The group includes Emily Simpson ’22, who was named Teacher of the Year at West Rowan Elementary School, and Shae Rowan ’24, who was named Beginning Teacher of the Year at West Rowan Elementary. Both awards were announced last spring.
This fall, three additional Goodman School of Education alumnae have been recognized. Kendall Driver ’25 was named Beginning Teacher of the Year at China Grove Elementary School, Ollie Mohammad ’25 was named Beginning Teacher of the Year at Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Elementary School, and Abby Hilton ’25 was named Beginning Teacher of the Year at West Rowan Elementary School. With Abby Hilton’s award, West Rowan Elementary has named Catawba alumnae Beginning Teacher of the Year in back-to-back years.
Together, these five awards offer a snapshot of the impact Goodman School of Education graduates are making in the local teaching profession. These awards reflect each alumna’s hard work and commitment to students. They also highlight the preparation and mentorship students receive through Catawba’s Goodman School of Education.
At Catawba, future educators develop more than the skills needed to become effective teachers. They build relationships with faculty, gain hands-on classroom experience, and learn to approach teaching with purpose, professionalism, and a commitment to their students.
Ollie Mohammad shared that the hard work and dedication of her School of Education professors have helped her “so much as a teacher.” She also reflected on the lasting impact the education program and its faculty make on future educators.
The fact that all five honorees are serving in Rowan-Salisbury Schools makes the recognition particularly meaningful for Catawba, which has a long-standing relationship with the school system.
Five alumnae. Five teaching awards. And countless students whose lives are being shaped by Catawba-trained educators. The Catawba Impact doesn't end at graduation. It goes with our graduates into every classroom they enter.
Good goes Far.
About Catawba College
Founded in 1851, Catawba College is a four-year, private liberal arts college located on a 276-acre campus, including a 189-acre ecological preserve, in Salisbury, N.C. Ranked as one of the best colleges in the South, Catawba is a learning community of nearly 1,400 students from 35 states and 45 nations, providing students with opportunities shaped by the Catawba Ideal: Scholarship with Character and Culture for Service. Additional information is available at catawba.edu.
