Teacher of the month recognized for more than 20 years of service and his food sharing program

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Gray Connelly, a teacher at North Brunswick High School, has been named WWAY’s Teacher of the Month for January, recognizing his dedication for more than 20 years of service as an educator and his food sharing program. 

Connelly, who started the Share Table Program, has focused on ways to address food insecurity, both inside and outside the classroom. His program gives students a place to donate unopened food items instead of throwing them away. 

“So initially it started with just watching all the food items being wasted. Perfectly good apples and oranges were being thrown in the trash,” Connelly said. 

The program not only reduces waste, but it also supports students who may not always speak up when they need help. “A lot of times students will avoid the fact that they’re hungry, so they just don’t eat anything,” Connelly said. 

His commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2023, Mr. Connelly was one of 13 Brunswick County educators to receive grant funding from FOCUS Broadband, part of a program that’s awarded more than one million dollars to schools and classrooms across the community. 

The Teacher of the Month award, sponsored by Masonboro Kids Dentistry, April Jones Insurance, and The Golf Barn, comes with a $600 prize. The program allows community members to nominate educators who go above and beyond for their students.