Noal Castater
2020-21 Kenan Fellows Recipient
Waynesville Middle School
Haywood County Schools
EmPowering Education
Danielle Wittekind, Tom Batchelor, Ken Thomas and Jennifer Heiss Haywood EMC and North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

Project
I will introduce students to the co-op model by tasking them with learning how to provide a service—selling lemonade. Students must create a business plan, and in the process learn about cost control and other aspects of running a business. In addition, I will organize career fairs for high school and middle school students to learn about employment opportunities at Haywood EMC.

Internship
My internship was absolutely outstanding. I was able to meet so many bright and helpful community members at Haywood EMC, and I enjoyed learning about electric cooperatives, and brainstorming ways to incorporate what I have learned in my classroom.

Your Support
Thanks to Haywood EMC and NC’s Electrical Cooperatives for this opportunity. Never in my wildest dreams, would I have thought I would have had such a great experience, but the best part is the new knowledge that I am bringing back to my students.
Read more on kenanfellows.org.

A Message from the Director
On behalf of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership, I am pleased to update you on the exceptional progress of our 2020–21 Kenan Fellows. To date, this cohort of 18 high-performing educators from 12 counties across North Carolina have completed at least 56 hours of professional development and leadership training, and at least 120 hours in their research or industry internships (virtually and in-person).
Despite these challenging times, the Fellows have adapted to the demands of teaching during a pandemic while working countless hours to design and implement relevant and engaging educational materials as part of their fellowships. The Fellows are preparing these valuable resources not only for use in their classrooms but to share with other educators in their schools, districts, and across the state.
Please take a moment to read about the progress that your partnership is creating in North Carolina’s traditional and charter public schools, and we hope you will continue to partner with us to enrich the careers of teachers as well as improve the learning experiences for students in your community and beyond.
Best regards,
Elaine Franklin, Director, Kenan Fellows Program

“I will never forget seeing the world from atop a 30-foot-high bucket truck. This has been an exhilarating experience.”