Snow HIll - Greene Central High School has recently named  their teacher of the year for this school year. This year Joanne Piner Duncan was chosen as the Ram’s Teacher of the Year. 

This is Duncan’s 15th year teaching with the past six being at Greene Central. She shared that her time at GCHS has “been the best experience of my career.” She graduated from ECU with a BS in Child Development and Family Relations. She entered education through lateral entry and currently teaches Culinary Arts Levels I, II, and III. 

She shared “The hardest hurdle I have had to overcome in my career is to realize that students need consequences for their negative behavior. Sure, they don’t like to be held accountable, hate the consequence but they do learn respect.” Her words of wisdom with her students are “Say what you mean, mean what you say”.

Duncan shared “The absolute best part of my job is that I get to work with students and teach them life skills. I provide the tools and opportunities for students to showcase their culinary skills. I am so proud of how far many have come and their pride and sense of accomplishment they have serving their finished product to an appreciative audience!” 

Duncan said that the most important thing that has guided her career is that you have to find something you love and to model love and respect for all of the students.

Dr. Patrick Greene, Principal of GCHS shared “Joanne Duncan is the epitome of a servant leader for students. Her desire to provide opportunities for students to learn and showcase their learning is the hallmark of her program at Greene Central High School. Between teaching skills that transfer into life or a profession to celebrating student accomplishments by allowing them to do their best in front of their peers and our community, Mrs. Duncan holds a level of professional competency that everyone in our building can recognize. “

When Duncan is not in the classroom she can be found spending time with her husband of 38 years. Duncan has 2 children JP and Hailey. She is the proud grandma to a grand cat and dog. Recently she and her husband also have added a puppy named Gracie to their family.

Finally, she shared that “I LOVE the salt water, sand, seafood, and anything related to the coast! I was “born and bred” in Carteret County” She shared that a large side of the family still lives there – 3 brothers, their wives, niece, nephews, and great-niece, and my 92-year-old mom.  She ended our conversation with “Family is everything.”

Duncan goes onto compete for the title of Greene County Teacher of the Year which will be announced in May.