 CMS Teachers as 2017 CTI Fellows

CHARLOTTE – May 2017 – Charlotte Teachers Institute welcomed its new cohort of 104 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teachers into its innovative, interdisciplinary seminars for 2017.

“This year’s CTI Fellows represent a wide range of CMS teachers, from pre-kindergarten to high school, they teach courses from physics to French and literacy to special education,” said CTI Director Scott Gartlan. “We continue to create significant growth opportunities for teacher leaders looking to deepen their knowledge base and impact the lives of their students.”

CTI’s eight concurrent seminars began with an orientation at Discovery Place Science in April and will run through November. CTI seminars are led by faculty experts in the arts and sciences, including five from UNC Charlotte and three from Davidson College.

In each seminar, 13 CMS teachers (CTI Fellows) and a faculty leader work closely together in exploring a topic in depth, with each teacher creating a new curriculum designed for his or her own students. CTI Fellows receive full access to both Davidson College and UNC Charlotte resources, as well as memberships to Discovery Place and the Charlotte Museum of History, and complimentary tickets to the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Art + Culture and the Levine Museum. Each Fellow is awarded a $1,500 stipend and continuing education credits upon completion of the seminar.

The 2017 Seminars, Leaders, Coordinators and Fellows include:

Using Mathematics to Understand Social Issues

Seminar Leader: Anthony Fernandes, Mathematics and Statistics, UNC Charlotte

Seminar Coordinator: Rima Solh, Math, Southwest Middle School

Jeffrey Barnes, Math, Rocky River HS

Antowanna Carpenter, CTE/Business, Butler HS

Javier Cely, Math, Collinswood Language

Emiko Furuya, Fifth Grade, Waddell Language Academy

Katelyn Gardepe, Fifth Grade            , Selwyn ES

Mary Catherine Grant, Third Grade, McAlpine ES

Camay Hunter, Math, West Charlotte HS

Gwendalyn Iversen, Second Grade, Winding Springs ES

Paige Laurain, Math, West Charlotte HS

Kelly McManus, Math, Martin Luther King, Jr. MS

Vertina Rhim, Math, Whitewater MS

Jimi’ E. Rogers, Kindergarten, Nations Ford ES

Media and Minorities: Unpacking Stereotypes

Seminar Leader: Debra C. Smith, Africana Studies, UNC Charlotte

Seminar Coordinator: Franchone Bey, English, West Charlotte High School

Eli Davis, Special Education, Lincoln Heights Academy

Audrey Dorante, History, East Mecklenburg HS

DeNise Gerst, Science, Barringer Academic Center

Mic Hamrick, Kindergarten, E.E. Waddell Language Academy

Shanique Lee, English, North Mecklenburg HS

Marielle Matheus, Third Grade, Irwin Academic Center

Latonda Mitchell, 2nd Grade, Mountain Island Lake Academy

Chrisana Paul, Literacy, Coulwood STEM Academy

Liza Quinn, Literacy, E.E. Waddell Language Academy

Kim Scouller  Second Grade Barringer Academic Center

Annette Teasdell, English/ History, North Mecklenburg HS

Torie Wheatley, English, North Mecklenburg HS

Chemical Interactions in the Body

Seminar Leader: Erland Stevens, Chemistry, Davidson College

Seminar Coordinator: Kassie Woodard, Chemistry, W.A. Hough High School

Morgan Andrews, Psychology, W.A. Hough HS

Kathleen Butler, Dance, South Charlotte MS

Phil Carver, Science, Coulwood STEM Academy

NaKreshia Cox, Science, Sedgefield MS

Mariella Duarte, ESL, Whitewater MS

Monica High, Science, Hawthorne Academy

Christie Johnson, Science/Social Studies, Northeast MS

Kari Rhoades, Biomedical Sciences, Mallard Creek HS

Jackie Smith, Forensic Science, W.A. Hough HS

Nicole Sparrow, English, Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences

Joshua Trujillo, Science, W.A. Hough HS

Erika Williams, Biomedical Science, Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology

Memorials, Memories, and American Identity  (meets at the Levine Museum of the New South)

Seminar Leader:  Emily Makas, Architectural and Urban History, UNC Charlotte

Seminar Coordinator: Wendy Potter, Apparel Production, Butler High School

Nicole Boyd, Fifth Grade, Dilworth ES

Rhonda Doe, Kindergarten, Barringer Academic Center

Yasmin Forbes, African American Studies, West Mecklenburg HS

Tracy Kennedy, Fourth Grade/Japanese, E.E. Waddell Language Academy

Deanna Kurtz, Civics/Economics, South Mecklenburg HS

Megan McGee, Language Arts, McClintock MS

Ted Miracle, Fourth Grade, Endhaven ES

Alicia Olmeda, ESL , Coulwood STEM Academy

Beth Owens, Visual Art, Reedy Creek ES

Jaclyn Peterson, Fifth Grade, David Cox Road ES

Lecia Shockley, Third Grade, Selwyn ES

Don Winborne, Physical Education , Elon Park ES

Doing Science: Hands-On Learning in the Laboratory

Seminar Leader: Susan Trammell, Physics and Optical Science, UNC Charlotte

Seminar Coordinator: Amy Thomas, First Grade, Reedy Creek Elementary School

Scott Balay, Science, E.E. Waddell Language Academy

Geneva Bell, Science, Druid Hills Academy

Tracie Cooper, Science, Hidden Valley ES

Michelle Faggert, Science, Martin Luther King, Jr. MS

Katrina Gordon, Second Grade, Selwyn ES

Namrata Gupta, Science, Nations Ford ES

Ryan Neesam, K-5 Science, Military & Global Leadership Academy at Marie G. Davis

Curtis Overton, Technology/Design, West Mecklenburg HS

Zachary Sanford, Science, W.A. Hough HS

Meg Shuman, Fourth Grade, Barringer Academic Center

Jessica Silva, Science Lab, Rama Road ES

Victoria Woods, Science, Independence HS

Cultivating Visual Literacy

Seminar Leader: Maggie McCarthy, German Studies and Film, Davidson College

Seminar Coordinator: Deena Aglialoro, Language Arts, Ranson Middle School

Janae Aiken, English , East Mecklenburg HS

Kate Allen, Visual Art, W.A. Hough HS

Lora Davis, French, South Mecklenburg HS

Jacci Fizet, Pre-Kindergarten, David Cox Road ES

Michele Lemere, English, Garinger HS

Kim Mayes, Science, Cochrane Collegiate Academy

Erin Murray, Kindergarten, Barringer Academic Center

Justin Pierce, Visual Art, W.A. Hough HS

Alejandro Rangel, Spanish, Military & Global Leadership Academy at Marie G. Davis

Emily Woods, Fourth Grade, Barringer Academic Center

Amanda Soesbee, English, North Mecklenburg HS

Jessica Young, Second Grade, Davidson ES

The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

Seminar Leader: Shelley Rigger, Political Science, Davidson College

Seminar Coordinator: Amy Strong Pasko, World History, North Mecklenburg High School

Brad Baker , U.S. History, W.A. Hough HS

Raymond Beamon, World History, West Mecklenburg HS

Arianna Bonner, Social Studies, Martin Luther King, Jr. MS

Mayra Garcia, Spanish, W.A. Hough HS

Bassam Halaweh, Arabic, Military & Global Leadership Academy at Marie G. Davis

Cheryl Hanly, Language Arts, McClintock MS

Ron King, History, West Charlotte HS

Lisa Modrow, Social Studies, Bailey MS

Christa Rawald, Social Studies, Ranson MS

Michael Richards, World History, Bailey MS

Lynn Roach, Economics, Harding University HS

Roshan Varghese, History, Butler HS

From Self to Students: Canvassing Art to Explore Identity  (meets at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art)

Seminar Leaders: Adriana L. Medina, Reading and Elementary Education, UNC Charlotte, and Christopher Lawing, Vice President, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

Seminar Coordinator: Amethyst Klein, STEAM, University Park Creative Arts School

Carla Aaron-Lopez, Visual Art, Whitewater MS

Liz Allard, Science, Cochrane Collegiate Academy

Emily Burrell, Math, Piedmont Open IB MS

Nicholas Gattis, Band, Carmel MS

Mary Draper Hager, Second Grade, Selwyn ES

Natalie Jones, Visual Art, West Charlotte HS

Jaianna McCants, Visual Art, North Mecklenburg HS

Marjorie O’Shea, Visual Art, W.A. Hough HS

Mindy Passe, Fifth Grade, Barringer Academic Center

Laura Steffy, Visual Art, North Mecklenburg HS

Andy Wertz, English/Film, Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology

Amy Whealdon, Visual Art, Reid Park ES

CTI News

Why I continue to teach in CMS

Teacher Testimonials about Retention and CTI:  Responses from the Fellows’ Questionnaire

CTI helped me remember the love and passion that I have for teaching. I became jaded over the years working in education, but this seminar was an amazing opportunity for me to refresh myself and become more passionate about teaching students. If I had not had this opportunity, I probably would not be teaching now.

CTI was a great experience and is definitely a reason to consider CMS. Being closer to the end of my career than the beginning, CTI factors in my decision to stay in CMS until retirement because of the opportunities to be published and to earn the extra stipend money.

CTI is one of the very few opportunities that I have to feel that I have independence in my teaching. Even more importantly, it is the aspect of my job that makes me feel like a professional.

CTI has provided a welcome experience in which I am treated like a professional and have grown as a teacher and a leader. It is one of the most positive things I have done and has kept me refreshed and inspired as a teacher.

CTI has impacted my decision to continue teaching in CMS because of the opportunity given to collaborate with other teachers and partner with local colleges. The idea and vision of CTI is very creative and allows teachers to present educational materials that encourages students to think creatively.

CTI has added interest and value to my job. The opportunity to participate in CTI has given me more motivation and confidence in doing well.

Currently experiencing an existential crisis in my professional life, so I have no idea what I’m doing with my life! But CTI has helped me realize that teaching is more about growth as an individual more than anything.

I considered looking for jobs in Cabarrus County, but didn’t want to miss the opportunity to work in CMS with CTI.

If I did not have CTI to impact my teaching I would not have stayed with CMS as a teacher.

CTI is one of the most positive things about CMS. I considered leaving CMS this year but didn’t in large part because of my commitment to CTI. I hope to continue with it for many years.

CTI has helped me decide to continue teaching in CMS because they offer professional development that actually helps. I am able to talk with teachers of multiple grade levels instead of just my own so that I can see where the progression of knowledge goes. This why I can tailor my instruction to help fill needs that show up in later grades by giving my students a base of knowledge to work with.

I live in Union County but choose to stay in CMS this year for CTI.

The CTI seminars gave me encouragements through meeting other teachers who shared interests in improving teaching.

I enjoy the collaboration with the other fellows and the leader. I have grown alot from that experience.

It gives leadership role and a great achievement to be proud of.

I feel participating in CTI assists me in my personal growth goals.

The connection to the universities, opportunities to learn from professors, to have meaningful/intellectual conversations with peers, to learn and grow as a teacher on topics that interest me, and opportunities to earn more income make this program a huge incentive.

CTI is a great professional development for me as a teacher. It often recharges me and gives me new ideas and new strategies for the classroom.

I love working with teachers in CTI. The fellowship and sharing of ideas makes me a better teacher.

It makes me still want to be a teacher. It pushed me to go out of my comfort zone and continue my understanding of math. It shows me it’s possible to still teach and forward my education.

CTI is a wonderful program. It provides a creative outlet for developing curriculum units and opportunities to collaborate with UNCC and Davidson faculty as well as teachers I normally would not get to meet. This is very refreshing and definitely motivates me to continue teaching.

I like that CMS has opportunities like this, which keeps me engaged with CMS.

CTI is a great teacher retention tool. As I have thought about switching positions or leaving the profession in the past years, I have not wanted to quit a commitment I made to CTI which has kept me here.

I considered leaving for Lincoln County this school year but CTI was my biggest reservation in applying for the position!

I was assigned the inclusion classroom, without my input. I was extremely overwhelmed and depressed at the beginning of this year. Every day was a struggle and I really wanted to leave CMS. If it were not for CTI, I would have left. CTI gave me something positive to look forward to every week and gave me hope for my future. CTI was my angel.

CTI is a wonderful program. For me, it provides an intellectual stimulation and helps me grow as a learner. CTI has become for me the best teacher development offered by CMS. I love it and recommend it to everyone.

CTI is the best professional development offered within CMS.

The most collaborative PD I have experienced. I value the opportunity to meet and work with teachers from different grade levels and disciplines.

CTI News

Giving Back to Charlotte Teachers Institute

GIVE to CTI’s Crowdfunding Project today!  

Charlotte Teachers Institute is an educational partnership with UNC Charlotte, Davidson College and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to strengthen teaching and learning.  Research finds that teachers are the most important factor in raising student achievement.  Your gift will directly affect public school PreK-12 teachers and students, university and college professors, and staff in Charlotte Teachers Institute in the following ways:

  • Transformed Teachers – PreK-12 classroom teachers collaborate in content-rich seminars with university and college professors who facilitate learning experiences based on cutting-edge research.  Your gift will enrich CTI seminars by providing teachers with opportunities to co-create alongside scholars and community partners.
  • Engaged Students – P-12 classroom teachers create original, innovative curricula that motivates their students to reach new academic heights.  Your gift will provide resources to help teachers create new content for their classrooms from the science lab to the writers’ workshop.  
  • Experienced Faculty – Expert professors of the liberal arts and sciences are the lifeblood of CTI seminars.  CTI professors lead seminars all around Charlotte, including at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Discovery Place, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, and Levine Museum of the New South. Your gift will provide opportunities to support professors who lead CTI seminars focused on making connections to the greater Charlotte Community.
  • Committed Partners and Donors – A big part of CTI’s success is ongoing program evaluation.  Working with stakeholders — teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, professors and community leaders — CTI is committed to continued improvement and growth.  Your gift will support long-term planning and execution of mixed-methods evaluation plans.  

Your tax-deductible gift will transform teaching in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and help elevate the teaching profession.  Please email scott.gartlan@uncc.edu to inquire about giving back to teachers and CTI today.  Thanks!