CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two educators from the Ohio Valley have been named finalists for the 2027 West Virginia Teacher of the Year award, recognizing outstanding teaching and leadership in the classroom.
The West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia Chamber Foundation announced five finalists selected from 55 county nominees representing school districts across the state.
Representing the Ohio Valley are:
- Morgan Bricker, an English, journalism, broadcasting, newspaper, yearbook and dual-credit media literacy teacher at Weir High School in Hancock County.
- Dr. Stefanie Cirilli, a Title I reading specialist serving kindergarten through fifth-grade students at Elm Grove Elementary School in Ohio County.
Bricker has taught at Weir High School since 2017 and is a 20-year educator. She has helped establish student media programs at three West Virginia high schools and has led statewide journalism initiatives, including efforts supporting the state’s New Voices legislation. Under her leadership, Weir High School earned the First Amendment Press Freedom Award in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Cirilli is an 18-year educator and a National Board Certified Teacher. In addition to leading literacy and family engagement initiatives at Elm Grove Elementary, she also serves as an adjunct instructor in education at Wheeling University.
The remaining finalists are:
- Heather Hartman – West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (Hampshire County)
- Nicole Mattingly – Clay-Battelle Middle/High School (Monongalia County)
- Laura Presley – Princeton Senior High School (Mercer County)
State Superintendent Michele L. Blatt said the finalists exemplify the dedication and commitment of educators across West Virginia and serve as ambassadors for public education.
The 2027 West Virginia Teacher of the Year will be announced during the inaugural Champions of Learning Gala on Sept. 8, 2026, in Charleston.
