José Hidalgo Named Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year

José Hidalgo, a seventh-grade science teacher at A.L. Stanback Middle School in Hillsborough, was named the Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year Friday afternoon. Hidalgo was chosen from among 13 teachers who were named Teachers of the Year at their respective schools.

“Hidalgo’s selflessness, dedication to his work, and ability to form strong relationships have made a profound impact on A.L. Stanback students and staff,” read a release from Orange County Schools.

Hidalgo has been with Orange County Schools since 2021 and received his North Carolina Educator License in December 2024. In addition to teaching science at A.L. Stanback, he also coaches wrestling and boys’ soccer at the school. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Hidalgo frequently uses both languages during his lessons.

“Being a native Spanish speaker has helped me tremendously in welcoming my newcomer students and including them as part of our classroom,” Hidalgo said.

In the past, he has served as a research consultant in both the United States and Latin America and a geographical information systems specialist. Hidalgo is also an instructor for scuba divers as well as for CPR skills.

As Teacher of the Year, Hidalgo will help organize the district’s cohort of other teachers of the year during the next school year. Hidalgo will also represent OCS alongside other teachers across the state.

“I congratulate Mr. Hidalgo on this well-deserved recognition of his passion for supporting his students and his colleagues,” said Orange County Schools superintendent Danielle Jones. “I am excited for him to represent our district this year. I look forward to working with him and his fellow teacher leaders to enrich and enhance teaching and learning in all our schools.”

Featured image via Orange County Schools

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

‹

Warrants Taken Against 2 at Weekend KKK Rally in Hillsborough

Orange County authorities said Monday that warrants have been taken out after a Ku Klux Klan demonstration in Hillsborough over the weekend. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Hillsborough Police Department issued a joint statement on Monday evening saying that “onlookers told law enforcement that some of the protesters were openly carrying firearms.” North Carolina […]

Northern Orange NAACP VP Calls for Change Following Racism at Virtual Event

A virtual event by the Northern Orange branch of the NAACP was hacked this weekend with the goal of stopping it with racist and sexist content. Days later, participants of the call are asking the community to continue denouncing such acts of oppression. Sunday’s event was the second virtual town hall hosted by the chapter […]

Orange County Commissioners Pass Anti-Hate Resolution, '400 Years' Remembrance

Hillsborough March to Promote Hate-Free Community, Spurn KKK

Members of the Ku Klux Klan gathered for a demonstration last weekend in front of the Orange County courthouse. The group did not have a permit and sparked an outcry from the Hillsborough community against their presence. This weekend, a response rally has been planned by progressive groups. The March for Hate-Free Hillsborough event will […]

Memorial Day to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange County (2025)

The observation of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26 will affect multiple local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a complete list of which services in which towns will be moved due to the holiday: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will […]

Orange County Coalition Raises Alarm Over Property Value Inequities From 2025 Revaluation

A coalition of housing advocates is looking at updated Orange County property values and pointing out notable discrepancies in assessments.

Orange County Sheriff's Office: 1 Arrested, 1 At Large After Attempted Burglary

A Durham man is wanted by local law enforcement after an attempted break-in and burglary of an Orange County business, a high-speed chase and car crash during the early hours of Thursday, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. A release Thursday afternoon said the office took out six felony warrants against 24-year-old Erlin Lopez […]

NCDOT: Overnight Bridge Demolition for I-40 Widening Project Will Close Old NC 86

A old bridge of I-40 in Hillsborough is set to be demolished as the state Department of Transportation continues widening in Orange County.

Truck Crash on Interstate 85 South Closes Lane and Orange Grove Road in Hillsborough

The crash of a tractor-trailer truck on Interstate 85 South in Hillsborough is leading to major traffic delays and closures on Tuesday afternoon.

José Hidalgo Named Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year

José Hidalgo, a seventh-grade science teacher at A.L. Stanback Middle School in Hillsborough, was named the Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year Friday afternoon. Hidalgo was chosen from among 13 teachers who were named Teachers of the Year at their respective schools. “Hidalgo’s selflessness, dedication to his work, and ability to form strong relationships […]

›