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ISSUE NO. 21 • May 28, 2026 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
Joy VanDyke is Rutherford County Schools Teacher of the Year
“Teacher shortages have led to weaker “The thing I love most about teaching is the personal relationships licensure requirements and often less that I build with my students,” she qualified hires. Those teachers are not continued. “I make it a point to love every getting the support that they need to be child-that’s the most important part of successful because support staff positions my job. That love is what motivates me and school administrator positions have to hold them to high standards and push been cut,” VanDyke explained. “Teachers even when it’s out of their comfort zone. and principals are asked to do a lot more There is no better feeling in the world with a lot less support.” “The latest NC Working Conditions than rejoicing with students over their successes-whether it’s when they are Survey cites student behavior as one of still in my classroom, or walking the halls the biggest challenges teachers face,” she as seniors, or graduating from college continued. “However, it is my full belief that when schools have smaller class sizes, and beginning careers.” VanDyke says she has grown more administrative support, adequate “immensely” as a teacher throughout access to school counselors, and highly qualified teachers, students will get the her career. “I have been blessed to have emotional support that they need and worked with some phenomenal teachers disruptive behavior will decline. The current and I’ve learned a tremendous amount level of funding strips schools of these from them-not just about instruction resources and it impacts students directly.” VanDyke believes public schools should or curriculum but about how to build stronger relationships, support students be supported in a robust manner. Public who have been through trauma, hold education, she says, is vital to our society “Public education is the primary vehicle students accountable, and motivate them to succeed,” VanDyke said. for providing every child with an equal “Students are still resilient, and they opportunity to succeed,” VanDyke stated. still respond best to a teacher who they “Public schools serve students from know loves them. They still appreciate all backgrounds, giving every child the someone pushing them and motivating chance to learn, grow, and pursue their Teacher of the Year Joy VanDyke teaches them out of a pure desire to see them goals regardless of income, culture, or at Sunshine Elementary School. circumstance. Without public education, succeed.” The changing society means VanDyke many students would never have access Joy VanDyke, a fourth-grade teacher at to the resources and support they need Sunshine Elementary School, was recently has had to make some adjustments. “As the world around us has changed to succeed. Traditional public schools named the 2026-2027 Rutherford County and become more ‘immediate,’ information accept and educate all students, and they Schools Teacher of the Year. She just completed her 22nd year of is often given to students in short clips do it very well, while providing the public teaching, and has taught all those years in or reels and they have grown used to with transparent accountability measures instantaneous knowledge, reward, and so that citizens can be sure that their tax Rutherford County. “I have taught kindergarten, first, feedback. I have found that students’ ability dollars are truly serving the community.” “Our school system provides ample second, third, fourth, and fifth grade,” to sustain focus on longer tasks has waned,” VanDyke explained. “I also spent a year as VanDyke said. “This just means that I have opportunities to be challenged from an assistant principal at Forest City Dunbar to continually adapt my instruction to fit kindergarten through 12th grade,” VanDyke Elementary School. I very much enjoyed it, their needs, and to find ways to help them continued. “Students are able to earn associate’s degrees while attending any of build that focus and perseverance.” but I missed my first love-teaching.” Even with her success, VanDyke our traditional high schools, and they have VanDyke is a native of Rutherford County, an array of options for advanced placement and graduated from East Rutherford High acknowledges there are challenges. “Teaching in North School. She received a Teaching Fellows Scholarship to UNC Chapel Hill. She Carolina is challenging, and her husband Neil VanDyke have two now more than ever in my career,” she said. “There’s children, Grayson and Riley Kate. for the Through her years in the classroom, disrespect some things have changed, while others profession from our state leaders. North Carolina remained consistent. “I still love to have fun in the classroom!,” teacher salaries sit at she said. “I want learning to be as engaging the bottom of the nation, as possible and for kids to enjoy the and as if this weren’t abysmal enough, per process.” She believes teacher and student pupil spending in North Carolina is second to last connections are critical. “Relationships with students have in the nation as well.” This, she believes, always been my top priority and I have fought to keep that the focus of everything I has led to numerous Joy VanDyke builds relationships with her students, who problems. know she cares about them. do,” VanDyke said.
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courses providing them college credit.” Overall, VanDyke is hopeful about the future of public education. “No matter what, I will always be optimistic about public education because of what I see on a daily basis,” she said. “I work with some of the most amazing individuals on the planet-they give sacrificially of themselves out of genuine love for the children in our community. Beautiful things can come in broken vessels and our teachers’ dedication to their students is truly beautiful.” “As a teacher you often spend more time daily with students than they spend with their own parents,” VanDyke continued. “That is an incredible responsibility and an honor. I am able to influence their beliefs about themselves, their attitudes about learning, and even just their daily moods by what I bring to the classroom each day.” “Teaching is truly a calling, and is extremely fulfilling,” she added. VanDyke will represent Rutherford County Schools in regional Teacher of the Year competition.
Rutherford County Schools Teacher of the Year Joy VanDyke loves to get her students excited about learning.
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