LEWISBURG W.Va. – Greenbrier County Schools (GCS) proudly celebrates its 2025 Employees of the Year, honoring exceptional educators and staff who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and service. Each school in the county selects a Teacher of the Year, all of whom are nominated for County Teacher of the Year recognition. A selection committee reviews these nominations to select an Elementary Teacher of the Year, a Secondary Teacher of the Year, and an overall County Teacher of the Year. The County Teacher of the Year is then nominated for the West Virginia Department of Education’s State Teacher of the Year Award.
GCS congratulates the following 2025 School-Level Teachers of the Year:
- Melissa Santos (Alderson Elementary)
- David Poticher (Crichton Elementary)
- Angie Tipton (Frankford Elementary)
- Regina Holliday (Lewisburg Elementary)
- Kelley McDade (Rainelle Elementary)
- Elizabeth Dills Wood (Ronceverte Elementary)
- Jessica Hughart (Rupert Elementary)
- Wendy Anderson (Smoot Elementary)
- Leigh Ann Nutter (WSSE Elementary)
- Alayna Sparks (Eastern Greenbrier Middle School)
- Brooke Crane (Western Greenbrier Middle School)
- Emily Dunkle (Greenbrier East High School)
- Tim Yunker (Greenbrier West High School)
The school community celebrates each of these outstanding educators and thanks them for their dedication to students. Greenbrier County Schools proudly announces the selection of the following County-level awardees:
County Teacher of the Year and Finalist for WV Teacher of the Year: Greenbrier East High School’s Agriculture Education teacher, Emily Dunkle, has been named the 2025 County Teacher of the Year and has been selected as one of the top 5 finalists for the WV Teacher of the Year Award. Additionally, the WV Department of Education recently honored Mrs. Dunkle as the state’s New CTE Teacher of the Year. As the FFA Advisor, she contributes significantly to student development through initiatives like the Ham Bacon Sale and a partnership with the National Fish Hatchery to build mallard duck housing. Her unwavering commitment to career exploration and agriculture education fosters entrepreneurship and cultivates future generations of farmers.
Elementary Teacher of the Year: Liz Dils-Wood, a third-grade teacher at Ronceverte Elementary, is the Greenbrier County Elementary Teacher of the Year. She has secured numerous partnerships, including with Lego and General Motors, and serves as a Legends of Learning Ambassador. Her involvement in state writing and science committees highlights her dedication to advancing education. She continuously seeks innovative methods to ensure all students achieve success
Secondary Teacher of the Year: Tim Yunker, who teaches Social Studies at Greenbrier West High School, is the Greenbrier County Secondary Teacher of the Year. Embracing his growth as a lifelong learner, he has transitioned from using chalkboards to implementing interactive assignments, e-learning, and AI. Tim’s excellent rapport with students and his multi-faceted lessons prepare them for future endeavors.
School Service Employee of the Year: Wanda Mitchem has been selected as Greenbrier County’s School Service Employee of the Year. With over 45 years of caring, compassionate, professional service, Wanda is often the first point of contact for new employees and supports them throughout their careers. Her dedication extends to volunteering at school functions and mentoring through Communities In Schools of Greenbrier County.
“Each of these honorees exemplifies the spirit of dedication and excellence in education,” said Superintendent Jeff Bryant. “Their commitment to their students, schools, and communities is truly inspiring and makes a profound impact on the lives of our students every day.”
