Dustin Farmer is the principal at Ashe County High School (Ashe County Schools) and one of nine finalists for the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, which will be announced at a ceremony on May 15. Ahead of the event, we are sharing the finalists’ stories so the public can get to know these extraordinary individuals and learn about their contributions to North Carolina public schools.
Topics Related to Celebrate the Good
Kelly E. Flora is the principal at Nags Head Elementary School (Dare County Schools) and one of nine finalists for the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, which will be announced at a ceremony on May 15. Ahead of the event, we are sharing the finalists’ stories so the public can get to know these extraordinary individuals and learn about their contributions to North Carolina public schools.
Deborah Brown is the Middle School Director at The Exploris School and one of nine finalists for the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, which will be announced at a ceremony on May 15. Ahead of the event, we are sharing the finalists’ stories so the public can get to know these extraordinary individuals and learn about their contributions to North Carolina public schools.
Dr. Mariah Walker is the principal at Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy (Wake County Public School System) and one of nine finalists for the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, which will be announced at a ceremony on May 15. Ahead of the event, we are sharing the finalists’ stories so the public can get to know these extraordinary individuals and learn about their contributions to North Carolina public schools.
Every day, educators across North Carolina shape the lives of students and the future of our communities. Just as teachers work to ensure students have what they need to succeed, school, district and state education leaders strive to ensure educators have the supportive and effective environments they deserve that allow them to teach and lead. One of the most important ways educators can help ensure educator needs are met is by completing the 2026 North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions (TWC) Survey.
A math teacher at Macon Middle School (Macon County Schools), Nishelle Henson is one of nine finalists for the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at a ceremony on April 24. Ahead of the event, we are sharing the finalists’ stories so the public can get to know these extraordinary individuals and learn about their contributions to North Carolina public schools.
A multilingual specialist at Pilot Mountain Elementary School (Surry County Schools), Jonathan Lancho Villa is one of nine finalists for the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at a ceremony on April 24. Ahead of the event, we are sharing the finalists’ stories so the public can get to know these extraordinary individuals and learn about their contributions to North Carolina public schools.
A second-grade teacher and K-5 reading specialist at St. James Elementary School (Lincoln County Schools), Melissa Hollar Culp is one of nine finalists for the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at a ceremony on April 24. Ahead of the event, we are sharing the finalists’ stories so the public can get to know these extraordinary individuals and learn about their contributions to North Carolina public schools.
A social studies teacher at Swansboro High School (Onslow County Schools), Cason Justice is one of nine finalists for the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at a ceremony on April 24. Ahead of the event, we are sharing the finalists’ stories so the public can get to know these extraordinary individuals and learn about their contributions to North Carolina public schools.
A seventh-grade social studies teacher at Douglas Byrd Middle School (Cumberland County Schools), Manzell Spencer Jr. is one of nine finalists for the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at a ceremony on April 24. Ahead of the event, we are sharing the finalists’ stories so the public can get to know these extraordinary individuals and learn about their contributions to North Carolina public schools.