New Hanover County Schools
Hear from Elizabeth Felts about the inspiration of students beyond the classroom at New Hanover County Schools.
Meet Elizabeth Felts
Teacher Ambassador
The best asset of New Hanover County Schools is the teacher leaders who dedicate their lives to making this a great district for each and every student. I am constantly in awe of so many teachers across the district who are innovative, persistent, collaborative, and purposeful. I love learning from fellow teachers on ways to empower students, families, and other staff and how to create more positive and equitable school cultures.
Teaching
- 9th Grade English 1 Teacher, 11th and 12th Grade Honors Service Learning
Awards
- New Hanover County Schools Educator of the Year, 2020-2021
- 9th/10th Grade Bridge Program Curriculum Creator and Facilitator, August 2018-2020
- YWCA Women of Achievement Nominee, Education, 2019
- New Hanover County Schools Equity Workgroup, July 2019-present
- Open Gate Domestic Violence Shelter and Services Impact Award Winner, Education, 2018
- Beginning Teacher Mentor, 2018-present
- WILMA Magazine Women to Watch Nominee, Education, 2018
- North Carolina Service Learning Coalition, board member and co-chair, 2018-present
- New Hanover County Schools Emerging Leaders Program, Vision Casting Team co-chair, September 2017-present
- Honors Service Learning Curriculum Creator and Facilitator, February 2014-present
- Beginning Teacher Promise of Leadership Award, 2012-2013
Teacher Certification Program
Why I Teach
My students are who inspire me to teach day-in and day-out. They amaze me with their resilience, insight, and desire to make a difference. I work as hard as I can in order to provide them the learning opportunities that they deserve to have. I love seeing them wrestle with a question, spark a conversation, help one another, consider new ideas, and use their gifts and talents to change the world. I love their joy, excitement, and laughter, and that motivates me to try to create more moments of that throughout the school year. I am also supremely inspired when I see what they have done beyond my classroom. I love hearing updates on the educational and career paths that they have selected, and I try to stay connected to many of my former students. When they tell me that they still think of something we talked about or did in my class, then I remember that I am planting seeds that I may never see bloom but are worth planting every day.