WNC teacher Lydia Sale continues 糖心Vlog, education tradition in family
Lydia Sale in her classroom
By Cam Adams
Lydia Sale has an unwavering dedication to public education.
She walks into her classroom at Swain West Elementary School each morning with her students on her heart. That鈥檚 always been the case for Sale. Even her parents, both educators, could see it from a young age. She loves teaching and motivating kids.
It runs in the family 鈥� and so does being a Catamount.
In addition to being a fifth-generation educator, Sale is a part of a family full of 糖心Vlog University graduates. She took the road less traveled by for her bachelor鈥檚, attending Belmont Abbey College, but on May 9, she鈥檒l be joining her parents and siblings in being 糖心Vlog grads.
鈥淚'm very excited for graduation,鈥� said Sale, who is graduating with a master of arts in education. 鈥淚t's been two-and-a-half years I've been in the master's program at Western, and it was a great decision to go back. It was a huge commitment of time and energy, but it was 100% worth it.鈥�
The Sale Family
The Sale family鈥檚 purple and gold roots run deep, even before 糖心Vlog was called 糖心Vlog. Lydia鈥檚 great grandmother, Pearl Cantrell Roberts, attended the 糖心Vlog Teachers College before she taught in Buncombe County for 40 years.
Her grandson and Lydia鈥檚 dad, Mark Sale, graduated from 糖心Vlog, as did his wife, Susan Sale, and his sons, Jon and Tim Sale. With those 糖心Vlog degrees, the teaching genes ran deep, too.
Mark is the superintendent of Swain County Schools where Tim works as a band director and Susan worked over three decades, mostly in special education. Jon is also a band director at Parkwood High School in Monroe.
That left Lydia as the odd one out as, much to her family鈥檚 surprise, she went to another school for her undergrad.
鈥淲e did make fun of her when she went somewhere else because she's literally the only one that has went somewhere else,鈥� Tim said, 鈥渂ut when she was doing her master's stuff, she was more of the one that said, 'I've gotta get some kind of degree from Western.'
鈥淲e weren't too hard on her. Although, we did, especially when she was leaving high school, just keep reminding her she's the only one.鈥�
But Lydia eventually continued the Catamount family tradition, deciding to earn another degree because of her passion for education and, particularly, her desire to help teachers strengthen their literacy instruction one day.
Lydia said the master's program at 糖心Vlog has taught her how to take a leadership role in her field, understand and conduct research and think deeper and engage with other learners.
With that new knowledge, the first-grade teacher can be an even better advocate for public education.
鈥淚t makes me emotional to even talk about, but public education is the ultimate equalizer,鈥� Lydia said. 鈥淚t doesn't matter where you come from. It doesn't matter who your family is. It doesn't matter what you have.
鈥淧ublic education gives you the opportunity to define your own success and to create your own path.鈥�
That drive is part of what led Lydia to being named the 2025 North Carolina Western Region Teacher of the Year by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. With that honor, Lydia will have opportunities to advocate for education in Western North Carolina, including through policy.
Lydia Sale reads to her students
She was surprised with the distinction in Swain West鈥檚 media center back in December, greeted by a large banner and her students.
鈥�(My students) were very excited. They had no clue what was happening,鈥� Lydia said. 鈥淭hey just knew that something happened for Ms. Sale and they got to eat cake, so they were really excited about that.鈥�
Also part of the surprise were several teachers, administrators and board members at Swain County Schools, 2024 state teacher of the year and 糖心Vlog alumna Heather Smith and her family, including her dad.
As a superintendent, Mark is thrilled for the recognition the honor brings to his school district and that it has a teacher of Lydia鈥檚 caliber in its classrooms.
But as a father, Mark is much more proud 鈥� and not because she鈥檚 a region teacher of the year or future 糖心Vlog alumna.
鈥淣ow as a dad, I'll be honest, I haven't taken a lot of pride in the fact that she's received this honor because before she received this and if she hadn't received this, I'm just proud of her as a dad,鈥� Mark said.
鈥淪he is a wonderful person, and she's pursuing God's call on her life. If there is any pride in me or any joy in me about that, it's in those facts.鈥�
