SANFORD, NC - Lee County Schools announced the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year for the district during the system’s Convocation Ceremony at Lee County High School on Wednesday morning. From a field of 17 deserving school level nominees, Sammie Jo Godfrey was selected to earn the title LCS Teacher of the Year, moving on to represent the district at the regional and state level.
Godfrey, now in her fourth year of teaching, serves as an Exceptional Children’s (EC) teacher at J. Glenn Edwards Elementary School. Her role places her working with some of the most vulnerable students, those who experience a wide range of disabilities and challenges. Godfrey prides herself in meeting every challenge with grace, grit, and of course, an iced coffee in hand.
Described by her colleagues and coworkers as “an angel on earth,” Godfrey impacts not just her classroom, but families that she supports and teachers that work alongside her. One parent from her class said, “She did not just show up to teach. She showed up to care – with a heaven-sent kind of care that changed my child’s life.”
It is that kind of care and commitment to not taking the easy road that builds relationships with students and families in her class. Godfrey’s heartbeat truly is to let her students know, both in word and deed, that they do not walk their difficult paths alone.
“I believe that I was called to be a special education teacher,” Godfrey explained. “I truly felt that calling during my time at East Carolina University through the interaction I would have with individuals and children with disabilities in public places like the grocery store, Walmart or even the cafeteria. I just felt like God was laying on my heart that I needed to go into Special Education.”
It is clear that this profession is not just a calling for Godfrey, but something she was equipped to do. She highlighted her philosophy with the statement, “If a child cannot learn the way we teach, we should teach the way they learn. This is the heart of special education. I am supposed to modify and adapt the way I teach to meet the learning needs of my students.”
“When kids are excited to come to school and they are excited about their work and just want to show it to me right then, that’s when I know that they are truly growing,” said Godfrey. “It brings me so much joy to see just how far my students have come,” she explained,” it almost makes me tear up a little bit to see them moving on to middle and high school, knowing that they are continuing to make progress is really what keeps me going.”
Emily Mize, principal at J. Glenn Edwards Elementary, has seen the impact that Mrs. Godfrey has on students, families, and her colleagues first hand. “She has a heart of gold, a spirit full of life, and a true gift for teaching,” Mize explained. “She embodies what every parent hopes for when they send their child to school: someone who will see their child, love them as they are, and bring out the very best in them.”
Dr. Chris Dossenbach, Superintendent of Lee County Schools also praised Godfrey’s talent and drive saying, “She transforms her classroom into a space of growth, dignity, and possibility. Whether she is developing a dozen individualized behavior plans or crafting creative ways to meet students’ emotional needs, she does it all with purpose, patience, and heart.”
Thanks to outstanding community partners and support at Wilkinson Chevrolet Cadillac GMC, Godfrey will be able to ride into the new school year in style as the local dealership has gifted her a one-year lease on a brand new GMC Terrain. Additionally, 3D Community Church gave her a $500 award to put some gas in her new car and support her classroom needs.
