CCS Teacher of the Year

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."  ~ William Arthur Ward

2023-2024 CCS Teacher of the Year, Carie Fugle

Congratulations to Carie Fugle, a science teacher at West Cabarrus High School, who has been named the 2023 Cabarrus County Schools Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Dr. John Kopicki made the announcement Thursday night at the conclusion of the district’s “Celebration of Excellence” ceremony at Great Wolf Lodge.

“Carie represents the excellence that we expect every day from our staff and students in Cabarrus County,” Kopicki said. “We are blessed to have exceptional educators throughout our district that embody the culture of caring that is Cabarrus County Schools. We’re proud to say that Carie is representative of them all.”

“She is a positive influence on students and excels at challenging and inspiring them to reach their full potential by exploring new ideas and instilling a passion for life-long learning. I congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.”

Fugle began her educational career as a teacher at Central Cabarrus High School in 2009 where she served briefly in an interim role at the conclusion of her student teaching. She then went on to begin her full-time teaching career in Rowan County before returning to Cabarrus County Schools as part of West Cabarrus High’s original opening staff in 2020.

“Our educational system is like a beautiful and thriving garden sanctuary, and I am the master gardener” said Fugle, who teaches Earth and Environmental science, AP Environment Science and Honors Botany. “In our gardens, we need all othe basics –the perfect location, structures and set-up, sunshine, access to nutrients, and just the right organisms balancing each other as they grow, thrive and produce a harvest.

“The master gardener tends to their environment with care, grace, knowledge, perseverance, and patience. In our educational system, we need the same basics to see our children thrive and flourish.”

Fugle, a National Geographic Certified Educator, has previously served as the 2018-19 NC Science Teachers District Six Outstanding Educator and currently is the District Six Director and will serve in that term through 2024. Fugle was also Salisbury High School’s Teacher of the Year in 2016-17.

"Carie Fugle is the epitome of who you want in front of children,” said West Cabarrus Principal Dr. Elizabeth Snyder. “She sparks the imagination, challenges their potential, nurtures them as human beings, and just doesn’t stop.

“West Cabarrus High School, our community, and Cabarrus County Schools are all so, so very proud to call her ours as she represents the excellence in this school and district so well.”

Fugle has served in many leadership capacities during her career, including being a mentor teacher, a collaborator on the Earth & Environmental Science curriculum writing team, a PLC lead, school improvement team, literacy design team member, and a presenter at several conferences.

Fugle earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte in 2009.

Congratulations, CCS Teacher of the Year Carie Fugle!

The CCS Teacher of the Year program honors those who positively impact their students, schools and communities alike and are teacher leaders at the school and district levels. Through this program, we seek to encourage those that stand out among their peers and inspire others to follow their lead.

The Cabarrus County Education Foundation supports CCS to create stimulating and engaging classrooms that inspire students to build their future. And no one is more important to the success of the classroom than the teacher. According to the Rand Corporation, a leading research nonprofit, “When it comes to student performance on reading and math tests, a teacher is estimated to have two to three times the impact of any other school factor.” Furthermore, the results of a 2012 Harvard study showed a good teacher can influence a student’s chances to attend college, earn more money, and even avoid teen pregnancy.

Each school nominates a Teacher of the Year who then continues through a rigorous selection process to determine the CCS Teacher of the Year.