On Tuesday, Sept. 6, a Celebration of Excellence in Education was held at the WV Culture Center in Charleston, honoring the 2025 Teacher and School Service Personnel of the Year. The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) welcomed the finalists for the 2025 Teacher and School Service Personnel of the Year to the annual Celebration of Excellence in Education ceremony. This program recognizes educators and school service personnel for their exemplary service to students and their school communities. Additionally, the 2025 West Virginia Teacher of the Year (TOY) and West Virginia School Service Personnel of the Year (SPOY) were announced during the event.
TOY finalists include:
- Krista Blankenship, Pleasant Valley Elementary School, Marion County
- Emily Dunkle, Greenbrier East High School, Greenbrier County
- Bryan Holt, Mill Creek Intermediate School, Berkley County
- Seth Skiles, Rock Branch Elementary School, Putnam County
- Kimberly Yahya, Athens Elementary School, Mercer County
SPOY finalists include:
- Cynthia Carper, School Bus Operator, Jefferson County
- Julia Dopson, Kindergarten Classroom Aide, Berkley
- Nicole McCulley, Librarian/Media Aide, Marshall County
- Kasey McCulty, Computer Technician, Marshall County
- Kelly Pritt, Secretary, Braxton County
The event also included a recognition of the 2025 program sponsors which are as follows:
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc.
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, West Virginia
- Horace Mann Insurance Solutions
- West Virginia Lottery
- West Virginia Department of Tourism
- Leadership West Virginia
- West Virginia Education Association
- American Federation of Teachers – West Virginia
- West Virginia School Service Personnel Association
- West Virginia Professional Educators
- Kin Ship Goods
- Blenko Glass Company
Learn more about the 2025 TOY and SPOY finalists by visiting the WVDE website. Follow the WVDE online on Facebook, X.com, Instagram and LinkedIn.
