WCPSS names Macy Brinson of Kingswood Magnet Elementary as Teacher of the Year

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) named Macy Brinson as the 2025 Teacher of the Year on Thursday night.

Brinson is a physical education teacher at Kingswood Magnet Elementary School. The ceremony took place at the Teacher of the Year banquet at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Brinson has taught for six years, the past four of which have been at Kingswood.

In addition to teaching, she leads a running club for students in the fall and spring, which culminates in students and parents running a 5K race to benefit a community organization.

She also organizes the school's annual Walk to School Day to promote safety and family engagement, as well as the school's annual Kids Heart Challenge campaign to support the American Heart Association.

"Macy is so dedicated to her program and her students and takes great pride and ownership in all the tasks she undertakes," said Kingswood Magnet Elementary principal Sherry Schliesser. "She delivers high-quality and relevant instruction for each grade level every day of the school year. She also knows all the students by name and is often seen having conversations with students around the building."

Brinson also serves as a champion for learners with special needs and travels with her students to cheer them on as they compete in the Special Olympics each year.

"Macy crafts lessons that are not only engaging, but also thoughtfully adapted to meet the needs of all my learners," said Kingswood Magnet Elementary special education teacher Kim Eason. "She fosters a supportive and close environment where all students are encouraged to participate. Her dedication to making sure no child is left behind, combined with her ability to bring out the potential in each student, exemplifies what it means to be a truly exceptional teacher."

As Teacher of the Year, Brinson will get to participate in the Go Global NC international study program in Botswana and Zambia during summer 2026. The trip is sponsored by the Dan Royster Memorial Teacher Award, in honor of the late WCPSS science teacher and international exchange advocate. She'll also get an assortment of awards and prizes.

Millbrook Magnet High School teacher Ryan Berglund was named last year's WCPSS Teacher of the Year. He has been a Millbrook Sustainable Agriculture Academy teacher since July 2019 and started teaching Career and Technical Education after working as a welder and equipment fabricator.

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