James King is not just a teacher, he is also a civil engineer and architect who uses his wealth of knowledge to prepare high schoolers at Charlotte Engineering Early College in Charlotte for the rigors of college.

“I wouldn’t have the same level of success in college engineering courses, if it wasn’t for Mr. King,” said David Hogg, one of King’s former students. “While most teachers try to tell us what to do in the workforce, he’s telling us from experience. He always challenged me to be the best that I could be but he never held me to standards that I couldn’t reach.”

King doesn’t subscribe to the one size fits all approach to learning. He makes his engineering classes both fun and challenging while also creating the foundation for students to become problem solvers.

“You can take what is on the curriculum, but it’s those things in between that really make a difference,” said William Leach, principal of the school. “He brings those other things to the table. If it wasn’t for Mr. King, there’s no way that our engineering program would be as successful as it is.”

King’s expertise as a teacher and his dedication to preparing his students for college led to his selection as one of the 10 winners of the Education Lottery’s School Heroes program.

“I look back over the last seven years, and I start to see how these students are growing and becoming young adults,” King said. “There’s nothing like getting that email from a student saying they got into their dream college or got that scholarship.”

The Education Lottery created the NC School Heroes program to showcase the positive impacts teachers, principals, and other school workers have in public schools every day. Parents, teachers, and community members submitted more than 4,900 nominations of individuals making a difference in their schools.

Both the School Hero and their school receive a $10,000 award.

King said he plans to get a new computer, make some home repairs, and take a vacation. Leach said that the money will provide resources to teachers in the classroom.

“Teachers and school staff have all stepped up for our children during these unprecedented times,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “The 10 School Heroes selected this year provide a glimpse into the world of these everyday heroes and we are glad to shine a spotlight on their great work.”

Money raised by the lottery assists many of those School Heroes, including $386 million this school year that supports the work of school support staff such as office assistants and custodians. Additional money will help build and repair schools, support the N.C. Pre-K program for “at-risk” four-year-olds, provide college scholarships and grants based on financial need, and help meet school transportation needs.

The lottery raises more than $725 million a year for education. For details on how $60.5 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Mecklenburg County, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website, www.nclottery.com.