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