Burlington Reporter

Eastern Alamance High School science teacher Medora Burke-Scoll was recently chosen as the 2022 Alamance-Burlington School System Teacher of the Year during the Alamance Chamber's 23rd Teacher of the Year ceremony, according to The Times News.

Burke-Scoll, a member of the Alamance-Burlington Association of Educators, expressed gratitude to her family and students for having the same confidence in her as she has in them.

"If you don't have that passion, you can't understand how much fun our job is," Burke-Scoll told The Times News. "For me, that's a big part of what I do, being able to be a part of that advocacy community to make our public schools that much better."

A press release from the Alamance Chamber says that the Excellence in Education Awards is an annual ceremony that honors the Teachers of the Year from among 37 schools throughout the Alamance-Burlington School System and Alamance Community College.

Burke-Scoll, who received $10,000 for her classroom, a professional wardrobe, gift cards and a gift basket, will now progress to compete for North Carolina Teacher of the Year. She also received a trip to Chile in 2023, which was funded by the Smith Family Foundation.

Donors -- including the Alamance Community Foundation, Alamance Arts, Impact Alamance, Hursey's BBQ and Elon Athletics -- contributed roughly $50,000 to the Alamance Chamber.

Prizes included $10,000 for professional development of the winner's choice, $2,000 for the winner and $1,000 for every finalist, as well as Chic-Fil-A-sponsored gift bags.

The program included 40 Alamance County instructors chosen by their schools.

Edna Parker, chair of Labcorp, Willy Fisher of Fisher Wealth Management, Bob Frigo of Elon University and Sara Beth Hardy of Elon University comprise the selection committee. Tyronna Hooker, the 2011 North Carolina Teacher of the Year, was also a member of this committee, where she participated in reviewing candidates, conducting interviews with semifinalists and selecting eight finalists for recognition.

"It gives me hope for our public education system," Hooker told The Times News. "It lets me know there are people working tirelessly to make sure our children achieve their goals. They are all winners."

Burke-Scoll is the second teacher from the Alamance-Burlington School System to be named North Carolina Teacher of the Year, following Bryan "Freebird" McKinney in 2018.