By Cassie Honeycutt, Staff Writer
Tapestries draped across the ceiling to filter the harsh fluorescent lights. Gaming chairs and beanbags scattered across the floor to replace the hard classroom desks. And all those books – lining practically every inch of the room from floor to ceiling.
This is the room of Teacher of the Year, Lauren Deal.
In many ways, Deal’s room describes many of her qualities perfectly.
“She is student-focused, committed to excellence, and creative and imaginative,” Interim Principal Caroline Pearce said. “All one has to do is walk in her classroom to know that.”
Deal received the award Wednesday in a ceremony in the rotunda. She was nominated by her peers during the fourth quarter and then chosen from the pool of other nominees by a board consisting of previous Teacher of the Year recipients.
“She is an excellent representative of what is good about education. She believes in quality and not quantity. She believes in kids,” Pearce said. “If that doesn’t qualify to be the teacher of the year then I don’t know what does.”
With none of the teachers having prior knowledge about the award, Deal was shocked when her name was announced – and even more so when her family from central North Carolina appeared in the rotunda to surprise her.
“It means a lot to me to know that my peers thought that highly of me and that I will be able to speak to next year’s seniors at graduation,” Deal said. “I’m blindsided by the whole thing.”
Deal had wanted to become a teacher for as long as she could remember. She just completed her 14th year teaching overall and her sixth year at First Flight High School. In addition to teaching English classes, she also serves as the theater director and prom committee sponsor, leading to endless long nights in the building with students in every grade level.
“I really love working with students and that’s where I feel at home,” Deal said.
Her passion for teaching and working with students has made Deal grow as both a person and a teacher.
“My first year as a teacher was a train wreck,” Deal said. “I have made all kinds of spectacular mistakes in my career, but I’ve also had some amazing and unforgettable moments, and those are the ones that I tried to build on instead of building on the spectacular mistakes.”
With Deal building on her unforgettable moments, she plans to continue her impact on Dare County Schools in every way possible.
“I am going to keep buying books, I am going to keep directing, and keep doing everything I can to make my students’ high school experience as positive as possible,” Deal said.
Exceptional Children’s teacher Joe Tyson was named Teacher of the Year last year and will speak at Friday’s graduation ceremony. Others honored Wednesday as Distinguished Teachers – those who also were considered for Teacher of the Year – were English teachers Christy May and Crissie Weeks, math teacher Sam DeWitt, journalism teacher Steve Hanf, EC teacher Lela Ingram, nursing teacher Jennifer Kovacs and Adobe teacher Jessie McClary.
Cassie Honeycutt is a rising junior who will serve as features editor of Nighthawk News Magazine for the 2019-20 school year. She can be reached at 21honeycuttca35@daretolearn.org.
