Cato Teaching Discovery Mural

Honoring Teachers through the Narrative Power of Images & Words

“For some teachers, education is a job, or a career, or even a vocation. For Sue, I believe that education is a calling. With Sue, my child finally felt like he belonged somewhere. He found a place in her class. He found a place in heart, too, and she did in his. She gave my child the most important gift that a teacher can give. She instilled in him a love of learning and for this she wholly deserves special recognition”

(excerpted from a testimonial to the Cato Teaching Discovery Mural)

For many of us, we can recall that day when our lives were forever changed by an intelligent, passionate, caring teacher who happened to show up for work as expected, often not knowing that they had done something most unexpected - and enduring. Day after day teachers with heart, soul, energy, and a special grace create an environment where a new thought can settle, a new idea can spout and a new horizon can be reached. 

Teachers who care, teachers who connect, and teachers who are committed need to know that there are many who recognize the importance of their work and who want to honor them for it. The Cato Teaching Discovery Mural provides a unique and lasting way to do just that.

The Mural Project

The Cato Teaching Discovery Mural is an interactive, multi-dimensional work of sculpture featuring carved brick panels designed to honor teachers and to celebrate the teaching profession. Images showing the impact of teachers on students will be interwoven with visual references to literature, science, mathematics, geography, arts & culture, athletics, business & commerce, and social diversity. The striking artistic interpretations of educators and education will populate the several Mural monuments that be installed outside of the UNC Charlotte College of Education building 

Contributors are invited to make gifts of pledges to commemorate educators who have made a positive impact on their lives. Those honored at the highest level will have their names listed permanently on one faces of the mural sculpture and their stories/testimonials will be featured in an interactive display in the lobby of the Education Building. The Cato Corporation has established the mural so that its narrative power will propel growth in resources to support new initiatives in the classroom and demonstrate the uniquely felt influence of individual teachers. 

More information about the Cato Teaching Discovery Mural and other initiatives at the College of Education can be found at www.lookingforward.uncc.edu. Please join us in our efforts to attract, retain and recognize great teachers. They deserve our deepest support