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CMS announces teachers of the year awards for 2017

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools named Deanna Cureton of Charlotte Early Engineering College the 2017 Teacher of the Year.

Steven Randolph of Allenbrook Elementary is the 2017 Teacher Assistant of the Year.

The awards were announced at a ceremony at East Mecklenburg High School on Wednesday.

Cureton teaches English Honors II and serves as the 10th grade team leader.

She joined CEEC last year teaching freshmen and will follow her students all the way to graduation.

"After 16 years of teaching, it's completely changed the type of teacher that I am," Cureton said. "My lessons are focused on collaboration and project-based learning. It's made me a better teacher. My students have benefited from having a voice and a say and a choice. They're very involved in the learning process."

Cureton received $1,500 from signature sponsors Charles G. Monnett III & Associates, a one-year lease on a new car from Keffer Volkswagen, a television from the National Teachers Association and free lifetime alignment on her car from Griffin Brothers Tire and Auto.

She also received a gift bag from Classroom Central.

Learn more about Cureton here.

Randolph teaches at Allenbrook Elementary and received $750 from award sponsor Charles G. Monnett III & Associates. He also received a television from the National Teachers Association and free lifetime alignment from Griffin Brothers Tire and Auto.

As a second-grader in Randolph, N.C., Randolph was not a strong student.

"My grades weren't great. I was really struggling," he recalls.

After encouragement from his mother and teacher, Randolph decided to make a change.

"I worked really hard on improving my grades. I got mostly As and set a third-grade record. It was a big change for me and I received a lot of recognition. Once I turned it around, I never turned back," he said.

Randolph is one of six children and was the first in his family to graduate from high school.

Read more about him here.

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