West Bladen Teacher Named State Award Finalist

Elizabeth Roberson is a finalist for the 2027 North Carolina Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year award.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Secondary Education

Bold vector editorial illustration of a drafting compass and protractor on a wooden desk surface, representing career and technical education. — West Bladen High School business teacher Elizabeth Roberson has been named a finalist for the 2027 North Carolina Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

West Bladen High School business teacher Elizabeth Roberson has been named a finalist for the 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year. Her nomination recognizes her efforts in preparing students for college and career readiness.

Why it matters

The award highlights educators who play a vital role in local workforce development and student success. This recognition underscores the importance of CTE programs in readying North Carolina students for post-secondary career opportunities.

Elizabeth Roberson, a business education teacher at West Bladen High School, earned the finalist title for the 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina CTE Teacher of the Year award. The final winner will be selected following a series of interviews and professional reviews.

The players

Elizabeth Roberson

A business education teacher at West Bladen High School who focuses on student career readiness.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund

A foundation that supports medical and scientific education, including statewide teacher awards.

Bladen County Board of Education

The local governing body responsible for overseeing the public schools in the county.

The details

Finalists for the state award participate in an intensive week of professional development, which includes portfolio reviews and interviews with selection committee members. This process is designed to assess how educators effectively integrate real-world career readiness and workforce development into their high school curriculum. The final recipient is chosen based on these evaluations to serve as the statewide representative for career and technical education.

September 21, 2026: Elizabeth Roberson was recognized at a Bladen County Board of Education meeting.
October 2026: Finalists will attend a week of professional development, including interviews and reviews.
October 29, 2026: The 2027 North Carolina CTE Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Concord Convention Center.

The Home Front

This recognition aligns with a statewide trend toward emphasizing career and technical pathways as a priority in secondary education. It reflects a broader effort to modernize workforce training through the established North Carolina CTE curriculum standards.

Families with students at West Bladen High School may want to review the current CTE business curriculum to understand the opportunities available for career development. Keeping up with school board announcements can help parents stay informed about new technical training programs for students.

The takeaway

The recognition of local educators for career development efforts highlights the value of technical coursework in preparing students for the modern economy. Parents are encouraged to consult the high school course catalog for details on upcoming CTE business program offerings.