Burke Instructional Coach recognized nationally

Among the plethora of recognitions and awards at the May 18 board of education meeting, one stood out — Elementary Instructional Coach Holly Thomas, who received national recognition from Discovery Education as one of six 2026 Educators of the Year.

Thomas, who worked across Valdese, W A Young, and Mountain View elementary schools this year, said that when she got nominated, and subsequently recognized, she thought the text from her supervisor, Director of Elementary Education Dr. Brett Wilson, asking to meet foreshadowed the end of her tenure.

“I just went to work like normal, thinking that my boss was coming to fire me,” Thomas said, laughing. “I had no clue. They sent me an email, a lady in Discovery Ed., that made me think that it wasn’t something bad, but I had no idea what it was. It was all a surprise.”

Discovery Education provides educational content and resources with the goal of enhancing teaching and learning across a variety of subjects.

While Discovery Education began as a division of Discovery Communications, which owns the Discovery Channel, the educational support company was later acquired by another private equity, which kept the classic emblem of the Earth over the “D.”

This year, they recognized six educators, hailing from Arizona to North Carolina, and covering a wide range of subjects.

Thomas taught second through fifth grade for 15 years, with several years dedicated to fifth-grade science where she developed a passion for the subject. When she became an instructional coach (IC), she implemented that experience into working with other educators.

“I’m very data-driven and science-minded,” Thomas explained. “Unlike other ICs who like district trainings, I’m very hands-on in the classroom with teachers. The ICs I always had walked beside me to make me successful, so I try to walk beside teachers to make them successful.”

As an IC, Thomas helps teachers with classroom management as well as leading district science and math initiatives, developing science pacing guides and tests for elementary students.

Rather than focusing solely on memorization, Thomas zeroes in on scientific investigation — thinking like a scientist, not just regurgitating facts.

“A lot of kids don’t have the life knowledge, the life exposure,” she said. “There’s one teacher at Mountain View who brought skateboards in and tried everything with skateboards, so they have that life experience.”

Students that are more engaged will do better, according to Thomas, and as long as teachers recognize that kids can be successful in science to some degree, they will see better outcomes.

“Science is all around them,” Thomas said. “If they just learn to think differently, they’ll see it all around them. Everything they’re learning today can make an impact tomorrow.”

Despite the recognition at the national level and by the district, Thomas was still very much grounded when asked what her recognition could mean for the county.

“I want the county to succeed,” she said. “Even our science scores that we took yesterday, I’ve analyzed all (the EOG tests). I know the teachers that have the best scores, so I can tap into their knowledge. I know the teachers that need support.”

“I know who I want to work on in the future,” she continued. “I know areas that we need to improve. I’m doing what I can.”