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Posted on: 5/7/25
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced the recipients of its prestigious Teacher of the Year, Teacher Assistant of the Year and Beginning Teacher of the Year awards at the third annual Gem Awards ceremony. The awards ceremony took place on May 6 at the Dale F. Halton Theater at Central Piedmont Community College.
The Gem Awards is a celebration of excellence in education, recognizing the extraordinary contributions of educators within CMS. This year, the spotlight shines on the remarkable accomplishments of the following recipients:
- Teacher of the Year: Gregory Gabriel, Winterfield Elementary School
- Beginning Teacher of the Year: Sean Bryant, Newell Elementary School
- Teacher Assistant of the Year: Freddie Pinkney, Ardrey Kell High School
“Teaching is a hard, yet rewarding, profession. Teachers teach way more than content,” said Dr. Crystal Hill, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “They teach students how to be curious, creative and confident. They help them become the people they are meant to be.”
Gabriel also received a vehicle courtesy of Honda of Concord and Hendrick Automotive Group. 
In addition to our winners, we also acknowledge and celebrate all the outstanding finalists for the 2024-25 Teacher of the Year, Beginning Teacher of the Year and Teacher Assistant of the Year awards (listed alphabetically by last name):
2024-25 Teacher of the Year Finalists:
- Gregory Gabriel, Winterfield Elementary School
- Tina N. Handie, Mountain Island Lake Academy
- Ashleigh Holub, Villa Heights Elementary School
- Kerrie Lalli, Sedgefield Montessori School
- Aileen Lopez, Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences
- Angela Noonan, Pinewood Elementary School
- Michael T. Sanders, J.T. Williams Secondary Montessori School
- Cathi Schulte, Endhaven Elementary School
- Holly Shelton, Quail Hollow Middle School
- Kalilah Smith, Mint Hill Middle School
- Steven Rusk, David W. Butler High School
2024-25 Beginning Teacher of the Year Finalists:
- Deirdre Augustine, Jay M. Robinson Middle School
- Lillie Brock, Bain Elementary School
- Arjge Brothers, University Park Creative Arts School
- Sean Bryant, Newell Elementary School
- Sarah Desmond, Selwyn Elementary School
- Lauren DeVitto, Paw Creek Elementary School
- Levi Erickson, Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology
- Sean Mondichak, Rocky River High School
- Raquel Rhodes, Oaklawn Language Academy
- Sandra B. Speight, Metro School
- Isabella Westervelt, J.M. Alexander Middle School
2024-25 Teacher Assistant of the Year Finalists:
- Rosa Elvira Coker, Sterling Elementary School
- Jodi Holnagel, Jay M. Robinson Middle School
- Mari Kirchner, Grand Oak Elementary School
- Daniel B. Lannak, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Academy
- Tangania Moffett, Myers Park High School
- Freddie Pinkney, Ardrey Kell High School
- Latasha Savage, Druid Hills Academy
- Antawan Smith, Alexander Graham Middle School
- Latesha Spears, Lawrence Orr Elementary School
- Lisa Surber, Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School
- Elizabeth Bundy Thomisser, Eastover Elementary School
CMS schools also recognized exceptional Teacher, Beginning Teacher and Teacher Assistant of the Year honorees. A list of those educators can be found here.
The Gem Awards serve as a testament to CMS’ commitment to recognizing and celebrating excellence in education. Through the dedication and passion of educators like Gabriel, Pinkney and Bryant, CMS continues to foster a culture of learning and achievement with endless possibilities.
