Justin Deal
This honor places Justin Deal among an outstanding group of district and charter school educators from across North Carolina, each recognized for their excellence in career and technical education pathways and their commitment to fostering student success.
CTE Director Crystal Hoke says, “I could not be more proud of Chief Justin Deal and this well-deserved recognition. His passion for students, dedication to public safety, and commitment to serving our community are evident in everything he does. He has created opportunities that change lives while helping build the next generation of firefighters, emergency responders, and community leaders. This honor reflects the tremendous difference he makes every day.”
NCCAT, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and the North Carolina Association for Career and Technical Education (NCACTE), developed the CTE Teacher of the Year award to honor outstanding CTE educators, encourage teacher leadership, and emphasize the importance of CTE instruction in North Carolina public schools.
“Chief Deal has built our Public Safety and Fire Academy Program from the ground up, focusing entirely on preparing his students for successful careers in service. His unique ability to empower students gives them the confidence and life saving skills needed to become true community heroes. Chief Deal consistently models the humility and dedication he teaches, making a profound and lasting impact on the lives of our students every single day. We are so honored and blessed to have such a quality individual changing students’ lives every day at Alexander Central High School,” says ACHS principal Brian Lewis.
The 24 finalists will attend a week of professional development from October 26-30, 2026. The winner will be announced during a recognition event on October 29, 2026, at the Embassy Suites in Concord, North Carolina.
ACS Superintendent Dr. Bill Griffin says, “We are extremely proud of Chief Deal and honored that he is an integral part of serving our students.”
In recent years, North Carolina has put a special emphasis on promoting Career and Technical Education classes.
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green says the focus is on purpose.
“Last year, North Carolina public school students earned 382,964 career and technical education credentials, the most in our state’s history. Numbers like that do not happen by accident. They happen because of the CTE teachers in classrooms across North Carolina who pour their hearts into preparing students for what comes next. These twenty-four finalists are an extraordinary representation of that work,” says Green.
Deal may be best known to all students and community members for organizing the Prom Promise each year. The mock crash is designed to be a sobering wake-up call that transitions directly into a call to action. By witnessing the worst-case scenario, students are empowered to actively choose a different path, reinforcing the peer-led promise to keep themselves and their classmates alive.
Awards and Recognition, presented by the Development Foundation of NCCAT, Inc., include:
The NCCAT CTE Teacher of the Year will receive:
$5,000 cash prize
Instructional supply funds for their school
Three-year membership in NCACTE
Participation in the national ACTE Conference as the NC ACTE Teacher of the Year representative
The Runner-Up will receive:
$2,000 cash prize
Three-year membership in NCACTE
All Finalists will receive:
Travel and substitute costs for the week of NCCAT professional development
One-year membership in NCACTE
About NCCAT:
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) supports teachers and impacts students through exemplary professional development programs. By increasing teacher effectiveness, NCCAT strengthens public education across the state. NCCAT equips educators with innovative teaching methods, best practices, and resources to take back to their classrooms. To learn more about NCCAT’s programs, visit www.nccat.org or call 828-293-5202.
About the Burroughs Wellcome Fund:
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) is a private foundation dedicated to advancing biomedical sciences and supporting the next generation of scientific researchers and educators. With a strong commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in science, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund has made a significant investment in the realm of STEM education. In the past 25 years, BWF has invested more than $100 million to support initiatives and networks in STEM education. In addition to funding, BWF provides opportunities for interactions with colleagues and engagement with the broader community of educators and grant recipients across other BWF education programs. BWF’s focus on support of education highlights the belief in the pivotal role it plays in shaping the future of scientific discovery and addressing complex global challenges.