Last Updated on April 24, 2026 8:05 pm
Gina Holste, a teacher at Valle Crucis School in Watauga County, has been named the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Regional Teacher of the Year for the Northwest Region.
The announcement was made Friday, April 24, at an awards luncheon at the Umstead Hotel in Cary, honoring Holste and eight other regional finalists from across the state. The event was livestreamed, with students and staff at Valle Crucis School watching together — some in the classroom, others on a field trip.
“We were so proud to celebrate Gina Holste, as she represented our school, our county, and our entire region as a Teacher of the Year finalist,” Valle Crucis School wrote on Facebook. “What an incredible honor, and so well deserved!”
As the Northwest Region honoree, Holste will spend the 2026-27 school year working alongside the other regional Teacher of the Year finalists and representing the region's educators at the state level.
Statewide Honor Goes to Onslow County Teacher
The 2026 North Carolina Teacher of the Year title was awarded to Cason Justice, a history teacher at Swansboro High School in Onslow County. Justice has been recognized for his hands-on teaching approach, which includes an archaeology dig and what he calls a “WWI Dodgeball Battle.”
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green praised Justice at the ceremony. “Mr. Justice approaches teaching with a level of dedication and excellence that creates results,” Green said. “Through his intentional lessons and investment outside of the classroom, Mr. Justice encourages his students and colleagues to reach their full potential.”
Justice will spend the 2026-27 school year representing and advocating for North Carolina's teachers, with opportunities to participate in professional development at the national and international level.
About the Award
North Carolina has recognized outstanding teachers through its Teacher of the Year program since 1970. The program is sponsored by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, a private foundation dedicated to advancing biomedical sciences and supporting scientific researchers and educators. In the past 25 years, the fund has invested more than $100 million to support STEM education initiatives.
