2024 NCCSS Award Winners

2024 Elementary School Teacher of the Year

Elizabeth Abel is a first-grade teacher at Rivergate Elementary School. She strongly believes that education should foster curiosity and critical thinking. In her opinion, every student, regardless of their background or situation, can learn and should be given equal opportunities to achieve high standards. Elizabeth thinks teaching should be impartial and relatable to each student’s experience. She is also committed to integrating and celebrating diverse cultures and backgrounds in her classroom to emphasize their value in education and learning. In the past, Elizabeth collaborated with professors at UNC Charlotte to use the Paideia Method and teach the immigration story as a personalized lesson to K-5 social studies standards. She implemented this project at her previous school, Elon Park Elementary, and continues to explore new ways to enhance learning and spark student interest. Elizabeth Abel is passionate about making education a valuable experience for all students.

2024 Middle School Teacher of the Year

Cori Greer-Banks, an inspiring educator, currently imparts her passion for learning as an 8th-grade Humanities teacher at The Exploris School in vibrant downtown Raleigh. Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, Cori's journey has taken her to diverse locales, including upstate New York, where she cultivated a broad worldview. Her academic journey reflects an international flair, having earned her bachelor's degree in History from the University of Maryland in Heidelberg, Germany. Subsequently, Cori pursued a Master's Degree in English Literature from Old Dominion University, deepening her understanding of the human experience through the lens of literature. Her teaching career commenced in Norfolk, Virginia, where she dedicated herself to shaping the minds of middle school students before her compelling journey led her to Raleigh. Cori is no ordinary educator; some might label her a radical teacher. Her teaching philosophy revolves around fostering empowered students who perceive diversity not merely as an abstract concept but as the cornerstone of an ideal, just, and democratic society. With a commitment to dismantling systems of oppression, she actively engages her students in critical conversations that extend beyond the classroom. Cori's dedication and impact in the field of education have garnered recognition, with her being named the NCCSS Middle School Teacher of the Year. Additionally, she proudly serves as the 2023-2024 Outstanding Teacher of North Carolina History for the Historical Society of NC, further solidifying her position as a leader in her field. As a Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice Fellow, Cori continues to champion the values of historical understanding and social justice, contributing to a brighter and more equitable future for her students and society.

2024 High School Teacher of the Year

Alyssa Stafford is a dedicated educator with a passion for shaping young minds through the lens of history and social studies. Holding a Bachelor of Science in History, Secondary Education from Appalachian State University and a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in Curriculum and Instruction focusing on Social Studies Education from East Carolina University, Alyssa boasts a solid educational foundation. Now in her 12th year of teaching high school social studies, she imparts knowledge to her students and assumes leadership roles as the Social Studies department chair and the School Improvement Team chair. Alyssa's influence extends beyond the classroom, where she has crafted district unit plans and lesson plans, collaborated with Social Studies leads across the state of North Carolina, and led local professional development on the Inquiry Design Model. She worked alongside Dr. John Lee of NCSU and Mrs. Swanson, the Edgecombe County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent for Innovation & Strategic Planning. Alyssa teaches AP U.S. History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, and World History, further enriching the educational landscape with her expertise and commitment to student success.

2024 Student Teacher of the Year

James Ryan Keller serves as a student teacher at South Central High School in Pitt County as part of East Carolina University’s History Education program. Ryan is a second degree-seeking student, having completed his initial undergrad with a degree in Communications from the University of West Florida. Ryan grew up as a military dependent, living overseas in Japan for almost ten years over two different deployments. This constant moving as a military dependent, in which Ryan was able to interact with individuals with various cultural backgrounds, has ultimately informed his approach to teaching and overall educational goals. Specifically, Ryan aims to cultivate a social studies classroom founded on principles of inclusion and tolerance and to help students develop historical empathy through inquiry-based pedagogy. Ryan is expected to graduate from ECU on May 3, 2024, and is excited to begin his teaching career this fall.

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Excellence in Teaching Award

Valencia Abbott teaches at Rockingham Early College High School in Wentworth, North Carolina. With almost 20 years in the classroom with completing a master’s degree in liberal studies, she received from Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in African American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 2016, she received her Add-On Licensure Academically/Intellectually Gifted (AIG) from Duke University and spent the last ten years at RECHS. Valencia has served on several advisory boards and committees, including the NCSS Carter G. Woodson Book Award Selection Committee and the National Council of History Education Teacher Advisory Council. She was recently appointed to the George Washington Teacher Institute Advisory Group. In 2022, she received the James Arthur Griggs Civil Rights Memorial Award for her accomplishments in Keeping Dr. King's Dream Alive in Reidsville and the Outstanding Teacher of North Carolina History from the North Carolina Historical Society. Valencia spearheads the acclaimed "Civil Rights Movement Beyond 1968: Griggs vs. Duke Power Company", which tells the history of the 1971 United States Supreme Court case.

2024 Rho Kappa Scholarship Winner

Allison is a student at Mcdowell County High School.