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Melissa Pearce named Teacher of the Year
from June 2023
by Johnston Now
Submitted by JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SMITHFIELD — Melissa Pearce, an English teacher at Cleveland High, was crowned Johnston County Public Schools 2023 Teacher of the Year at the 29th annual Flame For Learning Award banquet. Pearce is a two-time award recipient and a 2022 award finalist.
As the winner, Pearce received $1,000 and will represent Johnston County in the regional competition for North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year.
Because of the importance of teachers in developing and educating children, the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce adopted the Flame For Learning Award. Their goal is to support and elevate the teaching profession in JCPS. This award recognizes outstanding creativity and innovation in teachers that are selected strictly on merit, without regard to school or residence.
Through a blind judging process, 20 semifinalists were selected to move on to the interview phase. They also submitted a Best Practice from the classroom. The semifinalists represented 16 JCPS schools.
Chosen as finalists for the award were Paul Bradford (West Johnston High), Kimberly Drown (West Johnston High) and Lynda Martin (Thanksgiving Elementary).
Finalists Bradford, Martin and Drown received $500 dollars each, and the semifinalists for the award each received $150. All of the cash awards were made possible thanks to the Flame For Learning Award sponsors.
Cleveland High English teacher Melissa Pearce was crowned the 2023 Johnston County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Pearce is a two-time award recipient, a 2022 finalist.
The 20 semifinalists for 2023 Teacher of the Year were Colleen Bonner - West Johnston High, Bradford, Cheryl Brown - River Dell Elementary, Talitha Crawford - West Smithfield Elementary, Brooke DaughtryNorth Johnston High, Drown, Dorothy Holley - West Johnston High, Jennifer JohnsonSwift Creek Middle, Martin, Erin McGowen - Four Oaks Elementary, Jennifer Medlin - Riverwood Elementary, Shearon Miller Cleveland High, Kathryn Moore - East Clayton Elementary, Pearce, Diana Peñuela - South Smithfield Elementary, Courtney Renfrow - Cleveland Elementary, Nick Rotenberry - Polenta Elementary, Natalie Torres Urzua - Cooper Elementary, Amy Wellbrook - Riverwood Middle and Brandy Williams Selma Elementary.
