Izabella Botello, an English teacher at Statesville High School, has been selected as one of 27 finalists for the 2023 North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Empower Beginning Teacher of the Year Award. The finalists were selected based on their dedication, innovation, and ability to inspire students to achieve. Botello will represent the district during Teacher Leadership Week at the NCCAT Cullowhee campus where the winner and runner-up will be announced.