History Teacher Dot Case
By Meg Hale Brunton
In her 47 years as a teacher, Dot Case inspired countless students to go on to pursue their dreams. “I didn’t have children of my own, so my school children became my children,” she explains, adding that always knew teaching was her calling.
Dot started teaching history at Edneyville Middle School in 1969. After that, she taught at Edneyville High School until it closed in 1993. Then, she went on to teach at North Henderson High School until her retirement in 2016. Her favorite subjects to teach were the constitution and World War II. She thoroughly enjoyed taking her students on field trips to Raleigh and Washington D.C., and has encouraged them to travel and see the world. “That’s what history is all about, making it come alive for kids,” she says. She was selected as the Henderson County Teacher of the Year in 1982, 2009 and 2010. She was also WNC Teacher of the Year in 2010. In 2022, Dot was inducted into the Education Hall of Fame.
Besides reaching students in the classroom, Dot coached Junior High basketball, track, cheerleading and gymnastics. She also supports other female teachers through her work as a member of Delta Kappa Gamma. Outside of the school system, Dot served on Governor Pat McCrory’s Teacher Advisory Board from 2014-2016. “It was a really great experience for politicians to listen to little ole teachers out of the mountains,” she says, adding that her small-town feelings did not keep her from telling McCrory’s team when she disagreed with their proposed policies.
In 2018, Dot ran and won a seat on the Henderson County School Board. Earlier this year, one of Dot’s former students nominated her for the ATHENA International Leadership award. “That was the honor for me, that a former student thought I was worthy of the award,” she says, adding how wonderful it has been to see her students’ success after they’ve left her class, and that she has formed long-lasting friendships with many of them well into their adulthood.
Since retiring, Dot has continued traveling and volunteering at several schools. While she is relieved to finally get to take it easy, she admits to missing her students terribly. “I love, love, love teaching,” Dot gushes. “That’s what’s made my world go round. It’s been the love of my life.”