Students hug Ms. Kriz in her classroom.

🎉🎈🎊 Congratulations to our beginning teacher of the year, Woodfin Elementary School fourth grader teacher Phoebe Krisinski, known to her students as Ms. Kriz.

Ms. Kriz is the 2024-25 Buncombe County Schools (BCS) winner and a nominee for the statewide award, presented by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT). On Monday, Nov. 4, leadership staff from BCS Central Services and Woodfin Elementary surprised Ms. Kriz in her classroom with balloons and flowers.

“I don’t have to tell this group of fourth graders or our staff how wonderful Ms. Krisinski is,” said Woodfin Elementary Principal Miranda Wheeler. “She is so deserving of this. She is a collaborator. She connects with her students and builds such positive relationships. They are learning and growing every day, and she is a prime example and role model of what a Wolverine really is.”

Ms. Kriz’s vibrant classroom and teaching style reflect her love of nature and her desire to celebrate a variety of learning styles, encourage creative thinking, and support students in doing work that makes them proud of themselves.

“Phoebe Krisinski is a warm, caring educator who takes pride in building relationships with her students and families,” said BCS Beginning Teacher of the Year coordinator Carol O'Connell. “She creates an inclusive classroom environment to ensure all her students feel welcomed and valued. Phoebe is an exceptional educator and is always willing to collaborate and learn from her colleagues to provide the best instruction for her students. Phoebe's dedication to teaching, as well as her many positive attributes, are why she has been chosen as our BCS Beginning Teacher of the Year.”

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