Gaston County teacher wins prestigious regional honor
Bobbie Cavnar of South Point High School is the Southwest Region Teacher of the Year
Bobbie Cavnar, an English teacher at South Point High School in
Belmont, was named the 2015-2016 Regional Teacher of the Year during an
announcement at the school on December 17. He will compete against eight
other regional winners for the North Carolina Teacher of the Year title.
Cavnar has 16 years of experience in education, spending the past 12
years at South Point High School where he teaches English. He is a graduate
of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in English Education,
and he earned a master’s degree in English from UNC-Charlotte. He was
named the Gaston County Teacher of the Year in May.
“It is an honor and privilege to represent the Charlotte region as the
Teacher of the Year,” stated Cavnar. “As the Regional Teacher of the Year, I
want to continue to be a voice for students and teachers and do all that I
can to promote our public schools. We have great schools in Gaston County
and across the region, and I am so excited to represent all teachers in the
Charlotte area. This is a wonderful opportunity, and I am so grateful.”
Students say they enjoy being in Cavnar’s class because he is “very
engaging, asks our opinion on things, and values what we say and believe.”
Another student said, “He makes you want to come to school; he teaches life
lessons, not just English.” When asked what makes Cavnar’s class different
from others, one student replied, “Every year, everyone looks forward to
getting into his class and then when you are finally there, it exceeds your
expectations.”
Cavnar is the fourth Gaston County Schools teacher in the past six
years to win the regional recognition. Thomas Plecnik, who taught at
Rhyne Elementary School and is now an instructional specialist at Woodhill
Elementary School, was the Regional Teacher of the Year in 2010-2011.
Lenora Crabtree, who taught science at Forestview High School, won the
award in 2011-2012, and Julian Wilson, the band director at York Chester
Middle School, earned the recognition in 2012-2013.
Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker stated, “Having the Regional Teacher of the Year four times in six years shows the quality
of teachers we have in Gaston County Schools. Our teachers are committed to the education profession and take pride in helping children
to learn, grow and thrive. We have successful schools in Gaston County because of teachers like Bobbie Cavnar who give their all to our
students.”
Booker added, “We are extremely proud of Bobbie Cavnar. He is an energetic, impressive teacher who understands and values public
school education. He is one of the most popular teachers at South Point High School because of his incredible ability to connect with students
and challenge and inspire them. Bobbie Cavnar is most deserving of the prestigious Regional Teacher of the Year honor because he is among
the ‘best of the best’ in the teaching profession.”
Keana Triplett of Ashe County Schools and the current North Carolina Teacher of the Year announced Cavnar as the Southwest Region
Teacher of the Year during a surprise assembly program in the school’s auditorium.
Cavnar was chosen as the Southwest Region Teacher of the Year from a group of school district level winners in a 10-county region:
Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union.
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8 • March/April 2016 • Parent Teacher News