RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has named this year’s finalists for the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s North Carolina Teacher of the Year and the Wells Fargo Principal of the Year.
The winner of the Principal of the Year award will be announced on May 16 and the Teacher of the Year winner will be announced on April 11 during ceremonies to be held at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary.
The Principal of The Year finalists come from nine regions:
- Northeast: John Lassiter – Hertford Grammar School (Perquimans County Schools)
- Southeast: Christy Propst – Morehead City Elementary School (Carteret County Schools)
- North Central: Jason Johnson – Orange High School (Orange County Schools)
- Sandhills: Laura Bailey – Scotland High School (Scotland County Schools)
- Piedmont-Triad: Ronnie Hewitt – Liberty Drive Elementary School (Thomasville City Schools)
- Southwest: Kelly Withrow – Battleground Elementary School (Lincoln County Schools)
- Northwest: Jessica Anthony – Davenport A+ Elementary School (Caldwell County Schools)
- West: Karley Wells – Clyde Elementary School (Haywood County Schools)
Charter: Jake Wilson – Mountain Island Charter School (Mount Holly)
“Principals are critical in building a culture of learning and growth for their students and staff,” State Superintendent Mo Green said in a press release announcing the Principal of the Year finalists.
“Each of these finalists has demonstrated their ability to uplift the students, teachers and community around them, and challenge them to reach their full potential,” said Green. “This is an outstanding group of regional finalists who elevate the education profession through their example and leadership in their schools daily.”
The Principal of the Year Award in North Carolina began through Wells Fargo in 1984. The current N.C. Principal of the Year is Beckie Spears, the principal of Wilkesboro Elementary School in Wilkes County.
The nine Teacher of the Year finalists are:
- Northeast: Rachel Candaso – Wellcome Middle School (Pitt County Schools)
- Southeast: Hannah Moon – Emsley A. Laney High School (New Hanover County Schools)
- North Central: Tamika J. Farmer – G. W. Carver Elementary School (Edgecombe County Schools)
- Sandhills: Anthony Martin – East Columbus Junior/Senior High School (Columbus County Schools)
- Piedmont-Triad: Chanel Jones – Broadview Middle School (Alamance-Burlington School System)
- Southwest: Yaronda Kilgo – Wingate Elementary School (Union County Public Schools)
- Northwest: Tayler Bomar – Greenlee Primary School (Mitchell County Schools)
- Western: Lydia Sale – West Elementary School (Swain County Schools)
- Charter: Lindsay Phillips – Mountain Island Charter School
“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 Green in a press release naming the Teacher of the Year finalists.
“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,” Green said.
North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year recognition program started in 1970. The N.C. Department of Public Instruction has partnered with the Burroughs Wellcome Fund on the Teacher of the Year award since 2013.
The current N.C. Teacher of the Year is Heather Smith, a math teacher at Waynesville Middle School in the Haywood County Public Schools District.
CAPTION: Beckie Spears, left, and Heather Smith, right, were named the top principal and teacher, respectively, in 2024. (Courtesy NCDPI)
