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Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools (ECPPS) has announced that Alicia Billups, first grade teacher at Central Elementary School, has been named the 2025-2026 ECPPS District Teacher of the Year. With more than 17 years of dedicated service to ECPPS and a deep passion for empowering young learners, Billups exemplifies the very heart of public education, transforming classrooms into launchpads for lifelong success, noted the announcement of her award.

Billups is an alumna of Elizabeth City State University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education. She has spent her entire teaching career at Central Elementary, shaping the lives of students in kindergarten through second grade. Her dedication goes beyond instruction; she is a leader, mentor, and innovator who reimagines education to meet the needs of every learner, noted the announcement.

“Billups not only challenges her students academically but nurtures their character, empathy, and confidence. Her classroom is a vibrant example of 21st-century learning at its best,” stated the announcement.

“A passionate advocate for equity and innovation, Billups has been instrumental in integrating technology into early education through tools like Beebots, Dash and Dot, and podcasting projects that empower even the youngest voices,” the announcement continued. “Her role in the Dual Language Immersion program at Central Elementary has brought a global lens to her teaching, helping students develop bilingual skills, cultural awareness, and global curiosity.”

Beyond her classroom, Billups is a guiding force for fellow educators. She has served as a beginning teacher mentor for more than a decade, a grade level chair, a district math representative, and a K-1 facilitator for the statewide Albemarle Instruction, Inquiry, and Integration Math and Science (AI3MS) Partnership. “Through this work, she’s helped drive systemic change, leading professional development, modeling inquiry-based instruction, and advocating for the integration of STEM and literacy resources across ECPPS elementary schools,” stated the announcement

Previously named Central Elementary’s Teacher of the Year in 2013-2014, Billups continues to shine as a champion for children and an inspiration to colleagues, stated the announcement.

In her own words during the application process, Billups shared: “Our students are the builders of tomorrow, and we—you and I—have the sacred privilege of helping them lay the foundation.”

As District Teacher of the Year, Billups will now represent ECPPS at the Regional Teacher of the Year competition this fall. She will complete a state portfolio for submission to the Department of Public Instruction by October, joining a distinguished group of educators across North Carolina. In addition, she will serve as the official representative of the district’s teaching staff throughout the 2025-2026 school year.

District Teachers of the Year often go on to serve on regional committees, help plan educator recognition events, and participate in key advisory roles. As part of her new responsibilities, Billups will also serve on the ECPPS Education Foundation Board and join fellow school-level Teachers of the Year on the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee.

“ECPPS congratulates Alicia Billups on this well-deserved honor and celebrates the impact of all educators who, like her, help students dream boldly, think critically, and lead with heart,” stated the announcement.

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