Lenoir County Public Schools announced their annual awards, including 2020-21 Teacher and Principal of the Year.

“Congratulations to your 2020-21 Teacher of the Year, our 2020-21 Principal of the Year and all the teachers and staff members receiving special recognition,” said a statement on Facebook. “We celebrate you all!”

The 2020-21 LCPS Teacher of the Year, chosen from 18 nominees and three finalists, is Ryan Gardner at South Lenoir High School.

Gardner is the Science Department chair at South Lenoir and has been a teacher there since 2001. In addition to being a National Board Certified Teacher, Gardner was named Kenan Fellow for Teacher Leadership in 2013.

“As a teacher, I feel I have helped to craft an empowered and intelligent flock of students who will make the world better than it was before they were a part of it,” said Gardner.

Gardner was also selected LCPS Teacher of the Year for 2005-2006. His honors in education include a regional Outstanding Science Teaching Award from NCSTA, an Inspirational Teaching Award from N.C. State University and selection in 2018 as an NCSU Sustainable Bioproducts and Bioenergy Professional Development Program Scholar.

The 2020-21 LCPS Principal of the Year is Lorene Bell at La Grange Elementary.

“My goal is to leave students and staff with a wonderful impression of the school, a lifelong love of learning, and the desire to reach their full potential,” Bell said. “I truly believe that the school has been and will continue to be an incredible, thriving environment under my guidance and leadership.”

Bell began her career with LCPS more than 30 years ago as a teacher at Banks Elementary School. She served as an assistant principal at Rochelle Middle School before becoming principal at Northeast Elementary School in 2014. She was named principal of La Grange Elementary School in 2016.

“Teacher of the Year Ryan Gardner of South Lenoir High School and Principal of the Year Lorene Bell of La Grange Elementary School have both devoted their professional lives to the public school students of Lenoir County and have earned these singular honors as the result of the skill and dedication they have shown over long careers,” said Patrick Holmes, public information officer for Lenoir County Public Schools. “They are respected by their current students, remembered fondly by former students and held in high esteem by their colleagues. LCPS is fortunate to have many exceptional teachers and principals and choosing two to represent the best of their respective roles in education is always difficult, but anyone who has been in Mr. Gardner's classroom or Mrs. Bell's school knows how worthy they are of this recognition.”

Also acknowledged by LCPS include the 2020-21 Teacher Assistant of the Year, Betty Sawyer of Northeast Elementary, and the 2020-21 Classified Employee of the Year, Retenner Neal of Northeast Elementary.