Lily Hartsell Named State Finalist for 2026 NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award

Lily Hartsell, a 7th grade history teacher at E.B. Frink Middle School and Lenoir County Public Schools’ Beginning Teacher of the Year, has been named one of 27 statewide finalists for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching’s 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award.

Hartsell said receiving the call from NCCAT was both humbling and exciting. She shared that the opportunity to represent Frink Middle School, Lenoir County Public Schools, and the region is a meaningful honor, and one that reinforces her daily commitment to excellence in the classroom. “Being a stellar teacher is something I aspire to every single day,” Hartsell said. “I feel that my students deserve no less.”

Hartsell said she works intentionally to create a classroom environment where students feel supported, curious and engaged. “These students come into my room with so much going on, sometimes good, but often not,” she said. “I invite them to leave all of that outside and give themselves the gift of the joy of learning.”

She said student voice and inquiry are central to her teaching philosophy. “I tell them that I not only invite, but expect, questions,” Hartsell said. “Open discussion helps us all learn from each other, and knowledge is its own reward.”

While her creative and dramatic approaches often draw attention, Hartsell said the purpose is to spark interest and deeper learning. “There has been a lot of focus on some of my more dramatic vehicles for learning, like dressing up, but really for me it’s just trying to grab the students’ attention and give them something to remember so they’ll want to dig in and learn more,” she said. “The real meat of our classes comes in the form of debate, peer reviews of work, Socratic seminars, and an inquiry-based classroom.”

She added that her ultimate goal goes beyond any one subject. “Whether they ever come to absolutely love history, and certainly I hope they do, my goal is to get them excited about learning in general and to take ownership of that learning,” Hartsell said.

Dr. Michael Moon, principal of E.B. Frink Middle School, said Hartsell’s recognition reflects her passion and dedication to students. “Ms. Hartsell is an outstanding teacher,” Moon said. “She is deeply passionate about history and engages her students in relevant, engaging lessons every day.”

Moon said Hartsell’s classroom is often filled with creative instruction and collaboration. “If you walk into her classroom, you might see Ms. Hartsell dressed as a medieval plague doctor or as Queen Elizabeth, or you might see her students working in collaborative groups to prepare debates using primary sources,” he said. “Her classroom is a playground for learning in the best possible way.”

He also highlighted her impact beyond academics. “Beyond the classroom, Ms. Hartsell started a cross country team for the first time in school history,” Moon said. “Her cross country team has given students a brand-new avenue for success. She is an exceptional educator, and we are fortunate to have such a passionate, dedicated teacher on our team.”

Superintendent Brent Williams said Hartsell’s selection as a state finalist is a point of pride for the district. “Ms. Hartsell exemplifies the high-quality teaching we strive for across Lenoir County Public Schools,” Williams said. “Her ability to engage students, challenge them to think critically and support them both academically and personally is exactly what this recognition is meant to honor.”

She said her family background played a key role in her calling to teach. “I grew up in a family that valued learning,” Hartsell said. “Family trips always included museums, my grandmother often could be found reading an encyclopedia just because she was curious, and my very inquisitive children have kept me in the habit of being a lifelong learner. All of these things have impressed upon me not only the benefits of education, but the amazing privilege it is.”

As a finalist, Hartsell has been invited to participate in NCCAT’s Beginning Teacher of the Year Program, scheduled for March 9–13, 2026, at the Truist Leadership Center in Greensboro. The program includes leadership development sessions, opportunities for discussion and sharing of best practices, and finalist interviews. A recognition event will be held March 12, 2026, on Wake Forest University’s campus in Winston-Salem.

Lenoir County Public Schools congratulates Ms. Hartsell on this outstanding achievement and celebrates her continued impact on students, colleagues, and the school community.