Directly after welcoming the 2025-2026 school year, Millbrook’s Dance teacher and coach of the Wildcat Pride Dance Team, Darius Anthony, is welcomed with the surprise of winning WRAL Teacher of the Week. WRAL Teacher of the Week is an award for teachers who deserve to be honored for “their work at the school, county, state or national level,” according to WRAL News.
WRAL recently aired an interview announcing his win. In the interview, WRAL reporter, Ken Smith, described Anthony as a teacher who is “adored by his students, and lauded by their parents who credit him with making a difference in their children’s lives.” Anthony said in the interview, one of his main goals is “creating a safe place for everyone, a judgement free zone [for his students]…”
This school year marks the third year Anthony has taught dance at Millbrook High School. He received a degree from University of North Carolina, Greensboro where he majored in dance. Now, Anthony teaches all dance classes at Millbrook, organizes dance concerts, as well as coaches the Wildcat Pride Dance Team alongside Madison Morgan.
Freshman, Natalee Ajaj, was in Anthony’s class when he received this honor. When the moment was recalled, she stated, “We were all working on our bellwork when we saw a big white light and WRAL reporters come into the room. One of the reporters informed Mr. Anthony that he had won Teacher of the Week and awarded him with a plaque.”
When asked how he felt about the accomplishment, Anthony stated, “I was shocked, a little speechless. It felt surreal, I’ve never been recognized that way so it felt very good and also very humbling knowing that what I’m doing is impacting the lives of my students.”
Any teacher that receives this award must have valuable traits to help them do it. When asked what traits helped him achieve this honor, Anthony stated, “I’m very caring towards my students. I always tell my kids, ‘I care about your mental health and your physical health,’ that’s first. I always put how my students are feeling first but also finding balance and not let that be a crutch or an excuse for them.”
Anthony makes it a priority to also build connections with his students. Senior, Kat Cruz, who is a member of the Millbrook Dance Department and the Wildcat Pride Dance Team and works with Anthony regularly, said, “Mr. Anthony is the reason why I fell in love with dance. The year Mr. Anthony started teaching was also the year I started dancing, he made sure to help me with anything that I needed. Mr. Anthony gave me confidence to try out for the Millbrook Dance Team and thanks to him I found something I love somewhere that felt like home to me. He continues to push me to be the best and expand my dancing abilities which I will always be thankful for.”
Anthony won’t stop at this accomplishment, Anthony stated, “I’m going to keep taking feedback from my students and my colleagues, keep reflecting on what works and what doesn’t, as well as pushing myself and my students. For me, everything is still a learning experience.”
Through talking with Anthony and his students, it is obvious he is very deserving of this honor. He pushes, supports, and motivates his students while also taking time to reflect on himself as a teacher. Anthony is in the midst of building an amazing legacy for himself as a dancer, and teacher. Congratulations Mr. Anthony on your accomplishment!
