By CLTure News
October 20, 2020
Often our educators don’t receive the credit they deserve, especially in these trying times during the pandemic. Since 2012, the Arts & Science Council has celebrated the works of our educators through their Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Award honoring a special group of creative teachers with a grant and original work of art. Each award recipient this year will receive $5,000 made possible through an endowment gift made to ASC from Charlotte-based fashion retailer The Cato Corporation.
“Creativity plays an important role in helping students expand their thinking, evaluate complex issues and solve problems,” said ASC President Jeep Bryant. “We are proud to recognize these exceptionally creative and innovative teachers whose lifetime achievements as educators in arts, science or history have greatly enriched the lives of the students.”
This year’s Award Recipients:
Corey Mitchell (Arts)
Mitchell, who recently won the inaugural Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award and also a winner of the first Excellence in Theatre Education Tony Award in 2015, has been transforming lives in his role as a theatre arts educator at Northwest School of the Arts (NWSA) since 2001. With a career spanning 25 years, Mitchell has directed 70 major productions, 16 cabaret shows, 14 music revue shows and over 40 plays for NWSA and other arts organizations in the Charlotte region. In 2013, Mitchell produced and directed “The Color Purple” at NWSA and the production was selected for performance on the main stage at the International Thespian Festival.
Connie Wood (Science)
With a 26-year career teaching at East Mecklenburg High School, Wood has not only impacted the local community but her contributions have spanned internationally developing and publishing science curriculums for teachers across the country. Using knowledge gained through the Yale Teacher Institute, she helped develop the Charlotte Teacher Institute. Wood has also traveled to Rwanda to work with students and teachers in enhancing STEM education.
Ronny Reddig (History)
Reddig has spent 27 years serving Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, currently teaching at Piedmont Middle School. Recently selected as the 2016 Magnet Schools of America Teacher of the Year for Region IV, Reddig takes a more holistic approach to education and holds leadership positions in the International Baccalaureate Committee at his school and the Young Black Leadership Alliance. Reddig encourages students to engage with multiple perspectives of history, promoting equity and diversity in his classroom.
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