Candaso Earns Regional Teacher of the Year Honors

Rachel Candaso, who was named Pitt County Schools Teacher of the Year last March, was honored again Thursday when she was named the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Northeast Region Teacher of the Year.

Her selection marks the ninth time a PCS educator has earned the prestigious designation since 2000, most recently following former J.H. Rose High School science teacher Clinton Todd in 2022, who now is the district's talent acquisition coordinator.

Candaso, who serves as an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher and site coordinator at Wellcome Middle School, will now vie for state teacher of the year honors with nine others after succeeding 2024 regional winner Anita Rubino-Thomas of Currituck County High School.

2024 N.C. Teacher of the Year recipient Heather Smith of Haywood County Schools shared remarks from Candaso's fellow teachers and students while presenting the award in the WMS Media Center.

"As teachers we don’t often have the opportunity to be recognized, but your teacher deserves this," Smith said while addressing the audience, which included Candaso's students. "There are about 100,000 teachers in the state of North Carolina and Ms. Candaso is one of nine, the top nine teachers in the state. That’s incredible.

"What’s even more incredible is that she has so many family members, so many students and so many colleagues that have showed up for her today because of what she means to each and every single one of you."

Smith also told students that Candaso "knows, without a doubt, that they are the ones who she will put first in every decision she makes and that she will be a voice for each and every single one of you."

Candaso, who is in her fifth year in the district, initially joined the Wellcome faculty in 2020 as a sixth-grade English/language arts teacher before instructing within the social studies curriculum during the 2021-22 school year. In addition to her engagement in the PCS Teacher Leadership Institute and RISE Fellow programs, she is an active participant in the Teach for America organization and has served as an advisory board, onboarding team and corps member, and storytelling fellow.

She earned bachelor degrees in political science and criminal justice from Arizona State University and certification in international studies, homeland security and religion & conflict.

"I do this for you guys and I hope you know that," Candaso emotionally expressed when she spoke to her students from the podium. "I believe in students, I believe in your excellence and I believe anyone can be successful as long as they have the opportunity, the knowledge and the agency over their education to be great ... and you have that. I hope that when you leave Wellcome, I have given you something that helps you in the next four years of high school and beyond. That's what I strive for every day."

Rubino-Thomas also attended the ceremony and added that Candaso's colleagues described her as "the glue for the school" and that "she helped to rapidly change the culture of the school for the better."

PCS Superintendent Dr. Steve M. Lassiter Jr. thanked Candaso for being a difference maker and stated the district was proud to have her representation at this level and the next level.

"In the last three years we’ve had two regional teachers of the year for Pitt County Schools," Lassiter said. "It shows that we’re doing something right in terms of our workforce and our teachers who love our students and have passion for education."