The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) recently celebrated a new star in the teaching world, Summer Espinosa, who was honoured as the NCCAT 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year. Espinosa, a kindergarten teacher at W.R. Odell Primary School in Cabarrus County Schools, received her award at a special ceremony hosted at UNC Greensboro's Elliott University Center Auditorium.
The award, now in its sixth year, highlights the bright futures of new teachers in the state's public and charter schools. Espinosa, described as a "bright light to North Carolina students" by her colleagues, is praised for bringing an infectious energy, learning-focused atmosphere, and strong sense of community to her classroom, according to a statement shared by the Department of Public Instruction's news release. Finalists, before the award ceremony, took part in a professional development week at the Truist Leadership Institute, a testament to the on-going support these educators receive.
"At NCCAT, we believe that supporting and celebrating beginning teachers is essential to the future of education in North Carolina," remarked NCCAT Executive Director Dr. M. Brock Womble, acknowledging the impact teachers like Espinosa have on their students and communities. Alfred Mays from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the event’s Signature Sponsor, emphasized the importance of such an award in investing in education's future, stating, "This award is not only a celebration of excellent beginning teachers, it also represents the innovation, resilience, and passion that define the profession," as per the Department of Public Instruction's news release.
Espinosa wasn't the only educator recognized for excellence in teaching. Pieter Westerbeek, a special education teacher from Knightdale High School, was named the award's runner-up. The accolades didn't stop there; additional finalists from various school systems were also celebrated for their commitment to education—listed in the same news release. Prizes for the recognized educators included a $5,000 cash award for Espinosa and $2,000 for Westerbeek, while all finalists received compensation for travel and substitute costs, allowing them the opportunity to participate in an enriching professional development week.
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund, with a historical investment of over $100 million in STEM education initiatives in the past 25 years, along with other generous sponsors, including Empower, Bojangles, and several universities, contributed to the success of the event and the continued support of promising educators. The recognition stands as a salute to the critical work beginning teachers undertake, shaping the minds and lives of young learners across North Carolina.
