An automotive technology teacher known for helping students demonstrate citizenship and a technology specialist known for putting positivity and support into action each day were honored by Louisa County Public Schools on Wednesday, May 7th as the school division’s top certified and classified employees for the 2024-2025 school year!
Louisa County High School automotive technology teacher Shane Robertson received the 2025 William G. Thomas Educator of the Year Award, which honors the top certified educator at LCPS, during the school division’s annual banquet on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Louisa County Middle School technology specialist Scott McClary was named the 2025 Wallace L. Tingler MVP of the Year, which goes to the school division’s top classified employee.
Robertson and McClary received the awards during a ceremony at Tavern on the Green at Spring Creek on Wednesday night, where they were two of 13 division employees being celebrated for their level of excellence. The recognition for Robertson and McClary was especially meaningful for the school division, as both are graduates of Louisa County High School. McClary graduated from LCHS in 2009, and Robertson graduated one year later.
“It’s very special to have two educators who, after graduating from Louisa County High School, are now back in their hometown and giving back to their community,” said Louisa County Public Schools Superintendent Doug Straley. “We’re extremely proud of both of them, and I know our community is too.”
Each May, LCPS hosts its Educator/MVP of the Year Awards ceremony, where each of the school division’s six schools is represented by a classified and certified employee (the school division’s central office and operations team is also represented by a classified employee). Each of the 13 honorees earned the opportunity to represent their school by first receiving a #TeamLCPS MVP nomination during the 2024-2025 school year. Then, a vote was held amongst each school’s employees to determine each school’s individual winner.
From there, an independent panel made up of representatives from schools throughout the county collaborated to select the 2025 William G. Thomas Educator of the Year and the 2025 Wallace L. Tingler MVP of the Year, the school division’s two most prestigious honors.
Both of this year’s winners were commended for continually going above and beyond the call of duty to assist students and staff, and doing so with a consistent and positive attitude.
Robertson, who is in his seventh year at Louisa County Public Schools, has become well-known for his tremendous work ethic, citizenship, and grit. Robertson is a two-time school level winner of the Educator of the Year Award at LCHS (2022 and 2025), and along with teaching his students to be great mechanics, he is also known for helping them be great citizens. Throughout the school year, Robertson and his students refurbish vehicles through a partnership with the local non-profit organization Giving Words. The vehicles are then provided to local families in need of assistance with transportation.
“Through my job, I get to embrace my spiritual gifts of help and service to others while showing students the reality of the automotive technician job,”Robertson said.
Similary, McClary is also known for his work ethic. As a technology specialist, McClary leads the effort at LCMS to keep technological devices such as Chromebooks, printers, and projectors runnight smoothly. And no matter the size of the job, McClary says his focus in his ten years of service at LCPS has been making sure everyone is provided with a positive experience.
“I always try to make teachers feel better concerning technology issues and positivity can really turn someone’s day around,” McClary said. “That’s why I always do my best to keep a positive attitude.”
At Wednesday’s ceremony, Superintendent Straley applauded the work of McClary, Robertson, and the entire group of honorees for their extraordinary efforts during the 2024-2025 school year.
“Every single day, our educators show how dedicated they are to our students,” Straley said. “One of the most enjoyable parts of our Educator/MVP of the Year ceremony is getting to hear some of the behind-the-scenes stories about how our educators are changing the lives of our students. I always say that people are your most valuable resource, and we have a team full of incredible people here in Louisa County. I’m just so proud of each one of them and it’s an honor to be their Superintendent.”
There were a lot of proud supporters in the crowd on Wednesday night, too. Members from both the Louisa County School Board and Board of Supervisors were in attendance, as well as administrative teams from each school. The night’s 13 honorees were also able to invite up to five guests to join them as well.
After Wednesday’s ceremony, Louisa County School Board Chairman Greg Strickland praised all 13 honorees for their passion for education and helping others.
“Our school division takes so much pride in the hard work of our team members, and these 13 individuals demonstrate what it means to truly love your job,” Strickland said. “They are such a positive influence on those around them, and it’s hard to put into words how valuable that is. They are truly superheroes.”
Wednesday’s ceremony was the culmination of a year-long voting process known as the #TeamLCPS MVP Awards. Each week, the school division accepts nominations for students, classified staff members, certified staff members, and community members who are living out the school division’s non-negotiables. Each week, approximately 400 nominations are submitted, and one person from each of the four categories is recognized and featured in a highlight video. The weekly #TeamLCPS MVP videos have become a highlight for many people, generating thousands of views online each week.
Superintendent Straley said one of the most rewarding aspects of the process is how everyone in the community is able to be involved.
“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,” Superintendent Straley said. “It’s a real boost for our team members when they receive a nomination for doing things the right way. I’m thankful to everyone who has submitted a nomination this school year.”
The full list of school-level MVPs of the Year who were honored on Wednesday night included:
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Jouett Elementary School: technology specialist Maureik Goode.
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Moss-Nuckols Elementary School: instructional assistant Angela Raettig.
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Thomas Jefferson Elementary School: instructional assistant Eleanor Osborne.
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Trevilians Elementary School: custodian TJ Lettner.
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Louisa County Middle School: technology specialist Scott McClary.
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Louisa County High School: attendance secretary Charity Boston.
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Central Office and Operations: administrative assistant Melisa Campbell..
The full list of school-level Educators of the Year who were honored on Wednesday night included:
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Jouett Elementary School: special education teacher Virginia Staudinger.
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Moss-Nuckols Elementary School: fifth-grade teacher Tiffany Pancham.
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Thomas Jefferson Elementary School: first-grade teacher Susan Stallard.
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Trevilians Elementary School: early childhood special education teacher Jessica Prescott.
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Louisa County Middle School: seventh-grade math teacher David Stallard.
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Louisa County High School: automotive technology teacher Shane Robertson.
Louisa County Public Schools would like to thank The William A. Cooke Foundation and Old Dominion Insurance & Investments in Winchester for sponsoring the 2024-2025 #TeamLCPS MVP Awards process. Their support helped make the entire 2024-2025 Educator/MVP of the Year process possible.
The Wallace L. Tingler Award is named after Wallace “Chuck” Tingler, a longtime member of the Louisa Education Foundation. Tingler also tremendously assisted the Louisa County community through his philanthropic efforts while serving as Chairman of the Board for the William A. Cooke Foundation and William A. Cooke, Incorporated. The William G. Thomas Award is named after Dr. William Thomas, who served as the superintendent for Louisa County Public Schools for 11 years.