Title: Chemistry Teacher
Company: George Washington High School
Location: Charleston, West Virginia, United States
Michael T. Carte, Chemistry Teacher at George Washington High School, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Science Education.
Mr. Carte has established a distinguished career as a chemistry teacher, currently serving at George Washington High School in Charleston, West Virginia, where he has dedicated over 10 years to teaching and leadership. In his role, he teaches daily classes, serves as science department chair and participates on the school leadership team. Mr. Carte’s responsibilities include conducting professional development sessions, training fellow educators, teaching four sections of honors chemistry and offering courses at West Virginia State University.
Among a range of responsibilities, Mr. Carte manages the science department budget, oversees laboratory safety compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, and organizes departmental supplies and materials. He also meets regularly with faculty and the science department to review engagement strategies and foster professional growth. Additionally, Mr. Carte coaches the Science Bowl team, sponsors the science fair for state-level competitors and leads academic teams to competitions at Marshall University, including participation in the Scores Festival and Science Olympiad.
Mr. Carte’s expertise in chemistry is widely recognized, and he is praised for achieving a high level of mastery in his field. His commitment to student success is evident through the accomplishments of those he has taught, many of whom have gone on to attend prestigious institutions, such as Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Carte considers these successes to be his most significant professional achievements.
Before his tenure at George Washington High School, Mr. Carte served as a STEM coordinator for the Regional Education Service Agency III from 2013 to 2015. In this capacity, he managed the National Math and Science grant and oversaw program implementation across local schools. Mr. Carte also collaborated with professors at West Virginia University on published work that integrated STEM programs into area curricula.
Between 2006 and 2013, Mr. Carte taught chemistry at Riverside High School near his hometown. During this period, he initiated an advanced chemistry program and launched the Advanced Placement Chemistry curriculum in his second year. Mr. Carte’s earlier experience included over five years at South Charleston High School, beginning in 1997, where he primarily taught chemistry and led International Baccalaureate Chemistry courses.
Notably, in 2010, Mr. Carte played a pivotal role in developing West Virginia’s end-of-course chemistry test for high school students as part of the initial item-writing cadre for the West Virginia Department of Education. He was employed part-time by the department during the summers and throughout the academic year to support this initiative by writing exam questions.
Among other professional opportunities, Mr. Carte worked as a part-time general chemistry Medical College Admission Test instructor for The Princeton Review in 2011. He also taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Charleston from 2017 to 2020, teaching introductory chemistry and laboratory courses during summer sessions. Moreover, Mr. Carte was a lead reviewer for chemistry on the instructional materials review committee for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection between 2021 and 2022. Before pivoting into education, he worked in the field from 1994 to 1995 as a laboratory chemist with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
Mr. Carte’s educational background laid a strong foundation for his achievements in teaching and leadership. He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from West Virginia State University in 1994 and a Master of Arts in teaching from Marshall University in 1996. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he minored in biology with initial plans to attend pharmacy school. Ultimately, Mr. Carte chose education after reflecting on his desire for a more interactive profession following a year working in a laboratory setting.
Throughout his career, Mr. Carte has maintained active membership in professional organizations, including the American Association of Chemistry Teachers and the American Chemical Society. Beyond his work-related endeavors, he has contributed significantly to civic life through coaching baseball at both high school and middle school levels for approximately 15 years and serving as a general manager and coach for an American Legion Baseball team in Charleston, West Virginia, for several years. Today, Mr. Carte remains involved with his local church by conducting Bible studies and leading devotional lessons for youth programs.
Mr. Carte’s excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including Teacher of the Year by Kanawha County Schools in 2010, Outstanding Educator Award from The University of Chicago in 2020 and Chemistry Teacher of the Year by the Kanawha Valley section of the American Chemical Society in 2025. He also received multiple Outstanding Educator Awards from the Governor’s Honors Academy under the West Virginia Department of Education. While in college, Mr. Carte was recognized with Academic All-American honors from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Central to Mr. Carte’s success has been his passion for working with students. Observing effective classroom interactions early on inspired him to pursue teaching over other scientific careers. This commitment continues to energize Mr. Carte professionally and personally.
Looking ahead, Mr. Carte intends to author two books. The first is titled “The First Year Chemistry Teacher,” designed as a resource for new instructors offering advice and encouragement. The second will serve as a repository of chemistry questions for teachers creating assessments or assignments. Mr. Carte’s enduring dedication to education continues to shape future generations while advancing excellence within his discipline.
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