RALEIGH — Onslow County’s Cason Justice was named the Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year for 2026 at an award ceremony held at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary last Friday.
Justice teaches history at Swansboro High School and is a national board certified teacher and North Carolina teaching fellow. In addition to being named the N.C. Teacher of the Year (NCTOY), Justice was also named Onslow County Schools’ Teacher of the Year and the Swansboro High School Teacher of the Year.
“Mr. Justice approaches teaching with a level of dedication and excellence that creates results,” State Superintendent Mo Green said in a press release. “Through his intentional lessons and investment outside of the classroom, Mr. Justice encourages his students and colleagues to reach their full potential.”
Justice, an educator with 13 years of experience, also serves as a mentor teacher, strategic planning team chair and is a member of the teacher leadership council at Swansboro High. He has also served as an adviser for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since beginning his role at the high school.
As NCTOY, Justice will spend the next school year traveling to schools around the state advocating for teachers and engaging in events at the N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching, the National Teacher of the Year Conference and International Space Camp.
Additionally, Justice will have the chance to attend the International Society for Technology in Education conference and travel abroad through an endowment sponsored by Global NC.
The 2025 N.C. Teacher of the Year was Rachel Candaso, a middle school teacher from Pitt County Schools.
Prizes for NCTOY include a mobile device from Lenovo, an engraved award, financial support to serve as a liaison for North Carolina Public Schools, as well as a cash award from Bojangles and a gift from Carolina Hunger Initiative.
According to Green’s press release, Burroughs Wellcome will fund Cason’s participation in the yearlong North Carolina Education Policy Fellowship.
The other finalists for this year’s NCTOY award were: Northeast: Heather Dail, Hertford Grammar School (Perquimans County Schools); North Central: Shannon Campbell, Wilson Early College Academy (Wilson County Schools); Sandhills: Manzell Spencer, Jr., Douglas Byrd Middle School (Cumberland County Schools); Piedmont-Triad: Jonathan Lancho Villa, Pilot Mountain Elementary School (Surry County Schools); Southwest: Melissa Hollar Culp, St. James Elementary School (Lincoln County Schools); Northwest: Gina Holste, Valle Crucis School (Watauga County Schools); Western: Nishelle Henson, Macon Middle School (Macon County Schools); Charter: Stephanie Lane, Lake Norman Charter School.
The NCTOY award ceremony was live streamed courtesy of PBC North Carolina and can be viewed on the Department of Public Instruction’s YouTube channel.
The recognition of the NCTOY began in 1970, and the Department of Public Instruction and Burroughs Wellcome Fund have partnered on the Teacher of the Year award since 2013.
