Our Team & Contact
You are invited to reach out to any of our team members! We hope to collaborate with, learn from, and help new teachers.
There are 28 total team members from across the state. The finalists are arranged by region from east to west.
Leanne Rose
2019 Beginning Teacher of the Year
Southwest Region
Mooresville Graded School District
Elementary
LeanneRose@mgsd.k12.nc.us
Cristina Chase Lane
2019 Beginning Teacher of the Year Runner Up
Central Carolina Region
Wake County Public Schools
Elementary
cclane@wcpss.net
Robin "Kent" Pittman, II
BTOY Finalist (Southeast Region)
Carteret County Public Schools
High
robin.pittman@carteretk12.org
Rebecca Dearien
BTOY Finalist (Southeast Region)
Craven County Schools
Middle
rebecca.dearien@cravenk12.org
Erin Stewart
BTOY Finalist (Southeast Region)
Lenoir County Public Schools
Elementary
estewart@lenoir.k12.nc.us
Damarius Susana Prieto
BTOY Finalist (Sandhills Region)
Cumberland County Schools
High
damarrisprieto@ccs.k12.nc.us
Ziena Walker
BTOY Finalist (Sandhills Region)
Innovative School District
Elementary
zwalker@k12isd.org
Lara Johnson
BTOY Finalist (Sandhills Region)
Bladen County Schools
High, Health Occupations Education
lbjohnson@bladen.k12.nc.us
Sarah Lawrence
BTOY Finalist (Charter)
Bear Grass Charter School
High, Agriculture Education
slawrence@beargrasscharter.org
Tina Brown
BTOY Finalist (Northeast Region)
Beaufort County Schools
Grades 5-8 Resource
tbrown@beaufort.k12.nc.us
Reba Warren Jenkins
BTOY Finalist (Northeast Region)
Pitt County Public Schools
Elementary (Dual Language)
warrenr@pitt.k12.nc.us
Elizabeth Riddick
BTOY Finalist (Northeast Region)
Perquimans County Schools
Middle
elizabethriddick@pqschools.org
Sydney Paladino
BTOY Finalist (Charter)
Wake County Charter Schools
Elementary
spaladino@envisionscienceacademy.com
Alaysha Rogers
BTOY Finalist (Central Carolina Region)
Halifax County Schools
High
rogersa@se.halifax.k12.nc.us
Bethany Young
BTOY Finalist (Central Carolina Region)
Granville County Public Schools
Middle
youngb@gcs.k12.nc.us
Justine Riddick
BTOY Finalist (Charter)
The Point College Prep
High
Tria Cope
BTOY Finalist (Piedmont Triad Region)
Randolph County Schools
Elementary
tcope@randolph.k12.nc.us
Sara Bowen Andrews
BTOY Finalist (Piedmont Triad Region)
Rockingham County Schools
Elementary
sandrews@rock.k12.nc.us
Kennedy Dockery
BTOY Finalist (Piedmont Triad Region)
Mount Airy City Schools
Elementary
kdockery@mtairy.k12.nc.us
Victoria Freeman
BTOY Finalist (Southwest Region)
Gaston County Schools
Elementary
vpfreeman@gaston.k12.nc.us
Megan Houchins
BTOY Finalist (Southwest Region)
Iredell Statesville Schools
Elementary
megan_houchins@iss.k12.nc.us
Allison Snyder
BTOY Finalist (Western Region)
Buncombe County Schools
Elementary
allison.snyder@bcsemail.org
Rachel Somerville
BTOY Finalist (Western Region)
Henderson County Public Schools
Elementary (Dual Language)
Kelsi Pinkston
BTOY Finalist (Western Region)
Haywood County Consolidated Schools
High
Allie Reitzell
BTOY Finalist (Northwest Region)
Newton Conover County Schools
Elementary
allie.reitzell@n-ccs.org
Melissa Canter
BTOY Finalist (Northwest Region)
Alexander County Schools
Elementary/Middle
mcanter@alexander.k12.nc.us
Alison Stuart
BTOY Finalist (Northwest Region)
Catawba County Schools
Middle
alison_stuart@catawbaschools.net
Katelyn Bumgarner
BTOY Finalist (Northwest Region)
Wilkes County Schools
Elementary
bumgarnerka@wilkes.k12.nc.us
Special Thanks to Terri Clark Photography for our amazing headshots!
