In 1993, the first North Carolina Great Teachers Retreat (originally called the Great Blue Ridge Teacher Retreat) was first held at Camp Kanuga in Hendersonville, North Carolina. This retreat was a direct result of Dr. Kathy Matlock (Dean of Instruction at Blue Ridge Community College) deciding to have Blue Ridge Community College sponsor a retreat after hearing David Gottshall (founder of the GTM) present information about the GTM at a national conference.
Dr. Matlock designated Julie Thompson, Director of the Blue Ridge Community College Career Development Center, to coordinate the event. Retreats were held in 1993 and 1994 with no retreat held in 1995. However, in 1996 the 3rd annual retreat was held followed by retreats in 1997 and 1998. Julie left her Coordinator’s position in 1998 and the responsibilities of the retreat were forwarded to Steve Smith (faculty member at Richmond CC) until he left the college in 2006. In 2007, Kay Crouch (Caldwell CC&TI) assumed duties as seminar coordinator. In 2013, 1st Person Seminars Higher Education Consulting, LLC was formed as an entrepreneurial venture by Steve Smith to provide professional learning in higher education & business settings. Since Kay retired in 2013 from CCC&TI, 1PS handled the registration, payment, and event logistics. The 2016 seminar was moved from Hendersonville, NC to Salter Path, NC (Trinity Center). In 2017, Pete Golden, Director of the Teaching and Learning Center at Sandhills Community College assumed the administrative duties (registration, payment, and event logistics.) After he retired in 2021, Ronda Hawkins, SCC Early Childhood Professor, became the NC Great Teacher Seminar Coordinator. In 2021 and 2022 the seminar was offered virtually due to COVID restrictions. The 2023 seminar is being held in-person at the Trinity Center in Salter Path, NC. The NCGTS continues to be conducted on a cost recovery basis.
For more information:
“The Definitive History of the North Carolina Great Teachers Retreat”, Steve Smith (2008) (click HERE for the original 2003 version)