RALEIGH – Nine North Carolina educators have been named regional Teachers of the Year in recognition of their outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching.
Since 2013, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction has been proud to partner with the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to honor North Carolina teachers. The state has recognized outstanding teachers through its Teacher of the Year program since 1970.
“Those of us doing the work see the incredible impact of public education every day, so to see these nine exceptional educators lifted up and honored for their dedication to students is priceless” said State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. “I know that this group will serve their students and fellow educators admirably, and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish in the year ahead.”
The mission of the North Carolina Teacher of the Year Program is to promote the profession through advocacy and support while recognizing outstanding teaching professionals who are implementing best practices in classrooms across North Carolina.
On April 11, one of these excellent educators will be named the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year during an awards ceremony at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. The event will be livestreamed on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about the NC Teacher of the Year program on the NCDPI website. Follow along on social media at #NCTOY.
The finalists for NC Teacher of the Year are:
Northeast: Rachel Candaso
Wellcome Middle School (Pitt County Schools)
Candaso is committed to being a lifelong learner, leader and innovator. When she began her teaching journey five years ago, she chose the Northeast region because she was drawn to the opportunity to contribute to addressing disparities between urban and rural schools. She has held firm in the belief that all students, regardless of background or ability, can succeed when given an equitable education. It is this belief that has made her particularly passionate about community involvement, stating it plays a crucial role in public education.
“The success of our students is not the sole responsibility of our education system alone, but is also shaped by the engagement of families, local businesses and community organizations,” Candaso said. “I have witnessed firsthand the benefits of this community engagement through my own work, where partnerships with local universities and businesses have given students exposure to real-world opportunities. By working together, communities can provide students with the resources and mentorship needed to succeed both academically and personally.”
As a middle grades elective teacher and site coordinator for the AVID program, whose mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness, Candaso has found a space where her personal values and professional responsibilities are fully aligned.
Southeast: Hannah Moon
Emsley A. Laney High School (New Hanover County Schools)
Moon, a high school English teacher with 20 years of experience, says her ultimate goal as an educator is to make learning relevant and applicable to life. She recognizes that for students to become life-long learners, they must understand that there is a larger world out there beyond their personal bubble.
Believing that every student has unlimited learning potential, she skillfully adapts her teaching methods to meet the unique needs of her students. When teaching pieces of literature to her students, her lessons help students to connect personally with the writing, leading to higher engagement and success from students.
“Facilitating success is based on motivation, encouragement, meeting students where they are, setting the bar high and fun!” she said. “All of my students can find success with the right support, and I always aim to provide that for every single student, every single day in my classroom.”
Moon is a fierce advocate for teacher supports and has provided vital support to future educators in her community for years by serving as a supervising teacher for students in the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s education program, as well as being a mentor for beginning teachers at her school.
North Central: Tamika J. Farmer
G. W. Carver Elementary School (Edgecombe County Schools)
Described by her district superintendent as “the epitome of a dedicated and passionate educator who continually goes above and beyond to inspire and empower her students,” Farmer believes that education transcends the classroom.
“My philosophy is to help empower students to actively explore, create and apply knowledge in authentic and meaningful ways, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills and prepare them for academic success and future challenges in an ever-changing world,” she said. “I believe in fostering a supportive and engaging environment where every child feels valued, safe and motivated to learn.”
One way Farmer makes students feel safe is being an advocate for mental health, serving in a leadership role on her school’s Resilience Team which focuses on creating a trauma-informed school environment. She believes schools can play a critical role in supporting both students and educators with mental health issues.
After serving as a field medic in the U.S. Army for four years in high-stress combat environments, Farmer felt a calling to become an elementary school teacher and has now been in the classroom for over a decade. She continues to serve others as a beginning teacher mentor, sharing classroom management strategies and insights on creating inclusive learning environments, playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of educators in her community.
Sandhills: Dr. Anthony Martin
East Columbus Junior/Senior High School (Columbus County Schools)
Martin is a CTE educator who believes in integrating practical, real-world applications into all subjects to create engaging, student-centered learning environments, focusing on helping students connect their learning to the world beyond the classroom and preparing them for future success.
When he started at his school three years ago, there were no programs related to computer engineering or technology support. This allowed him to embark on a mission to build a technology-focused program, which led to the creation of the Student Tech Team.
“The impact on students has been profound; being part of the Student Tech Team has given them a strong sense of accomplishment and responsibility,” he said. “They take pride in knowing that they are helping the school operate more efficiently and that their skills are valuable in real-world settings.”
Martin has over 20 years of service to North Carolina Public Schools, serving in district and state roles before entering the classroom as a technology, engineering and design instructor. He actively promotes teacher recruitment and retention through innovative programs and outreach initiatives as well as being an outspoken advocate for streamlining the residency license program, making it easier for people to enter the teaching profession and strengthen North Carolina’s teaching workforce.
Piedmont-Triad: Chanel Jones
Broadview Middle School (Alamance-Burlington School System)
Jones aims to foster a sense of dignity, equity and care within her school, and she leads by example. To build stronger connections and develop a sense of trust with her students, she often attends personal events like athletic events and birthday parties. She also developed a classroom-based laundry service in which she personally took students’ clothes home to be washed, ensuring that students’ needs were being met without drawing attention to their circumstances.
She says that “as a lifelong learner, I continuously deepen my understanding of issues and strategies. As a leader, I influence my school and community to prioritize equity. As an innovator, I create solutions to meet my students' diverse needs. My commitment to these principles drives my efforts to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances.”
In addition to her role as a sixth-grade social studies teacher at her middle school, Jones also serves as In School Suspension (ISS) Coordinator and varsity cheerleading coach for a high school in the district.
Southwest: Yaronda Kilgo
Wingate Elementary School (Union County Public Schools)
Kilgo believes that every student should have access to quality instruction in a class environment that meets the needs of the whole child.
“By validating our students and their needs, we can create a safe and supportive environment where they can thrive both academically and emotionally,” she said. “By connecting content to students’ lived experiences, promoting representation and empathy, and fostering social-emotional learning, I strive to empower students to thrive and become active participants in their own learning journey, forever.”
Kilgo serves as grade level chair and mentor at her school, having championed schoolwide professional development initiatives that empowered teachers to apply new strategies in their practices, ultimately resulting in improved student outcomes and a more positive school culture.
Northwest: Tayler Bomar
Greenlee Primary School (Mitchell County Schools)
Bomar has a clear devotion to her community. Having felt a calling to be a teacher since she was young, she says she is especially grateful to be teaching in the same county and primary school that she attended as a child.
“Mitchell County Schools shaped me into the person I am today. I remember my experiences, my teachers and unique ways I was taught and able to learn,” she said.
A teacher leader at her school, Bomar actively seeks out rigorous professional development opportunities that will strengthen her effectiveness as an educator and colleague, as well as serving on her school’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and School Improvement Planning (SIP) teams.
Bomar also recognizes the importance that things like parent involvement and social-emotional learning play in a student’s educational journey. Last holiday season, she invited parents and caring adults to surprise students by coming in before the school day started to decorate their desks for the holidays, adding extra joy and sense of community to her students and their parents’ days.
Western: Lydia Sale
West Elementary School (Swain County Schools)
Hailing from a family of educators, Sale is passionate about advocating for students in impoverished communities, “not just as a responsibility, but as a powerful call to action that seeks to reveal the challenges faced by students and educators, ensuring that every child has access to the quality education they deserve.”
She goes out of her way to create an inclusive, supportive classroom environment where all students feel valued and empowered, championing individualized instruction to fulfill this aspiration.
Beyond her work in her first-grade classroom, Sale also coaches the high school volleyball team, is pursuing her master’s in education and plays a critical role in organizing schoolwide programs, like initiatives that improve school culture and staff morale.
Charter: Lindsay Phillips
Mountain Island Charter School
A 19-year veteran elementary educator, Phillips is committed to teaching not only academic standards but also preparing our youngest learners for life outside of the classroom, beginning in kindergarten.
Guided by her teaching philosophy that “reflective and intentional teaching will increase learning and help me become a better teacher,” each school day begins with a morning meeting that creates a strong sense of community within the classroom and highlights the teaching of durable skills, such as problem solving, that will serve students both inside and outside of the classroom.
Phillips knew she wanted to be a teacher from the time she was in first grade. Teaching was never just a career path; it has always been a calling. That deep sense of purpose continues to shape her approach, ensuring that every lesson not only meets academic standards but also fosters lifelong skills and meaningful connections.