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Charlotte educator nominated for Kelly and Michael's Top Teacher

CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte teacher has been nominated for Kelly and Michael's 2015 Top Teacher.

Timothy Fowler, a teacher at Highland Renaissance Academy, is a top 12 finalist for “The Kelly and Michael Show” competition. Voting for the top four finalists is open on the show’s website, it lasts until 8 a.m. Wednesday.

VISIT Kelly and Michael's page to vote for Fowler.

Highland Renaissance Academy's principal told Fowler on Thursday that he had been nominated. On Monday, everyone at the school found out about the nomination. During the show Tuesday morning Fowler heard he was selected as a top 12 finalist.

"I was just amazed when I saw my face. I didn't know, I just knew I was a candidate," he said.

Fowler was nominated by Beverly Davis. Her daughter was in Fowler's pre-K class at Morehead Oak Elementary School eight years ago.

Read the letter here.

Fowler started a non-profit in 2009, the Boys to Men Foundation. This program offers mentoring, character building and anger management to 50 boys. Davis' son participates in the program, which meets at the Stratford-Richardson YMCA.

Fowler said although it means a lot to him, it means even more for his students.

Highland Renaissance Academy is a Title I school. Many of the students come from low-income households; some live in shelters and are homeless.

If Fowler is selected as a top four finalist he will be flown to New York to attend the show. However, he said he wished Kelly and Michael would come to Charlotte instead.

"I think it's more for (the kids) than me," Fowler said. "I wish they would come here and see the kids instead of me coming to New York, because I want them to see what Charlotte is about."