Eric Eaton is a veteran teacher with 32 years experience teaching middle grades social studies. A proud product of North Carolina’s public schools, he is a 1993 NC Teaching Fellows graduate of Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education/History. Eric is National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence/Social Studies-History. In 2023-2024 Eric was named a Kenan Fellow through the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at N.C. State and has continued to serve on Faculty for the Kenan Fellows program. Eric was recognized as Polk County Schools Teacher of the Year in 2013-2014 and again in 2023-2024.
Throughout his career, Eric has served in various roles such as a consultant for Gibbs-Smith, Publisher, the North Carolina Museum of History Teacher Advisory Board, NCDPI Social Studies Standards Revision group, and App State’s Empowering Teacher Learning Project.
Eric is especially passionate about reaching students and educators in rural school districts and getting students to engage in hands-on learning, integrating social studies with other curricular areas, as well as getting students outdoors as part of their learning experiences. When he is not busy in the classroom, he enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, and traveling, as well as fly fishing for trout in the beautiful waters of western North Carolina. He is a native of Davie County, North Carolina and currently resides in Polk County with his wife, Celeste.