The names of six finalists for the 2025 Alamance-Burlington Teacher of the Year have been announced, and the winner is scheduled to be named at an Excellence in Education Awards program on Tuesday, May 6.
The candidate pool originally consisted of a Teacher of the Year nominated by each ABSS school, as well as nominees from several charter and private schools in Alamance County, and Alamance Community College, according to the Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce, which has resumed its longtime role of hosting the event for the first time since 2022.
The six finalists from ABSS are listed below in alphabetic al order, with a brief statement about each finalist’s experience.
- Erica Bruner, Williams High School: A 12th-grade English teacher, Bruner has been teaching for nine years, five of which have been with ABSS. She serves as the English Language Arts department head at Williams High School and as a mentor for Elon University teaching interns.
Bruner also helped train other ABSS teachers in co-curricular writing strategies during a system-wide conference earlier this year.
- Tasha Hartzfield, Turrentine Middle School: A sixth-grade math teacher, Hartzfield is in her fourth year of teaching and has been with ABSS for three years.
Tasha Hartzfield “I truly have found my home and am so grateful that life led me here,” says Hartzfield, who was the first in her family to attend college and graduated from Appalachian State University. She is also the first person in her family to go into education, she says, adding that she was able to attend college and earn her degree after receiving several academic scholarships. At Turrentine, Hartzfield serves as a grade-level leadership representative and helps with the Capturing Kids’ Hearts program at the middle school.
- Windy Lampson, Southeast High School: A visual arts and pottery teacher, Lampson was a previous finalist for the award, during her tenure at Graham High School. She is in her 18th year of teaching and has taught for ABSS 16 years.
Lampson moved to the new high school when it opened in August 2023 and is also a National Board Certified Teacher.
- Rebecca McLamb, Smith Elementary School: McLamb is in her 18thyear of teaching, of which 17 years have been with ABSS. She currently teaches second grade at Smith Elementary School, where she has taught for the past 12 years.
McLamb is scheduled to graduate from Elon University in May with her Master’s degree in Education. “I was also a part of the Teacher Leadership Academy and have been so very thankful to be a part of both of these programs,” she says.
- DeAfton Mitchell, Alexander Wilson Elementary School: An 18-year veteran of the teaching profession, Mitchell has been employed with ABSS 16 years and currently teaches kindergarten.
He earned certification in the state’s new literacy training program (LETRS) in 2024 and serves on an ABSS core writing team and as a mentor for beginning teachers, according to information that ABSS provided this week for The Alamance News.
- Katie Wood, B. Everett Jordan Elementary School: Wood is in her 16th year of teaching and has worked for ABSS, at B. Everett Jordan, for her entire career. She currently serves as the K-5 Exceptional Children’s teacher but has also previously taught kindergarten and second grade, in addition to serving as the school instructional specialist.
Wood holds a Master’s degree in elementary education and is a National Board Certified Teacher.
Alamance County chamber officials recently announced the names of the six finalists for the 2025 Teacher of the Year.
A committee of local representatives from K-12 and higher education, nonprofits, and businesses in Alamance County reviewed the video portfolios for each nominee, selected 12 finalists, and invited them for interviews prior to selecting the six finalists, according to Logan Garrison Savits, who is the director of Leadership Development and Education Partnerships for the Alamance Chamber.
The 2025 Teacher of the Year will receive an international trip with Go Global NC; a professional development opportunity of his/her choice; $10,000 for a classroom makeover; and other prizes such as gift certificates for dry cleaning, travel, salon services, and business cards, Savits confirmed for the newspaper Wednesday.
Prizes for the winner, 12 finalists, and six semi-finalists are being funded by several local donors, including: Alamance Community Foundation; Elon University; Glen Raven; Honda Power; and LabCorp, Savits said. “All of this is done through fundraising – it’s all the support of our community,” she added.
Meanwhile, Broadview Middle School social studies teacher Chanel Jones, who was chosen as the 2024 ABSS Teacher of the Year, has been named as one of nine finalists across the state for North Carolina Teacher of the Year. The winner of the statewide honor is scheduled to be announced next Friday, April 11, according to the state Department of Public Instruction.
The annual Excellence in Education Awards Program, where this year’s Teacher of the Year will be announced, is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Burlington on Tuesday, May 6, coinciding with National Teacher Appreciation Day.
