Twenty-seven educators from across North Carolina have been selected as finalists for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award:
- Anna Sophia Steinki, Alamance-Burlington Schools
- Lindsay Annis, Beaufort County Schools
- Sarah Hersee, Brevard Academy
- Kennedy Elmore, Cabarrus County Schools
- Georgia Juhnke, Caldwell County Schools
- Zoe Couloumbis, Capital Encore Academy
- Amanda (Mandy) Rundgren, Carolina Charter Academy
- Emma Poovey, Catawba County Schools
- Arjge Brothers, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Morgan Dudley, Cherokee County Schools
- Amber Autry, Cumberland County Schools
- Lydia Surprenant, Currituck County Schools
- Kaitlyn Fletcher, Davie County Schools
- Lena Dallas, Haywood County Schools
- Sarah Schwartz, Henderson County Public Schools
- Marquitta Lassiter, Hertford County Schools
- Lillian (Lily) Hartsell, Lenoir County Public Schools
- Caroline Beam, Lincoln County Schools
- Erica (Sydney) Puente, Nash County Public Schools
- Allison Hancock, New Hanover County Schools
- Rebeckah Goras, Orange County Schools
- Sophia Foster, Pender County Schools
- Ashley Hutchins, Randolph County Schools
- Rhyane Jacobs, Public Schools of Robeson County
- Molly Todd, Wake County Schools
- Hester Claire Linville, Watauga County Schools
- Ellie McPherson, Whiteville City Schools