INWOOD — Berkeley County Schools announced its 2025 Teacher of the Year, Service Person of the Year and New Teacher of the Year during a special ceremony at Musselman High School on Thursday.
With a “Rockstars” theme, every finalist and award winner was recognized for their dedication to education. With support from its business partners, Berkeley County Schools presented $500 to finalists, while award winners were given $1,000.
Service Person of the Year finalists included Samuel Bivens Jr., custodian at the Department of Transportation; Dwayne Dennison, custodian at Musselman High School; Curtis Hite, custodian at Hedgesville High School; and Jan Kidwell, secretary at Martinsburg High School. Hite was named as the winner after working for Berkeley County Schools for 37 years.
Hite first started working for Berkeley County Schools in 1980 at North Middle School. He then left to join the military, where he served in the Navy for several years.
When he came back to Berkeley County, Hite decided to go back to be with the kids. He shared that over the years, he’s met several students who told him how a simple interaction had such a big impact on them.
“It’s a great honor,” Hite said. “I think about all the kids I’ve impacted over the years. It’s a great honor to be nominated.”
Lakyn Byers, second-grade teacher at Berkeley Heights Elementary, was named the New Teacher of the Year. Byers went to college to pursue a degree in elementary education but ended up switching her degree part way through.
She decided to work as a permanent substitute teacher and quickly realized her heart always belonged in the classroom.
“My heart truly goes out to these kids,” Byers said. “I want to be a rock in their life; someone they can depend on. I love being able to shape them as a person. It’s truly my passion.”
As a new teacher, it hasn’t been easy, but Byers is thankful for all the people who have supported her and helped give best experience possible to her students. Without them, she wouldn’t have succeeded.
Teacher of the Year finalist included Loren Holliday, Title I interventionist at Opequon Elementary School; Allison McClintock, baking and pastry teacher at Musselman High School; Emily McDonald, sixth-grade science teacher at Hedgesville Middle School; and Beth Otto, fourth-grade teacher at Tomahawk Intermediate School. McDonald was named the Teacher of the Year.
Ever since McDonald was a little girl, she would put piles of books into her wagon, drive her tractor down to the fields and read to the cows. People would tell her that she was good at teaching and helping people solve their problems. Being a teacher felt like a natural fit for her.
She taught gymnastics for 15 years and has spent many years pouring into students’ lives. However, what makes her so passionate about teaching is her own daughter.
“I want her to be the best she can be,” McDonald said. “When I’m getting ready for the day I think of her. I want to give other kids the education I want my daughter to have, and I want her to have the very best.”
McDonald and Hite will join many dedicated teachers and school staff from all over the state representing Berkeley County in the West Virginia Teacher and Service Person of the Year program.