High school history teacher Todd Gealy was named a 2024 Morehead-Cain Impact Educator. Semifinalists for the Morehead-Cain Class of 2028 identified 445 educators teaching in the US and internationally who are shaping young leaders. Twenty educators were part of the inaugural cohort of Impact Educators recognized last year.
In a statement released by Morehead-Cain online, Chris Bradford, president of Morehead-Cain, said, "We are proud to recognize 445 outstanding educators who ignite the spark of curiosity in our future leaders. Their dedication, passion, and impact shape hearts and minds and lay the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. We thank these teachers for being architects of hope."
Gealy was nominated for the honor by NRCA Morehead-Cain semifinalist Oyinda Idowu, a student in Gealy's AP United States History class last year. "I nominated Mr. Gealy because it was very evident that he put a lot of hard work into his lesson plans, and that certainly paid off. His doing his part as a teacher allowed everyone in my class to do well," Idowu said. "I didn't know that I would enjoy American history that much, but he just knew how to make the class really interesting."
Before choosing education as his profession, Gealy was in college ministry. He realized that the gifts and talents God had given him in ministry also applied to teaching.
"I wanted to impact students for Christ through education. I try to move beyond just the X's and O's of the class content. I try to make a personal connection with [the students] and really make the class super engaging to get them thinking about the ideas we're talking about. I think in history, it can seem like just a bunch of random facts that maybe don't relate. But then you can help them to see, like, 'Oh, wow, this actually does relate to me.' Everything we're doing in class is a way to try to get them to think about these issues and how they connect to modern day," Gealy said.
He also cites his classroom environment as key to connecting and communicating with his students. "I try to create a good vibe in the classroom, where every student feels welcome, cared for, and fully known," he said.
Gealy is in his second year of teaching at NRCA. Before he arrived in Raleigh, he taught at an international school in Thailand. "We're very excited and proud to have Mr. Gealy on staff. When we hired him from Thailand, we knew we were getting a five-star teacher. This recognition just validates that," said Bruce Dial, NRCA's high school principal.
In addition to his AP US History classes, Gealy teaches Honors US History.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Morehead-Cain Scholarship was the first merit-based scholarship in the US. Recipients receive a fully funded education at the flagship university, complete with world-class opportunities in summer programs and extracurricular experiences.