May 1, 2025
Kingswood Magnet Elementary's Macy Brinson is the 2025 Teacher of the Year
Macy Brinson, a Physical Education teacher at Kingswood Magnet Elementary, is the 2025 Wake County Public School System Teacher of the Year!
Ms. Brinson has been an educator for six years, the past four of which have been at Kingswood. In addition to teaching, she leads a running club for students in the fall and spring which culminates in students and parents running a 5K race to benefit a community organization. She also organizes the school’s annual Walk to School day to promote safety and family engagement, as well as the school’s annual Kids Heart Challenge campaign to support the American Heart Association.
“Macy is so dedicated to her program and her students and takes great pride and ownership in all the tasks she undertakes, “ said Kingswood Magnet Elementary principal Sherry Schliesser. “She delivers high quality and relevant instruction for each grade level every day of the school year. She also knows all the students by name and is often seen having conversations with students around the building.”
When sharing about her approach to teaching, Brinson wrote, “Within each lesson, I empower the students to have a voice and choice in their learning by allowing them to select from a variety of equipment options and by not imposing a single way to perform a skill. This empowerment in their learning journey helps students discover their strengths, talents, and weaknesses and assess what materials or techniques will lead to their success.”
She added that her methodology focuses on giving students the opportunity to develop their own skills. This paradigm keeps in alignment with her school’s Montessori magnet theme, which emphasizes the importance of student choice in education. In this learning model, students are able to choose their focus based on their interests and skills. In this way, they build the confidence necessary to prepare for a lifetime of healthful living.
Her students have shared their appreciation of her teaching style, saying “Coach B is a great PE teacher because she lets us actually have fun during PE and it’s not just exercises.” Another student proclaims, “Coach B is an awesome teacher because she makes our classroom like a family. And she just makes it so wonderful with all the activities.”
Brinson also serves as a champion for learners with special needs, and travels with her students to cheer them on as they compete in the Special Olympics each year.
“Macy crafts lessons that are not only engaging, but also thoughtfully adapted to meet the needs of all my learners,” said Kingswood Magnet Elementary special education teacher Kim Eason. “She fosters a supportive and close environment where all students are encouraged to participate. Her dedication to making sure no child is left behind, combined with her ability to bring out the potential in each student exemplifies what it means to be a truly exceptional teacher.”
Brinson earned her Master’s of Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Sports Science from the University of North Georgia and her Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Sports Science from Meredith College. She was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow Scholar and received an Excellence in Teaching Award in 2023 from the Cary Chamber of Commerce. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Meredith College and is a member of the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.
As Teacher of the Year, Brinson will get to participate in the Go Global NC international study program in Botswana and Zambia during summer 2026. The trip is sponsored by the Dan Royster Memorial Teacher Award, in honor of the late WCPSS science teacher and international exchange advocate.
She will also have the opportunity to attend the Global Leaders Teacher Fellowship conference compliments of Participate Learning.
