CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Education has announced its finalists for the 2025 West Virginia Teacher of the Year and Personnel of the Year.
The five finalists for the Teacher of the Year include Krista Blankenship, Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Marion County; Emily Dunkle, Greenbrier East High School in Greenbrier County; Bryon Hott, Mill Creek Intermediate School in Berkeley County; Seth Skiles ,Rock Branch Elementary School in Putnam County; and Kim Yahya, Athens Elementary School in Mercer County.
Blankenship, a Fairmont State graduate, is a third grade teacher at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Fairmont. She has taught in three counties throughout her 18-year teaching career, and also holds an Elementary Mathematics certification from Marshall University.
Dunkle, a West Virginia University graduate, is an agricultural teacher at Greenbrier East High School in Lewisburg. Dunkle has five years of experience in teaching and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Agriculture Education from Murray State University.
Hott, a multi-time Shepard University graduate, is a fourth grade teacher at Mill Creek Elementary School in Bunker Hill. Hott comes in with 11 years of experience and has served on a multitude of committees and task forces, as well as earned the West Virginia Council of Mathematics Math Teacher of the Year in 2020.
Skiles, an Anderson University graduate, is a music teacher at Rock Branch Elementary in Putnam County. Skiles also obtained his Master’s Degree from Belmont University, and has a strong list of certificates and experience from a multitude of universities. Skiles returned to West Virginia after teaching elementary music in the Nashville area.
Yahya, a two-time Concord University graduate, teaches fourth grade math at Athens Elementary School in Mercer County. Yahya has served at Athens Elementary for 15 years, and serves as social committee chair and a county math trainer.
These teachers were chosen from the state’s county Teacher of the Year winners.
Along with the Teacher of the Year finalists, the West Virginia Department of Education also announced five finalists for the 2025 West Virginia Service Personnel of the Year award.
The state’s Personnel of the Year finalists include Cynthia Carper from Jefferson County, Julia Dopson from Berkeley County, Nicole McCulley from Marshall County, Kasey McCulty from Wirt County and Kelly Pritt from Braxton County.
Carper, a 34-year school bus operator, also serves on Jefferson County’s Recruitment and Retention Committee and distributes book bags and school supplies to children in need.
Dopson, a 19-year kindergarten aide at Burke Street Elementary School in Berkeley County, has received lots of recognition in her career, including many awards, including the Berkeley County Schools Distinguished Service Award.
McCulley serves as a librarian for both Center McMechen Elementary and Glen Dale Elementary in Marshall County. McCulley is known for her efforts to raise funds for disadvantaged students.
McCulty is a six-year computer technician at Wirt County Middle School. McCulty brings a few special skillsets to the table, including proficiency in HVAC systems and the ability to integrate laser engravers and a commercial slushie machine for his students.
Pritt has served at Braxton County Middle School for five years as the school’s secretary. Pritt shows off her effort in various ways throughout the school including handling the school’s finances and reworking classrooms with painting and carpentry skills.
The Department of Education will name the winners during a ceremony later this year.