
Cardinal Gibbons High School Principal, Jason Curtis, and Mrs. Joan Troy, Recipient of the 2011-2012 Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching
Started in January 1992, the Lewis Award is designed to recognize, promote and encourage excellence in teaching in the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Raleigh, according to the Diocese’s website. Troy is the third Gibbons educator to be given the award, considered the highest award given by the Diocese to a Catholic school educator. Rebecca Dason, chair of the Fine Arts Department, received the award in 1996, and science teacher Susan Goethals received it in 2009.

Mrs. Joan Troy with balloon bouquet announcing her election
“This is the biggest honor anyone can receive,” Troy said, her voice cracking with emotion. “This is my home. This is what I love to do. I am so thankful.”
Principal Curtis described Troy as a truly outstanding educator and blessing to the Gibbons school community. “Joan’s passion for teaching and her creativity in the classroom are evident, even when teaching two such apparently different subjects: math and chorus,” he added. “Part of her success is certainly due to both talent and hard work, but I believe that the magic in her teaching is her remarkable commitment to each individual student.”

Bob Troy greets his wife with the Lewis Award announcement
Troy has been teaching for 26 years, 15 of them at Cardinal Gibbons. In her time at Gibbons, she has, among other things, served as chair of the math department, encouraged students to start a musical theatre club and served as the club moderator, and made a significant impact on the tremendous growth in the school’s spiritual life program.
She earned her B.S. in mathematics from Greensboro College, and a M.Ed. in mathematics from Campbell University. Troy has been recognized as a Distinguished Educator and Mentor by the NCSU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and as a Woodrow Wilson Master Teacher by Princeton University.
“There is no higher compliment to a teacher than to know that her students seek to be educators because of her influence and example,” Curtis noted. “Joan has been that teacher to many students who continue her example in education today.”
Article by Rachelle Garbarine

Mrs. Joan Troy with her students
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