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During Teacher Appreciation Week 2025, Gov. Josh Stein established by executive order the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee, and he announced that Rachel Candaso — a middle school teacher at Wellcome Middle School in Pitt County Schools and the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year — will chair the committee.
The committee includes K-12 teachers from across North Carolina who Stein said would be his “eyes and ears on the ground working with leaders at every level.” A press release says the educators will serve as ambassadors throughout the state.
“Every day, the incredible teachers across our state dedicate themselves to helping their students succeed, giving them the skills they need to be resilient, capable, and ready,” said Candaso. “Public schools are a launch pad for life, and I am proud to represent the people who champion our students.”
Candaso is an alum of both the Kenan Fellows and Teach for America.
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The executive order finds:
Teachers are highly skilled professionals who are essential to the success of our public schools in North Carolina;
Teachers are a critical component in ensuring that every student receives a sound basic education in North Carolina;
Teachers work to support all students as they learn, develop, and grow;
Teachers are foundational to our democracy – creating an educated and engaged citizenry;
Teachers are committed to working with a wide range of community organizations, businesses, and other partners, including parents, to address students’ educational potential and needs;
Teachers are often the first group of people a student will reach out to during times of trauma and distress;
Teachers seek to develop the whole child, meeting the physical, social, and emotional needs of their students;
Teachers strive to use innovative and engaging approaches to ensure that all students receive individualized instruction;
Teachers pursue high quality professional development to bring best practices to the classroom;
Teachers prepare students across North Carolina from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 to graduate from high school ready to pursue post-secondary education or a career; and
It is important for teachers to share their specialized knowledge and skills to enhance public education and help public officials understand how the impact of their decisions affects the classroom.
The members of the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Council include:
- Rachel Candaso, chair, Wellcome Middle School, Pitt County Schools
- Amanda Aguayo, Gravelly Hill Middle School, Orange County Schools
- Tayler Bomar, Greenlee Primary School, Mitchell County Schools
- Emily Burrus, Pisgah High School, Haywood County Schools
- Elyse Cannon McRae, South Central High School, Pitt County Schools
- Bobbie Cavnar, South Point High School, Gaston County Schools
- Summer Espinosa, W.R. Odell Primary School, Cabarrus County Schools
- Tamika Farmer, G.W. Carver Elementary School, Edgecombe County Public Schools
- Emma Geist, Davis Drive Middle School, Wake County Public School System
- Chanel Jones, Broadview Middle School, Alamance-Burlington School System
- Yaronda Kilgo, Wingate Elementary School, Union County Public Schools
- Christian Martin, HJ MacDonald Middle School, Craven County Schools
- Dr. Anthony Martin, East Columbus Junior/Senior High School, Columbus County Schools
- Marisha Merchant, White Oak High School, Onslow County Schools
- Hannah Moon, Laney High School, New Hanover County Schools
- Lindsay Phillips, Mountain Island Charter School
- Lydia Sale, West Elementary School, Swain County Schools
Teacher Appreciation Week 2025
“A teacher is often the first person a kid will go to when he or she needs help,” said Stein in a video celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week 2025.
“Teachers are essential to the success of our public schools,” he said.
Stein said he is exited about the work of the teacher advisory committee.
“Our students are our future, and high-quality teachers make all the difference in their education,” he said.
