Cumberland County Schools is proud to announce that Haleigh Baker, the district's 2025 Beginning Teacher of the Year, was recently selected as a finalist for the  North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching's (NCCAT) 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award.

A nomination form submitted on behalf of the Cumberland International Early College High School (CIECHS) math teacher highlighted that Baker exudes genuine enthusiasm for teaching and demonstrates a deep passion for her subject matter. Her contagious love for learning serves as an inspiration to her students.

The nomination highlighted Baker's exceptional dedication and perseverance during her first year of teaching. She successfully taught End-of-Course (EOC) tested subjects, contributing to increased school proficiency rates. Going above and beyond, Baker tutored students before and after school, analyzed assessment data to identify learning gaps and integrated small-group instruction into her daily lessons.

Her classroom reflected the expertise of a veteran educator, with clear policies, procedures and expectations that create a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to take academic risks. Additionally, Baker actively collaborated with her colleagues to address student needs and advance school initiatives and programs, demonstrating her commitment to both individual and collective success.

The nominator praised Baker's remarkable confidence as a beginning teacher, stating in a press release: "Most importantly, she [Baker] is confident in her ability to break content into manageable, attainable pieces, which, in turn, fuels her confidence that her students can succeed. Her unwavering belief in them shifts their mindsets and sparks their belief in themselves."

On March 27, Baker will join the other award finalists at a special ceremony on the campus of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro for the announcement of the 2025 NCCAT Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award recipient.