Tony Johnson Named ECPPS CTE Teacher of the Year

Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools (ECPPS) is proud to announce Tony Johnson, a CTE teacher at Northeastern High School, as the district’s 2026-2027 Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Johnson has served in education since 1996 and has been part of Northeastern High School since 2012. He teaches Technology Education, Project Lead the Way, and Aviation Academy courses, where he provides students with hands-on learning experiences that build both technical skills and real-world confidence.

A graduate of Elizabeth City State University, Mr. Johnson holds bachelor’s degrees in Technology Education and Psychology. He has also earned Project Lead the Way certifications through Duke University, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Mr. Johnson serves as CTE Department Head and a mentor, supporting others across the school community. He is also an accomplished coach, leading cross country and track and field, serving as a conference meet director, and earning North Eastern Conference Coach of the Year honors multiple times.

Mr. Johnson’s passion for career and technical education is rooted in his own student experience.

“I have been a fan of CTE since Mr. Oscar Spence’s Technology Education class at Elizabeth City Junior High in the late 1980s,” said Johnson. “I believe CTE courses allow students to gain lifelong technical and hands-on skills. Those skills can be as simple as using hand tools or as complex as programming robots.”

ECPPS Director of Career and Technical Education Morgan Murray shared that Mr. Johnson’s impact reaches far beyond the classroom.

“Mr. Johnson goes above and beyond integrating STEM to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences that inspire students to explore, create, and lead. His dedication to student success is evident in the meaningful relationships he builds and the individualized support he provides,” said Murray.

Nominated by his peers, Mr. Johnson will represent Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools as its candidate for the 2027 NCCAT Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) CTE Teacher of the Year program honors exceptional educators across the state for their impact on students and the future workforce. Finalists participate in an intensive professional development experience, with the statewide winner announced at a recognition celebration in fall 2026.

ECPPS congratulates Mr. Johnson on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates his continued commitment to preparing students for success in college, careers, and beyond.