By CLTure
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 (ASC) has celebrated the work of educators through its Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Award, honoring a special group of creative teachers with a grant and an original work of art. Each award recipient this year will receive $5,000, made possible through an endowment gift 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 their students.”
This year’s ASC Lifetime Achievement Award recipients:
Corey Mitchell (Arts)
Mitchell, who recently won the inaugural Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award and was the first recipient of the Excellence in Theatre Education Tony Award in 2015, has been transforming lives 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, he 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 made an impact not only locally but also internationally, developing and publishing science curricula 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 to enhance STEM education.
Ronny Reddig (History)
An educator of 27 years, Reddig currently teaches at Piedmont Middle School. Recently selected as the 2016 Magnet Schools of America Teacher of the Year for Region IV, Reddig takes a holistic approach to education and holds leadership positions on the International Baccalaureate Committee at his school and with the Young Black Leadership Alliance. He encourages students to engage with multiple perspectives of history, promoting equity and diversity in his classroom.
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