RALEIGH — A middle school teacher and AVID coordinator from Pitt County Schools was named the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year at a luncheon at the Umstead Hotel in Cary on April 11.
Rachel Candaso will take over for Heather Smith, a math teacher from Haywood County Schools, who was last year’s top teacher.
State Superintendent Mo Green praised Candaso for setting a standard of academic excellence in North Carolina public schools, noting her commitment to comprehensive student preparation and community empowerment.
“Every student in North Carolina deserves a teacher like Ms. Candaso,” Green said in a press statement. “It is clear that she is committed to a vision of comprehensive, intentional student preparation, empowering educators, families and communities to ensure that all students are poised for success.”
Despite being only five years into her teaching career, Candaso has accumulated several distinctions. She is currently the Pitt County Schools’ Teacher of the Year and is participating in the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows Program. She is active with Teach for America, serving as a storytelling fellow, advisory board member and corps member.
“Every teacher holds the power to shape the future by preparing students to excel in an ever-evolving society,” Candaso said. “However, this work is not the job of one teacher alone.”
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund, which sponsors the award, is a private foundation dedicated to advancing biomedical sciences and supporting scientific researchers and educators. Over the past 25 years, the organization has invested more than $100 million in STEM education initiatives.
Alfred Mays, chief diversity officer and senior program officer at the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, commended Candaso for embodying leadership and excellence, particularly highlighting her dedication to addressing rural education disparities.
During the 2025-26 school year, Candaso’s role will include participation in professional development at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, the National Teacher of the Year Conference and International Space Camp. Additional opportunities include the International Society for Technology in Education conference and international travel through Go Global NC.
Candaso will receive several awards, including a mobile device from Lenovo, financial support for her liaison role, monetary awards from Bojangles and Carolina Hunger Initiative, and recognition at an NC State football game.
The eight other regional Teacher of the Year finalists recognized alongside Candaso were:
- Southeast: Hannah Moon, Emsley A. Laney High School (New Hanover County)
- North Central: Tamika J. Farmer, G. W. Carver Elementary School (Edgecombe County)
- Sandhills: Dr. Anthony Martin, East Columbus Junior/Senior High School (Columbus County)
- Piedmont-Triad: Chanel Jones, Broadview Middle School (Alamance-Burlington)
- Southwest: Yaronda Kilgo, Wingate Elementary School (Union County)
- Northwest: Tayler Bomar, Greenlee Primary School (Mitchell County)
- Western: Lydia Sale, West Elementary School (Swain County)
- Charter School: Lindsay Phillips, Mountain Island Charter School (Gaston County)
North Carolina has recognized outstanding educators through its Teacher of the Year program since 1970.
