West Virginia English Teacher Wins State's Top Honor

When Laura Presley walked into Princeton Senior High School on Wednesday afternoon, police lights flashing and red carpet rolled out, she realized her career had just changed forever. The English teacher had just won West Virginia Teacher of the Year, the first Mercer County educator to earn the honor since 1981.

Presley has spent 19 years teaching at Princeton Senior High School, the same school where she once sat in classrooms as a student. State officials announced her win on Tuesday night in Charleston, where Superintendent Edward Toman watched her deliver what he called "a movement" of a speech that left both of them in tears.

The celebration that followed showed exactly why she won. Administrators, staff, and hundreds of students packed the gymnasium for a pep rally honoring their beloved teacher, the one they call a second mother and describe as a light in the hallways.

"She's charismatic, she's the type of teacher every kid wants to be in her classroom," said Principal Krissy Zickafoose, who has worked in education for 24 years. Students from freshman Maxton Harvey to senior Whitney White share the same sentiment: Miss Presley makes learning fun and makes every student feel like they belong.

Presley never saw this coming. She had set goals for herself, including becoming a national board certified teacher, but State Teacher of the Year felt like a dream reserved for the county teachers who once inspired her.

Why This Inspires

This recognition shines far beyond one teacher's trophy case. For a county that hadn't seen this honor in 45 years, Presley's win puts a spotlight on all the excellent work happening in Mercer County Schools. Her leadership style, built on making every student feel valued and turning classrooms into second homes, shows what's possible when teachers combine expertise with genuine care.

Senior Brookelynn Minnix pointed to something essential about Presley's approach: her ability to inspire and lead others sets her apart. That's the kind of teaching that doesn't just prepare students for tests but prepares them for life.

Standing in that gymnasium surrounded by cheering students, Presley understood what mattered most: "This is what it's about, my students, that's what it's about."