CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2025 West Virginia Teacher of the Year. Chosen from among the state’s county Teacher of the Year winners, these finalists exemplify dedication to student achievement and well-being through classroom innovation and engaging instruction.
Finalists represent school districts statewide and are as follows:
- Krista Blankenship – Pleasant Valley Elementary School, Marion County
- Emily Dunkle – Greenbrier East High School, Greenbrier County
- Bryan Hott – Mill Creek Intermediate School, Berkeley County
- Seth Skiles – Rock Branch Elementary School, Putnam County
- Kim Yahya – Athens Elementary School, Mercer County
Krista Blankenship is a third grade teacher at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Fairmont. She graduated from Fairmont State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Education. Additionally, she holds an Elementary Mathematics certification from Marshall University. Blankenship has taught in Hampshire, Monongalia, and Marion counties throughout her 18-year career. She is an active member of various committees at her school and has secured project and grant donations totaling more than $10,500 toward a school-wide high tunnel project and a “Trout in the Classroom” project. Blankenship is passionate about creating a welcoming environment in her classroom, believing that building relationships with her students and their families is the most crucial part of education. This belief inspires her to spark a love of learning in her students through engaging teaching strategies.
Emily Dunkle is a dedicated agriculture educator and FFA advisor at Greenbrier East High School in Lewisburg. With five years of experience, she excels in guiding students toward valuable knowledge and practical experiences in agriculture education. Her student-centered approach and commitment to hands-on learning create a dynamic and engaging educational environment for her students. Dunkle holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education from West Virginia University, and she is pursuing a Master of Science in Agriculture Education from Murray State University. She was recently named the 2024 New Career Technical Education Teacher of the Year, awarded the 2023 Teacher Turn the Key Award, and is the 2024 Greenbrier East High School Teacher of the Year.
Bryan Hott is a fourth grade teacher at Mill Creek Intermediate School in Bunker Hill, with 11 years of experience teaching fourth grade overall and music. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, and summa cum laude honors with his Master of Arts in Teaching from Shepherd University. Hott has served on the superintendent’s advisory committee, Berkeley County Schools mathematics advisory committee, the Covid-19 advisory committee, closing the achievement gap committee, instructional planning task force, leadership team, hallway/team leader, technology leader, social committee, West Virginia Heritage Day chair, hiring committee, local school improvement council, school fundraising chair, Watershed coordinator, and field trip coordinator. Hott was named state Math Teacher of the Year by the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics in 2020 and a Caring Educator for Berkeley County Schools in 2018. His many accolades demonstrate his commitment to student learning and success.
Seth Skiles is a passionate music educator and West Virginia native serving as an elementary music specialist at Rock Branch Elementary School. Skiles earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Anderson University. He obtained a master’s degree in church music with a conducting concentration from Belmont University. After teaching elementary music in the Nashville area, Skiles returned to West Virginia, bringing acquired educational practices and cultural experiences to his home school district. He is certified in the John Feierabend First Steps in Music curriculum and is pursuing National Board Certification. Skiles’ professional development experience includes the University Mozarteum Orff Institute’s International Elemental Music course in Salzburg, Austria; conducting intensives through Rider University’s Westminster Choir College; West Virginia University’s World Music Pedagogy course; Disney Institute’s Approach to Leadership Excellence course; and state music education conferences in Indiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia. His passion for arts education influences the classroom environment, creating a learning atmosphere driven by student engagement and proactive learning.
Kimberly Yahya is a 15-year veteran teacher at Athens Elementary School where she teaches fourth grade mathematics. Yahya earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an endorsement in general science grades 5-9 and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Concord University. Yahya is a reading bee coach, leadership team member, social committee chair, and county math trainer. She was also chosen to represent Mercer County in the West Virginia Leaders of Numeracy Network. Yahya is always willing to train, collaborate, and share her knowledge with other teachers. She creates lessons incorporating the Mathematical Habits of Mind that are strategically designed to meet the needs of her students. Through a classroom full of laughter, singing, and dancing, Yahya builds strong bonds with her students that will last a lifetime.
“Teachers are the seed-sowers and trailblazers within our schools,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “Their care and involvement in the lives of children extend well beyond academics because they are called to nurture and support the whole child. As a result, they are the caring adults who are changing lives and communities every day. These finalists represent the best of West Virginia, and I am grateful for the work they do.”
