Cason Justice Named 2026 North Carolina Teacher of the Year

Swansboro High’s Cason Justice Honored as North Carolina Teacher of the Year

In an inspiring ceremony at the Umstead Hotel in Cary, history teacher Cason Justice from Swansboro High School was celebrated as the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year. The event brought together Justice and eight other regional finalists to acknowledge their contributions to education.

State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green praised Justice, emphasizing North Carolina’s dedication to excelling in public education. “Mr. Justice approaches teaching with a level of dedication and excellence that creates results,” Green noted. Justice’s innovative teaching methods, such as engaging students with interactive lessons like an archeology dig and a “WWI Dodgeball Battle,” have set him apart in his 13-year career.

Justice, a National Board Certified Teacher and North Carolina Teaching Fellow, has been instrumental in fostering leadership among students at Swansboro High. As an advisor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he has expanded the program from 15 to 250 students, cultivating strong student leaders. Justice commented, “These lessons reflect my core teaching philosophy that anyone, especially my students, can ‘do’ history.”

Justice’s accolades include being named both the Onslow County Schools Teacher of the Year and Swansboro High School Teacher of the Year. He was also a finalist for Onslow County’s Teacher of the Year in 2017-18. His teaching philosophy emphasizes empowering students: “Be pilots, not passengers,” he often tells them.

Dr. Louis Muglia, president and CEO of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, highlighted the transformative power of dedicated educators. “The Burroughs Wellcome Fund Teacher of the Year exemplifies this spirit, demonstrating how inspired teaching can transform classrooms into spaces of discovery and possibility,” Muglia stated.

Throughout the 2026-27 school year, Justice will advocate for North Carolina’s teachers and partake in several professional development opportunities, including events at the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) and the National Teacher of the Year Conference. He will also have the chance to attend the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference and travel internationally through a Global NC-sponsored endowment.

Justice will receive numerous awards, including a mobile device from Lenovo, an engraved award, financial support as a liaison for North Carolina Public Schools, a monetary award from Bojangles, and recognition at an NC State Athletics football game.

Alongside Justice, the regional Teacher of the Year finalists also recognized include:

Heather Dail, Hertford Grammar School (Perquimans County Schools)

Shannon Campbell, Wilson Early College Academy (Wilson County Schools)

Manzell Spencer, Jr., Douglas Byrd Middle School (Cumberland County Schools)

Jonathan Lancho Villa, Pilot Mountain Elementary School (Surry County Schools)

Melissa Hollar Culp, St. James Elementary Schools (Lincoln County Schools)

Gina Holste, Valle Crucis School (Watauga County Schools)

Nishelle Henson, Macon Middle School (Macon County Schools)

Stephanie Lane, Lake Norman Charter School

For more details on North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year program, visit the program’s website. Follow the finalists on social media with the hashtag #NCTOYPOY.

With support from PBS North Carolina, a recording of this year’s livestream of the Teacher of the Year event is available on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s YouTube channel.

About the Burroughs Wellcome Fund

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) is a private foundation dedicated to advancing biomedical sciences and supporting future scientific researchers and educators. Over the past 25 years, BWF has invested more than $100 million in STEM education initiatives, highlighting its commitment to innovation and excellence in science. BWF actively fosters collaboration among educators and grant recipients to address global challenges through education.