Heather Kelley
Justin Conkle
Taylor Apple
Amy Dowdle
Elizabeth Richardson
Stephanie Knight
Kenneth Dowdle
Taneshia Artis
Reba Johnson
Ashley Bloss
Sydney Gammons
Brittany Pratt
Linda Bullock
Lucas Conkle
Gina Gammons
Andrea Brune
Shannon Land
Kayla Teague
Sally Blackwell
Amanda Wall
Mary Catherine Huss
Rockingham County School Recognizes The Beginning Teacher of Excellence Runner Up for 2025-2026:
Allison Huss
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is pleased to announce that Valencia Abbott has been named the 2025 National History Teacher of the Year.
Abbott is an educator with over two decades of experience and serves as the Social Studies Department chair and a civics teacher at Rockingham Early College High School in Wentworth, North Carolina. Her dedication has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2024 Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2024–2025 RECHS Teacher of the Year honor. She is also a 2024 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellow and serves on multiple advisory boards, underscoring her commitment to education and civil rights.
Being named the 2025 National History Teacher of the Year is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the power of storytelling in education. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to inspire students to see themselves in history, to amplify voices that have long been overlooked and undertold, and to remind every young scholar that their story matters.
–Valencia Abbott
As the national winner, Abbott will receive a $10,000 grand prize at a special ceremony on November 5, 2025, at the Harvard Club of New York City. The award will be presented by Pulitzer Prize–winner Stacy Schiff.
Congratulations, Valencia!
Rockingham County Schools proudly honored outstanding educators and leaders during the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The celebration brought together School Board members, district administrators, and special guests to recognize the exceptional contributions of teachers and school leaders across the district.
This year’s district-level honorees include:
2025–2026 Rockingham County Schools Teacher of the Year: Elizabeth Joyce, Western Rockingham Middle School
2025–2026 Beginning Teacher of Excellence: Jessica Boothe, Dalton McMichael High School / Morehead High School
2025–2026 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year: Mary Catherine Huss, Holmes Middle School
2025–2026 Assistant Principal of the Year: Amanda Wall, Leaksville-Spray Elementary School
2025–2026 Principal of the Year: Dr. Kelly Nelson-Danley, Moss Street Elementary School
In addition to these district-wide awards, each school’s individual Teacher of the Year was recognized for their commitment and service to students.
Both Ms. Elizabeth Joyce and Dr. Kelly Nelson-Danley will advance to the state regional selection process for North Carolina Teacher of the Year and North Carolina Principal of the Year, respectively.
Superintendent Stover praised the honorees, stating:
“Our educators and leaders go above and beyond each day to inspire, challenge, and support our students. This celebration is a reflection of their tireless efforts and the positive impact they make on our schools and community.”
Reidsville High School is excited to announce the recommendation of Toi Jackson as our new Assistant Principal, beginning September 29, 2025
Jackson brings over 20 years of experience in education, including 15 years teaching English Language Arts and 5 years as an Assistant Principal. She has also served as Dean of Students, Testing Coordinator, Graduation Coach, and GEAR UP Liaison.
Recognized as Assistant Principal of the Year in her previous district for both the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years, Jackson is passionate about building relationships and creating a positive school culture where students and staff can thrive.
Join us in welcoming her to the Reidsville High School family! 💙💛
Reidsville High School students will need be dismissed today, Wednesday, September 17, at 9:30 AM due to electrical issues that require a Duke Energy power outage for the remainder of the day.
The Rockingham County Board of Education approved a revised meeting schedule during its meeting last night. The updated schedule reflects a change in the meeting times for the Work Sessions on September 22 and October 27, 2025, which will now begin at 6:00 PM instead of 1:00 PM.
