WEST COLUMBIA, SC – The Charter Institute at Erskine (the Institute) announced Jennifer Catoe, a Gray Collegiate Academy (GCA) high school teacher, as the 2026-2027 Nathan Yon Institute Brick-and-Mortar Teacher of the Year. This award was presented in front of more than 600 attendees at the Eighth Annual Charter Institute at Erskine Awards Banquet.

Each year, the Institute hosts the Banquet as part of its Teacher Retention Initiative, honoring the teachers, students, leaders, and school communities that make a difference across South Carolina.

Catoe is a high school social studies teacher with a concentration on U.S history and the Constitution. She has 17 years of experience in the South Carolina public school system, including four years at GCA.

Superintendent of the Charter Institute at Erskine Cameron Runyan, Institute Board Chair and Erskine College President Dr. Steven Adamson, Institute Board Member Randy Page, and 2025-2026 Nathan Yon Institute Teacher of the Year Aimee Connell presented Catoe with her award. Catoe received a commemorative trophy, a tiara and sash, flowers, and a gift from the family of Nathan Yon.  

For the second time, the Institute selected two Teacher of the Year honorees to represent the Institute’s growing virtual and brick-and-mortar portfolio, while also celebrating excellence in both types of schools. Catoe, a brick-and-mortar teacher, will co-represent the Institute with Dena Mixon, a virtual teacher from South Carolina Connections Academy.

Additionally, both Teachers of the Year will join the Institute Leaders Cohort and have the opportunity to participate in both a national trip and an international trip to visit schools and bring back new ideas for their schools.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this recognition from the Yon family and the Institute,” said Catoe. “At Gray Collegiate Academy, excellence is the expectation, and this mindset has allowed me to thrive as an educator and collaborate with other teachers who share the same goals. Every child in our state deserves access to an education that meets their unique needs and unlocks their full potential, and I am excited to represent the possibilities of school choice.” 

The Institute’s Teacher of the Year selection process is intensive and incorporates both in-person and online components. Institute schools nominate their Teachers of the Year, and then teachers apply to become the Institute Teacher of the Year. The Institute’s panel of judges, including the previous year’s Teacher of the Year, retired educators, and Institute staff, selects the top six finalists. 

“Ms. Catoe embodies everything a school leader hopes for in an educator,” said Dr. Brian Newsome, Principal of Gray Collegiate Academy. “Her dedication to student achievement is unmatched and the entire War Eagle family is incredibly proud to see her excellence recognized on a statewide level.”

Catoe and Mixon were chosen as finalists along with four other educators – Donna Bratcher (Belton Preparatory Academy), Hannah Visoskas (Berkeley Preparatory Academy), Anna Presley (Cyber Academy of South Carolina), and Melissa Boyd (South Carolina Virtual Academy). Finalists attended “Interview Day” at the Institute’s office in Columbia where they participated in a face-to-face interview and met Institute leadership.   

The Institute’s Teacher of the Year Award is named after Mr. Nathan Yon, a passionate educator who was set to open a charter school in Columbia but tragically passed away in a car accident before he was able to do so. Learn more about Mr. Yon and his legacy in this video.  

“Ms. Catoe’s track record at Gray Collegiate Academy proves that when you pair high expectations with a supportive classroom environment, students thrive,” said Superintendent Runyan. “We are looking forward to having Ms. Catoe carry on Nathan Yon’s legacy this year as she represents the Institute as our newest ambassador of school choice.”   

Gray Collegiate Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school currently serving grades 6-12 at campuses in West Columbia and Irmo. With a strong focus on dual-credit and college readiness, Gray prepares students for success in higher education and beyond. Expanding its successful model, the academy is now opening enrollment for elementary grades for the fall 2026 school year. The school is authorized by the Charter Institute at Erskine. For more information, visit www.graycollegiateacademy.org/.