Martin County Schools is proud to announce that Vernetta Griffin, a dedicated graphic design and computer teacher at the MCS Innovation Campus, has been named our district nominee for the 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year.
This award honors teachers who inspire students from all backgrounds while equipping them with real-world skills, highlighting the vital role of CTE in preparing students for college, careers, and community leadership in North Carolina.
Through her passion, innovation, and commitment to student success, Ms. Griffin is helping students from Martin County High School and Martin Innovative Early College turn learning into real-world opportunity—preparing them for what’s next, whether that’s college, careers, or both.
Among the courses Griffin teaches, the Adobe Academy courses are some of the most popular for college-bound and workforce-ready students.
Griffin, who is licensed to teach Business Information Technology Education, is on staff at the MCS Innovation Campus, teaching students from both Martin County High School and Martin Innovative Early College. She began her career with Martin County Schools in 2002.
“Her impact is felt far beyond the classroom, and her work reflects the very best of what Career and Technical Education can be. She brings the best of her real-world experience into her teaching, delivering it with the heart of an educator,” said Andrea Lilley, Chief Officer of Academics and Student Affairs for Martin County Schools.
“She brings both patience and understanding to her students, yet never compromises the high standards that make her classroom and her students successful.”
Join us in congratulating Ms. Griffin and cheering her on as she represents Martin County Schools at the regional-level competition.
Lilley concluded with regard to Griffin, “She is a shining example of the kind of educator who makes it possible for Martin to Offer More.”
𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙈𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚, 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡; 𝙂𝙬𝙚𝙣 𝙃𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙨𝙤𝙣, 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 & 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 6–12 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙪𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣; 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖 𝙇𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮, 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙛𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨.