About Alec Virgil, Speaker & Thought Leader

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Teaching was never just a job for me, but more of a calling. It’s how I serve. From my first classroom to now, I’ve worked to create spaces where young people can learn because they feel seen, heard, and empowered. I've spent nearly a decade teaching middle and high school Social Studies, Civics, and Economics. My classrooms are more than rooms with desks — they’re launchpads for critical thought, identity, and action.

Over the years, I’ve helped develop programs like We Are KINGS and QUEENS for youth mentorship, led initiatives, created partnerships, and worked to bridge gaps between schools and communities, and between students and opportunity.

I am honored to go down in history as the 2025 Durham Public Schools Teacher of the Year. That recognition is less about me, and more about the students and faculty under my tutelage, the families who trust me, and the community that continues to pour into me.

I don’t claim to have all the answers. But what I do have is purpose. And I move with it every day. Through education, advocacy, and action, my work is about lighting the path for others while continuing to walk mine with faith, focus, and forward motion.

This is my purpose in motion.

Over the years, I have embraced my role as an educator. My mission has always been to lead with focus, ambition, and a passion for inspiring students to reach their potential. I believe in the power of disciplined effort and remind myself and my students to, “Nurture your outsized ambitions!”

In addition to teaching, I have expanded my impact through community initiatives and leadership roles. I currently teach Civic Literacy and Economics & Personal Finance at Middle College High School at Durham Technical Community College, where I empower students to become informed, active citizens. I also lead transformative programs like Operation 252, which has provided over 1,500 pairs of brand-new shoes to children in need, and the We Are KINGS and QUEENS program, fostering leadership, career exploration, and community engagement for students of color.

At the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University, I taught research on social equity issues, encouraging students to critically analyze societal disparities and work toward justice and equity. This experience allowed me to blend my passion for education with advocacy for systemic change, mentoring future leaders and reinforcing the importance of informed civic engagement.

As a highly sought-after teacher and speaker, I use interdisciplinary approaches to inspire audiences to see achievement as within their reach. I believe in the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Through my work, I strive to build bridges, empower others, and create lasting change.

-Alec Virgil