Celebrating Excellence: Rachel Candaso Named 2025 NC Teacher of the Year
In a ceremony at the Umstead Hotel in Cary, Rachel Candaso was recognized as the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, elevating her contributions to education. Candaso serves as a middle school teacher and AVID coordinator in Pitt County Schools.
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green praised Candaso’s commitment to educational excellence, stating, “Every student in North Carolina deserves a teacher like Ms. Candaso.” He highlighted her dedication to comprehensive student preparation and empowering educators and communities.
Candaso, who also holds the titles of Pitt County Schools’ Teacher of the Year and a 2024-25 Kenan Fellows Program participant, is actively involved with Teach for America in various capacities. Her journey in education reflects a strong focus on addressing resource disparities between rural and urban schools.
Expressing her dedication to educational equity, Candaso remarked, “By continuously learning, leading and innovating, I continue to strive to make a meaningful impact both within my school and in the broader community, working towards a more equitable educational system for all.”
Emphasizing collective responsibility, Candaso believes in the shared role of teachers, families, and communities in preparing students for future success. Her efforts in rural education have garnered recognition from diverse sectors.
Alfred Mays, Chief Diversity Officer at the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, noted, “Rachel Candaso embodies the spirit of leadership and excellence… Her commitment to addressing disparities in rural education and her deep belief in collective responsibility remind us that transformative teaching goes beyond the classroom.”
Throughout the 2025-26 school year, Candaso will represent North Carolina’s teachers, engaging in professional development and advocacy. Her activities will include attending international conferences, educational camps, and serving as a liaison for North Carolina Public Schools.
The award ceremony also celebrated eight regional Teacher of the Year finalists:
- 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: Dr. 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 School: Lindsay Phillips, Mountain Island Charter School
For more details on the Teacher of the Year program, visit the official website. Follow the finalists on social media using #NCTOYPOY.
A recording of the event, supported by Equitable Advisors and PBS North Carolina, is available on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s YouTube channel.
About the Burroughs Wellcome Fund
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is dedicated to advancing biomedical sciences and supports the next generation of researchers and educators. Over the past 25 years, it has invested over $100 million in STEM education initiatives, emphasizing the importance of education in tackling global challenges.
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