Greensboro, NC – At the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) Annual Conference Awards Ceremony on November 12, Bob Gates was awarded first-place for the 2025 Champion of Education Award as “a lifelong pillar of the Mooresville community”. This award recognizes those individuals, businesses, community members, employees, or school board members who have demonstrated ongoing dedication to the success of their community’s K-12 students and the betterment of public schools in North Carolina.
Gates, owner of a local construction company, is known as someone with a personal connection to his local public schools who goes out of his way to welcome new teachers and make connections with school leaders. He also maintains a strong vision for career and technical education to help ensure students gain hands-on learning experiences. A proud graduate of Mooresville High School, Gates has continued the family tradition of serving his community after being inspired by his mother, who was an educator in the district.
The business owner and public education advocate was selected for the award from among a group of successful and distinguished finalists. These runners-up included the United Way of Cleveland County and Cleveland County Schools for their United Way-PALS Home Library Project, and Debora Powell, a longtime educator, school board member, and public school advocate in Wilson County.
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About the North Carolina School Boards Association: NCSBA is the professional organization that represents local boards of education in North Carolina. Founded in 1937, it is a member-driven association that supports the school governance team—school board members, superintendents, senior administrative staff and board assistants—in its complex leadership role.
