Tamika Farmer is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Central Region Teacher of the Year and a dedicated educator at G.W. Carver Elementary in Edgecombe County, where she has taught 4th grade math and science since 2016. A U.S. Army veteran and former field medic with the 261st Medical Battalion at Fort Bragg, Tamika brings a deep commitment to service into her work as a teacher and leader.
Her path in education began as a teacher’s assistant and bus driver in Pitt County Schools—roles that shaped her understanding of student needs. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Pitt Community College and a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from East Carolina University.
Tamika is one of 17 educators statewide appointed to the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina PTA. At her school, she mentors new teachers and leads key initiatives as Co-chair of the PBIS Committee and member of the Resilience Team.
Driven by a passion for equity, mental health, and student success, Tamika believes in the power of relationships to transform lives and communities. She is also a wife, mother of five, grandmother, and co-pastor.