The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce and Johnston County Public Schools celebrated the district’s top educators at the annual Flame for Learning Award ceremony in April. Front from left are Abigail Valdes, Carlos Jimenez, Gail Lawhorn, Robin Tingle, Shannon Gibson, Karen Newhart, Brandy Williams, finalist Amanda Jackson, Maria Eby, finalist Amanda Astoske and Lee Hudson. Back row, Johnston County Teacher of the Year Jennifer Beninate, Patience Spivey, Meredith Rakowski, LiAnn Cheong, Kristine Gear, JCPS Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy, Rachel Hardin, Will Marshall and Beverly Harper. Not pictured, finalist Melissa Pearce.
Four Oaks Elementary teacher receives FLAME FOR LEARNING AWARD Submitted by JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SELMA — Four Oaks Elementary School third grade teacher Jennifer Beninate was named the 2022 Johnston County Teacher of the Year at the annual Flame for Learning Award banquet in April. Because of the importance of teachers in developing and educating children, the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce 12 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]
adopted the Flame For Learning Award. Their goal is to support and elevate the teaching profession in the public schools. This award recognizes outstanding creativity and innovation in the classroom, and nominees are selected strictly on merit, without regard to school or residence. Through a blind judging process, 20 semifinalists were selected to move on to the interview phase and submitted a best practice from the classroom. The
semifinalists represented 18 schools from across Johnston County. The other finalists for the award were Amanda Astoske of SmithfieldSelma High, Amanda Jackson of South Smithfield Elementary and Melissa Pearce of Cleveland High. Beninate will move forward to represent Johnston County in the regional competition, which is a part of the competition for North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year. She received $1,000 for being
