Through a division-wide vote and a nomination process that involved students, LCPS staff, and community members, Louisa County Public Schools honored six certified employees and seven classified employees for their high level of excellence and service to the school division and community. The school division proudly announced its 2023 Educators of the Year and 2023 #TeamLCPS MVPs of the Year on Wednesday, April 5th, honoring 13 employees for their standout efforts during the 2022-2023 school year!
The process to select each school’s Educator of the Year and #TeamLCPS MVP of the Year began in August with the opening of the weekly #TeamLCPS MVP Awards program. Each week, staff, students, parents, and community members are able to submit nominations for members of #TeamLCPS that are going the extra mile to positively impact others. In total, more than 6,500 nominations were received over an eight-month period during the 2022-2023 school year. From there, each school’s entire staff participated in two rounds of voting to narrow the field down to the 13 finalists.
LCPS Superintendent Doug Straley, who personally delivered an honorary framed certificate and gift box to each of the 13 winners, commended the entire LCPS community for its role in the process.
“Our Educator and MVP of the Year awards process is a community-wide effort, and it’s really encouraging to see it culminate in the naming of our school-level educators and MVPs of the year,” Straley said. “Our nominations this year have come from people with diverse backgrounds from all across this county, and what connects them is that they’re thankful for what members of #TeamLCPS are doing for this community.”
This year’s awards process was also made possible thanks to the sponsorship of The William A. Cooke Foundation and Old Dominion Insurance and Investments.
#TeamLCPS MVPs of the Year:
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Jouett Elementary School: custodian Patrick McCarthy.
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Moss-Nuckols Elementary School: attendance and records secretary Christel Johnson.
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Thomas Jefferson Elementary School: instructional assistant Colleen Lamana.
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Trevilians Elementary School: instructional assistant Anthony Franklin.
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Louisa County Middle School: security monitor Brian Cain.
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Louisa County High School: administrative assistant Ashley Shumaker.
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Central Office and Operations: pupil personnel services administrative assistant Lauren Manrique.
LCPS Educators of the Year:
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Jouett Elementary School: second-grade reading teacher Jessica Pittman.
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Moss-Nuckols Elementary School: first-grade teacher Dorothy Knight.
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Thomas Jefferson Elementary School: fourth-and-fifth grade teacher Blair Gibson.
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Trevilians Elementary School: second-grade teacher Amy Seay.
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Louisa County Middle School: school counselor Jennifer Purcell.
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Louisa County High School: English teacher Helen Weddle.
The 13 winners received the good news – as well as several appreciation gifts – on Wednesday, April 5th. The results and a congratulatory video were posted online and on social media.
“I always say that to have a great team, you need great people, and we have some of the most amazing educators right here in Louisa County,” Straley said. “As we went around the school division and announced our winners, there was so much support and enthusiasm from our students and staff. It was an amazing team atmosphere, and I think that makes us pretty unique here in Louisa County. We are a community that cares for one another and cheers each other on.”
Mr. Straley also praised each of the 13 winners for their dedication to the school division’s non-negotiables, which are support, high expectations, accountability, consistency, positivity, and grit.
“This has been an amazing school year, and all of our 13 winners certainly went above and beyond to support our students and their fellow staff members every step of the way,” Straley said. “Together with their colleagues, they have made dreams become reality for our students.”
Over the next several weeks, a panel comprised of representatives from schools throughout the county will collaborate to select the 2023 William G. Thomas Educator of the Year and the 2023 Wallace L. Tingler MVP of the Year, the school division’s two most prestigious honors. The winners will be announced during a ceremony in early May.
Along with this year’s sponsors (The William A. Cooke Foundation and Old Dominion Insurance and Investments), Louisa County Public Schools would like to thank everyone who submitted a #TeamLCPS MVP nomination during the 2022-2023 school year!