Hicks Named 2027 NC CTE Teacher of the Year
Eastern Wayne High School agriculture teacher Christopher Hicks won the state's top career and technical education teaching honor.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Christopher Hicks, an agriculture education teacher at Eastern Wayne High School in Wayne County, was named the 2027 NC CTE Teacher of the Year at a celebration held at the Concord Convention Center. Caroline McKee was named runner-up.
Why it matters
The award recognizes career and technical education programs that prepare North Carolina students for work after graduation. North Carolina public schools earned over 380,000 industry recognized career and technical credentials in the 2024-25 school year.
The award carries a $5,000 cash prize for Hicks and a $2,000 prize for runner-up Caroline McKee, along with instructional supplies funding and a three-year NCACTE membership. Hicks has also raised over $400,000 in grants for programs in fruit production, greenhouse and hydroponic systems, school-based dog grooming, and agricultural mechanics.
The players
Christopher Hicks
An agriculture education teacher at Eastern Wayne High School who has built fruit production, greenhouse, hydroponic, and dog grooming programs for students.
Caroline McKee
A teacher at Trinity High School in Randolph County who was named runner-up for the 2027 NC CTE Teacher of the Year award.
Michaelle Overman
The 2026 NC CTE Teacher of the Year who presented the 2027 award to Hicks at the celebration event.
The details
Hicks was recognized by the 2026 NC CTE Teacher of the Year, Michaelle Overman, at the celebration event. He has created online courses to expand access to his programs, and he will represent North Carolina at the national Association for Career & Technical Education conference.
Timeline
2024-25 school year: North Carolina public schools earned over 380,000 industry recognized credentials.
November 2026: Celebration event recognized North Carolina CTE teachers at the Concord Convention Center.
December 2026: The NC CTE Superintendent of the Year winner will be announced at the North Carolina School Superintendent's Association winter conference.
Season Trajectory
The NCCAT Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina CTE Teacher of the Year award continues an annual recognition cycle that honors career and technical educators across the state. Hicks's selection follows the 2026 award won by Michaelle Overman.
Students in North Carolina high schools who take agriculture, greenhouse, or hydroponic courses may gain access to programs modeled on Hicks's work at Eastern Wayne High School. Hicks has also created online courses that extend access beyond his own school.
The takeaway
Career and technical education programs can connect classroom learning to hands-on careers, and Hicks's online courses show how such programs can reach students beyond a single school.
What happens next
The NC CTE Superintendent of the Year winner will be announced at the North Carolina School Superintendent's Association winter conference in December.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education for context on career and technical programs in North Carolina high schools.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EdNC.
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