FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Cumberland County Schools (CCS) proudly celebrates Seventy-First High School Arabic teacher Najoua Ben Ramak, who was named the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC) Teacher of the Year this past weekend.
Since joining CCS in 2023, Ben Ramak has 'brought language and culture to life' in her classroom, inspiring students to explore the rich traditions of the Arab world. Her dedication has led to notable student success including one of her students recently earning first place in the Short Story Contest organized by the Qatar Foundation International.
The FLANC Teacher of the Year award honors educators who go 'above and beyond' for their students and demonstrate excellence in teaching, leadership and service to the profession.
Her principal spoke highly of her work. “Najoua exemplifies the heart of world language education," said James Blue, the principal of Seventy-First High School. "Her passion, innovation and an unwavering belief in the power of language to connect cultures and transform lives is truly impactful. Being recognized as the FLANC Teacher of the Year is a well-deserved honor that celebrates her dedication to students, her commitment to excellence and her inspiring leadership in the classroom and beyond.”
Ben Ramak’s exceptional work has earned multiple honors, including World Language Teacher of the Month (December 2023), Teacher Spotlight of the Month (March 2024), the FLANC Scholarship (October 2024) and the FLANC Classroom Award (January 2025). She has also shared her expertise as a presenter at the 2024 FLANC Conference and the Arabic Teachers Council of the South (April 2025).
This prestigious statewide recognition celebrates her creativity, leadership and passion for world language education. As FLANC’s Teacher of the Year, Ben Ramak will represent North Carolina at the Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) in March 2026 at the Hilton Raleigh North Hills in Raleigh, N.C.
By: Mr. Lindsay A. Whitley, Ed.D.
Associate Superintendent
Communications and Community Engagement
Phone: 910-678-2303