Congratulations to Caleb Snell, a social studies teacher at Hickory Ridge High School, who has been named the 2024-25 Cabarrus County Schools Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Dr. John Kopicki made the announcement Thursday night at the conclusion of the district’s “Celebration of Excellence” ceremony at Great Wolf Lodge. 

"Caleb Snell embodies the essence of excellence in education, igniting a spark in every student they encounter,” Kopicki said. “His unwavering dedication, innovative approach, and boundless compassion set a standard of inspiration for us all. Mr. Snell is not just shaping minds, but he is shaping futures, and we are incredibly proud to have him represent our district as the Teacher of the Year."  

Snell has spent his entire 13-year teaching career in Cabarrus County, starting with a semester at Jay M. Robinson High School in the fall of 2011 before transitioning to Hickory Ridge High School, where he has served as a social studies teacher since January 2012. 

“In teaching any class, I do my best to model a high level of moral responsibility, love of learning, passion for the subject, and continuous preparedness to do my part in shaping students to be the best version of themselves,” said Snell. "I attempt this by approaching every lesson with meaningfulness in mind and being attentive to the needs of my class, and for the simple fact that I truly want to be there. The students can also tell. They know I want to be there, and my attendance record would prove it.” 

Snell has served his school and peers as a PLC+ activator and a Mentor Teacher. He has led many school-level professional development sessions including Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Emotional Poverty, Socratic Seminar and a study of the book, “Culturize.” 

Snell is known around the campus at Hickory Ridge High School as someone who freely gives his time in a multitude of ways – whether it be by sponsoring a video game club, coaching VEX Robotics, or serving as the school’s public address announcer at home basketball games. 

“I’ve always hated the harsh reality that there are kids walking the halls who probably feel unnoticed or invisible,” said Snell. “This is a group of kids who might not really be affiliated with much of anything, but they do show up to school each day not knowing if or where they even belong. They don’t have arts, sports, band, or clubs, so they just simply are there.  

“I love to try to find outlets for these types of kids, which is probably why I’ve been propositioned into hosting a million clubs over the years. I ran a video game club for five years which became a safe place for a large group of invisible kids, and kids with special needs. Those kids began to stop me in my classroom all the time, simply to ask about when the next meeting would be, or when we could do an after-school special and stay even longer because they finally fit in somewhere. How could I blame them? They found a place to belong.” 

Snell earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte in 2011. 

Teachers of the Year are chosen annually at each of CCS’ 45 schools. Finalists are then selected from those 45 candidates. Joining Snell as finalists for the district Teacher of the Year were A.T. Allen Elementary’s Morgan Foster, Katy Leonard from J.N. Fries Middle, Emily McConnell from Hickory Ridge Elementary, Kynlon Treadaway from Weddington Hills Elementary, and April Vermeire from Boger Elementary. 

Congratulations, CCS Teacher of the Year Caleb Snell!