Burke County teacher wins WBTV’s $1,000 shopping spree contest: ‘It is a blessing’

MORGANTON, N.C. (WBTV) - Congratulations are in order for Salem Elementary School teacher Brian Lowman.

Mr. Lowman was recently announced as the winner of the 2025 WBTV Back-to-School Shopping Spree contest. The competition was sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).

WBTV surprised Lowman at his school in Morganton on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Lowman has been an educator for more than 15 years and said he serves in a variety of roles in the district. He explained that he teaches P.E., drives buses, coaches and participates in extracurricular activities.

Lowman said the $1,000 he won will directly benefit his students.

“This is for you guys,” he told his students after the surprise. “I do this stuff for you guys. This is why I’m here.”

The educator said his wife encouraged him to try teaching. She is a middle school teacher in the Burke County School District.

“My wife was gonna go to school to be a teacher and was like, ‘You do very well with kids, and you want to coach. Let’s try this,’” Lowman said.

When he is not at school, Lowman is doing more work to provide for his family. He details cars and cleans portable toilets.

“I do extra work at night, on the weekends just to help meet the needs of the family,” he explained.

The teacher was surprised to learn his own mother nominated him for this contest.

“It is a blessing to see that people notice the hard work,” Lowman said. “Even if it is my mom. She knows the amount of time I put into my job, my career. It means a lot.”

He shared a message for other teachers working in the area.

“It’s a hard job, but keep your head up because educators do it for the kids.”