2 Charlotte-area educators in running for NC Teacher of the Year. Here are the finalists
Two Charlotte-area teachers made the list of nine finalists for North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Teacher of the Year.
The state has awarded the honor since 1970. In 2013, it began partnering with Burroughs Wellcome Fund to give the award, which includes a $7,500 prize, professional development opportunities and entry into the National Teacher of the Year program as North Carolina’s candidate.
The winner also gets a two-year appointment as an advisor to the North Carolina Board of Education.
Each of the nine finalists is also a regional winner, receiving a cash prize of $5,000 along with professional development.
Two Charlotte-area teachers – one from Union County Public Schools and one from Mountain Island Charter School in Mount Holly – received regional honors and are now in the running for the statewide award.
Charlotte-area teacher of the year finalists
Here are the finalists for the statewide award
▪ Yaronda Kilgo - southwest regional teacher of the year
Kilgo teaches first grade at Wingate Elementary in Union County Public Schools. She has eight years of teaching experience.
She also serves as grade-level chair and mentor at her school. Kilgo has promoted professional development for educators at her school and empowered them to use innovative teaching techniques. Her work has helped create better student outcomes and a more positive school culture, according to a Monday news release from NCDPI.
“Yaronda is a natural leader,” Jasmine Stowe, principal of Wingate Elementary, said when the honor was announced. “She is the teacher every parent hopes for, every principal dreams of having in their building, and every student remembers for a lifetime.”
Kilgo particularly values caring for the whole child, stressing the importance of social-emotional learning in addition to academics.
“By validating our students and their needs, we can create a safe and supportive environment where they can thrive both academically and emotionally,” she told NCDPI in the news release. “By connecting content to students’ lived experiences, promoting representation and empathy, and fostering social-emotional learning, I strive to empower students to thrive and become active participants in their own learning journey, forever.”
▪ Lindsay Phillips - charter school teacher of the year
Phillips, who has been an educator for 19 years, currently teaches kindergarten at Mountain Island Charter School in Mount Holly.
“Phillips is committed to teaching not only academic standards but also preparing our youngest learners for life outside of the classroom, beginning in kindergarten,” NCDPI said in a news release Monday.
Colleagues said kids love her because she makes each student feel like her best student.
“She has made a positive impact in the lives of countless children through her dedication, talent and compassion, and she is an outstanding role model for all educators across our region,” Glenn Byrum, Mountain Island executive director, told The Charlotte Observer. “Lindsay’s colleagues admire her humble spirit and her willingness to be there for each of them when needed. Her positive attitude and genuine passion keep them inspired, and they feel blessed to work alongside her.”
The NC charter school principal of the year, Jake Wilson, also currently works at Mountain Island Charter School as the principal of middle and high school.
“We are proud to share that this is the first time in NC charter school history that the charter school teacher of the year and the charter school principal of the year of a given year both work at the same charter school,” said Byrum.
Phillips told The Observer the honor is “the most rewarding accolade of (her) educational career.”
“Teaching is a collaborative effort, and I have been fortunate enough to be a part of a community and Kindergarten team who believes in doing what is best for children and making a difference in their lives,” she said.
The NC Teacher of the Year winner will be announced Apr. 11 at a ceremony in Cary.
This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
