Nominate a Teacher

2024 TEACHING CHAIRS

Nominations for Teaching Chairs will be accepted until January 1-31, 2024. Anyone can nominate
a teacher – a peer, a student, a parent, a community member. Teachers may also nominate themselves.

In 2024, 6 of the 15 Endowed Teaching Chairs are open for nominations. The first five chairs described below recognize a certified classroom teacher who has taught in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School (CHCCS) District for at least three years with a start date no later than Sept 1, 2020 The final chair recognizes a teacher new to the profession (Beginning Teacher in year 1,2 or 3) who shows promise and who has taught for fewer than three years.  Check the descriptions below to see if a teacher you would like to nominate is eligible for a Chair in the 2024 cycle.

 


Elementary School Chairs

Sockwell Chair for Excellence in Teaching Primary Grades (preK-2)
The Chair was the first elementary-level Teaching Chair established by the Foundation. It honors former school board chair Phyllis Sockwell and her aunt who were teachers. The Chair is funded by an endowment and is awarded to classroom teachers of grades Pre-K to 2nd grade. This is a two-year award and recognizes a classroom teacher who has taught in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School (CHCCS) District for at least three years. The recipient will receive a $1,000 award for each year they hold this chair.

TC Nomination CLOSED – Sockwell

Middle School Chairs

GlaxoSmithKline Chair for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Science or Math     
The GSK Chair was the first middle school Teaching Chair established by the Foundation. This Chair honors outstanding Science or Math teachers at the middle school level.   This is a two-year award and recognizes a classroom teacher who has taught in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School (CHCCS) District for at least three years. The recipient will receive a $1,000 award for each year they hold this chair.

TC Nomination CLOSED – GSK Middle School Math and Science

High School Chairs

Bernadine Sullivan Chair for Excellence in Teaching High School English or Social Studies     
The endowment was created by the family of English teacher Bernadine Sullivan at Chapel Hill High School, and was expanded in the 2013-14 school year from an English teaching award to include Social Studies. This is a two-year award and recognizes a classroom teacher who has taught in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School (CHCCS) District for at least three years. The recipient will receive a $1,000 award for each year they hold this chair.

TC Nomination CLOSED– Bernadine Sullivan Chair

District-wide Chairs

Neil Pedersen Teachers First Chair for Excellence in Teaching Career and Technical Education
This endowed fund was created by the Foundation to honor the former CHCCS Superintendent Neil Pedersen. The Chair is awarded to a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher who best exemplifies excellence in technology instruction and skill development in their students’ classroom experiences. Teachers of Business Education, Technology, Printing/Graphics, Family & Consumer Science, Drafting, Marketing, Computer Engineering, or Automotive classes are eligible for nomination. This is a three-year award and recognizes a classroom teacher who has taught in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School (CHCCS) District for at least three years. The recipient will receive a $1,000 award for each year they hold this chair.

TC Nomination CLOSED – Neil Pedersen

Mel and Zora Rashkis Chair for Excellence in Teaching Healthful Living and Physical Education
Established in 2017-18, this Chair honors outstanding teachers in grades K-12 who instruct students in healthful living and/or physical education. Funds were provided by the Rashkis Trust.  The Chair is awarded on a three-year cycle and is named to honor the legacies of educators Mel and Zora Rashkis. This is a three-year award and recognizes a classroom teacher who has taught in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School (CHCCS) District for at least three years. The recipient will receive a $1,000 award for each year they hold this chair.

TC Nomination CLOSED– Mel and Zora Rashkis Chair in Healthful Living or Physical Education

Sterling and Anita Hennis Chair for Promising New Secondary Teachers of English/Language Arts or Social Studies
This endowed fund was created by the family of Sterling and Anita Hennis. Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, the Hennis Chair is presented on a three-year cycle to a beginning teacher (less than three years teaching) who shows great promise in teaching English/Language Arts or Social Studies at either the middle or high school level.

This is a three-year award and recognizes a classroom teacher who has taught in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School (CHCCS) District for less than three years, a start date after Sept 1, 2020. The recipient will receive a $1,000 award for each year they hold this chair.

 

TC Nomination CLOSED– Hennis Chair for Promising New Secondary of LA or SS