Joseph Noble (center) with other recipients of awards at the NCATA awards banquet. Photo courtesy Lenoir County Public Schools CTE / Facebook

A Lenoir County Public Schools teacher was recognized recently for inspiring students to follow in his footsteps. 

South Lenoir High School agriculture teacher Joseph Noble received the 2019 Teacher of Teachers Award from the N.C. Agriculture Teachers Association (NCATA) at their annual awards banquet in Greensboro July 16. The award recognizes the fact that four of Noble’s former students have gone on to become teachers of agriculture themselves. 

Noble said he is about to begin his 24th year of teaching, and it meant a lot to have his contribution to his students’ lives recognized.

“In our profession, you strive to make a difference in kids’ lives, and you’re hoping that you do that each day. This recognition reminds me that you can have a major impact on a student and their future decisions about their careers,” Noble said.

In addition to the students who have become agriculture teachers, Noble said many of his students have become teachers of other subjects. Any time one of his students chooses to become a teacher, Noble said he is touched to think of the impact they will have on other kids.

Given the importance of agriculture to the Lenoir County economy, Noble said he is always pleased to introduce students who might not have intended to find a career in agriculture to the wide variety of opportunities to be found in the agricultural sector. 

“We get a lot of students that don’t realize, when they take the course, there are so many job opportunities that support the agriculture industry in our state,” Noble said. “From the outside looking in, sometimes you have to break the stereotype that to work in agriculture, you have to be seated on a tractor.” 

According to their website, the NCATA “is a professional organization dedicated to the enhancement and support of the state and local Agriculture Education Programs and NCATA Members.” The organization was founded in 1939, and is associated with a national organization of agricultural educators.