Community Leader Award
Audacity of Hope Award
Dr. Dionne Price
Education Award
Dr. Linda Hayden
Community Service Award
Leah Drake Stith
Scholarship Winners
Showcasing of Educators
Tenure of Up to Ten Years
- 5 years of active service in Portsmouth Public Schools, teaching Special Education in grades K-2.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Learned to thrive in the classroom during the virtual era of COVID; and taught students to do the same.
Tenure of Eleven to 20 Years
- 20 years of active service, having taught grades 1st, 5th, and Title I Reading Specialist, has held position of Administrator for 13 years.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Seeing the fruits of her labor, having encouraged several of her teachers to become administrators, took part in their growth and accomplishments. Wanted to help teachers to increase their capacity to follow their dreams with respect to their teaching career.
- 15 years of active service as aHigh School and Middle SchoolSchool Counseling Director.
- 16 years of active service, having taught Special Education for 12 years; currently teaches Gifted Students in grades 1-8.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Served as a Special Education Chairperson Teacher of the Year (2008-2009);
- Teacher of the Year (2011-2012).
- 18 years service of active service in Norfolk Public Schools, served as a Title I Instructional Specialist and Climate Coach, having taught grades 2, 3, 4, and currently serves as an Administrator-Assistant Principal.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Earned Doctor of Education Degree, NOVA Southeastern University, 2017.
- Holds a Division of Superintendent License, Commonwealth of Virginia.
- 2020, Master of Special Education, NOVA Southeastern University.
- 2018 – 2019, Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals’ School Bell Award.
- 2010 – 2011, Completed Master Teacher Program at Old Dominion University (ODU).
- 2009 – 2010, All City Teaching Team, Oakwood Elementary (Teacher of the Year).
- 2007, Master of Science, Elementary Education, Cambridge College.
- 12 years of active service as a Special Education Teacher for grades K-5ED.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Helping students understand that their disability does not define them.
- 19 years of active service in Chesapeake Public Schools as a Professional School Counselor at the Middle School level (primarily 8th grade), also served as Director of Counseling for Suffolk Public Schools.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Virginia Alliance for School Counseling, Founding Member.
- Exemplary Professional School Counselor of The Year: Middle School Counselor for the City of Chesapeake (2015).
- American School Counselor Association, Member.
- Virginia Counselors Association, Member.
- Western Tidewater School Counselors Association, Member.
- Hampton Roads Counselors Association, Member.
- American School Counselor Association, Member.
- Virginia School Counselor Association, Member.
- Chesapeake Education Association, Member.
- Parent, Teacher Association, Member.
- 20 years of active service as a Special Education Teacher, currently serves as a Senior Special Education Supervisor.
- 20 years of active service having taught Business & Information Technology for grades 9-12 in Norfolk Public Schools, has served as an administrator from 2010-present (11 years): Program Administrator, Governor’s STEM Academy at Heritage High School, Newport News Public Schools (6 years). Currently serving in central office as the Career & Technical Education Instructional Supervisor for Newport News Public Schools (5 years).
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Teacher of the Year, Booker T. Washington High School (2003 and 2010).
- Norfolk Public Schools School Bell Award Winner (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010).
- Virginia Walter L. Shell Business Teacher of the Year (2009).
- World Wide Women Group Inc. Influence-HER Change Maker Award (2016).
- CTE Creating Excellence Award Region II & State Program Award Recipient (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020).
- Virginia Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators (VACTEA) President (2020-present).
- Retired with 17 years of service having taught as a High School Special Education Teacher for the New York City Board of Education.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Recognized for volunteering to coordinate school programs/activities during the school year.
- 17 years of active service, having taught grade levels 2-4 SpEd (All subjects) (Portsmouth Public Schools), has served as the Special Education Coordinator, (Largo, MD Private School), Evaluation Coordinator (Washington, DC Public Schools), Special Education Supervisor (Newport News Public Schools); and Program Specialist for the Office and English and Reading (Current: Portsmouth Public Schools).
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Walmart Teacher of the Year, Teacher of the Year Finalist (School level), Special Education Teacher of the Year and the 2015 Impact Award from the Community Outreach Coalition.
- 20 years of active service teaching grades K-6 as a Special Education Teacher and currently teaches grades 7-8 as an English Interventionist.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Outstanding Teacher Award from Peshine Avenue University Prep, Newark, NJ (2004).
- Special Education Teacher of the Year for Brighton Elementary School, Portsmouth, VA (2012).
- Teacher of the Year, Brighton Elementary School Portsmouth, VA (2013).
Tenure of Twenty-One to Thirty Years
- 22 years of active service as a GED Instructor. Served 12 years in the Norfolk City Jail Correctional System and 10 years in Norfolk Public Schools
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Being invited to attend the college graduation of a former student who received their GED while incarcerated.
- Retired with 24 years of service in Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught grades 7th – 12th.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Obtaining the “I’ve got it beam in a students’ eyes”.
- Retired with 28 years of service in both Chesapeake and Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught grades kindergarten, 1st, and 3rd, and K-6th Reading. Has also served as a Balanced Literacy Facilitator, Title I Reading Teacher, and Reading Specialist.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Teacher of the Year, Park View Elementary School, Portsmouth Public Schools (1995).
- Reading Teacher of the Year, Camelot Elementary School Chesapeake Public Schools.
- Retired (officially) with 26.5 years of service in Norfolk Public Schools, having taught grades K-12. Also served as a GED Program Instructor at Norfolk State. After retirement dedicated an additional 9.5 years in the field of education as a substitute teacher.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Received an invitation from a former [4th grade] student who stated Soror Hayes-Myers was the only teacher she recalled having had a positive and lasting impact on her life; and wanted Soror Hayes-Myers to attend her Norfolk State University graduation ceremony.
- While attending the graduation ceremony, Soror Hayes-Myers noted that HER 4th grade teacher, [Dr. Kiah] was present, and among the faculty escorts for the graduating class. Soror Hayes-Myers insured the three, now college educated woman had their photograph taken together to mark the momentous occasion.
- 23 years of active service in Chesapeake Public Schools as a High School Guidance Counselor for grades 9-12. Has also served as a Special Education Teacher, and Special Education Department Head for 12 years as well.
- 22 years of active service in Portsmouth Public Schools, Hampton Public Schools and The Pines Alternative Schools as a High School Special Educator, Special Educator Instructional Leader, and
PEA Board -High School Member at Large.
- 24 years of active service in Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught grades Pre-K – 1st, for 20 years at Brighton Elementary; and currently serves as an Elementary School Counselor at Park View Elementary.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Teacher of the Year (2007).
Tenure of Thirty-One to 40 Years
- Retired with 37 years, 6 months of service in Martinsville City Public Schools and Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught Family and Consumer Science Education for grades 9th – 12th.
- Served as the Family Career Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Student Organization Advisor Freshmen Class Sponsor (2009 – 2020).
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Teacher Of The Year (2016).
- Grand Marshall of Homecoming Parade I. C. Norcom High School (2019).
- Most Years Taught at I.C. Norcom (1990- 2020).
- Apple For The Teacher Award Iota Phi Lambda.
- Retired with 33 years of service in the Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught 1st grade for 23 years, and later served as a Reading Specialist for 10 years.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Knowing when her students had completed first grade, it was a job well done; and that she not only taught the student, but their parents as well.
- Retired with 37 year of service in Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught grades K-2 and grades 1 and 2 combined for 5 years, and taught as a Reading Specialist for grades Pre-K through 6 for 32 years.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Teacher of the Year, Churchland Academy (1998).
- Apple For the Teacher Award, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority (1998).
- Black Educators’ Award, Delicados, Inc., Portsmouth, VA Chapter (2000).
- Soror Clark states that when she first began her career as an educator she taught in the classroom; and was given a class of low achievers. “Those students were not expected to pass to the next grade level or make any type of progress”. Soror Clark proved everyone wrong. “Not only did the students pass to the next grade level, those students had the highest achievement test scores in the school!” Soror Clark attests that for her students “to attain such a high level of success took a lot of hard work, perseverance, energy, patience and love” . . . But that from that point on, she requested low achievers and students with behavioral problems. Soror Clark says, “was I tired and exhausted when I went home? . . .Yessssss!”
- Retired with 31 years of service in the Norfolk Public Schools, having taught grades K-3. Additionally, served as Grade Chair.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Teacher of the Year (2016).
- Retired with 38 years of service in Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught 8th grade mathematics. Additionally taught at both Tidewater Community College and Norfolk State University (part-time) for 10 years and Elizabeth City College (part-time) for 1.5 years as well.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- Seeing a group of her 8th grade students score #1 out of 500 students in the City of Portsmouth attempting Algebra 1 Math Courses.
- Retired with 36 years of service in Norfolk Public Schools,
having taught Secondary Mathematics. Additionally, served as Mathematics Department Chair.
Most Notable Accomplishment:
- During Soror Gary’s tenure students from all levels of math classes performed well on SOL testing.
The Mathematics Departments accreditation remained in good standing during the years Soror Gary served as chair of the department.
- Retired with 33 years of Service in Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught Home Economics to 9th – 12th grades.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Served as Manor High School Department Chair of Home Economics.
- Served as Reporter for the Virginia Association of the National Home Economics Association.
- Soror Hardy states that she feels MOST accomplished when she comes in contact with former students; and they convey to her the significance of the positive impact she has had on their lives; and to see that they have become good citizens and are making their own positive impact on society. Among her most notable honors was to have answered her doorbell one day to be greeted by a beautiful bouquet of flowers sent to her from a former student that resided in West Virginia who too, had chosen education as their life profession, that same young lady further followed in Soror Hardy’s footsteps, to become a Delta!
- Retired with 38 years of service in Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught Elementary Education for grades 4 and 6, served as an Elementary Guidance Counselor, taught Middle School English/Reading, and served as a Middle School Guidance Coordinator. Is currently in 6th year of active service at Tidewater Community College as a College Success Skills Academic Advisor.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Teacher of the Year, Middle School.
- Middle School Counselor of the Year.
- 36 years of active service Virginia Beach City Public Schools,having taught Kindergarten and served in the Department of Teaching and Learning; and as a Pre-K Resource Teacher. Additionally, held the position of Adjunct English Instructor at Tidewater Community College.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Reading Teacher of the Year (2010).
- Teacher of the Year (2017).
- Retired with 38 years of service in Norfolk Public Schools, having taught grades K-12.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Served on Portsmouth City School Board (Portsmouth, VA).
- Received both the Teacher of Year and Top Educator Awards.
- “Recognizing that God made me a teacher, to teach black children. What every I have contributed to there intellect and spirit was my greatest accomplishment as an educator.”
- Retired with 32 years of service in Chesapeake Public Schools, having taught 8th grade Physical Science and 9th grade Earth Science
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Teacher of the Year Oscar Smith High School (1994),
- Who’s Who Among American Teachers, National Council of Negro Women Teacher Award (Mid-Atlantic Region), Apple for the Teacher Award, Excellence Award from Chesapeake Public Schools, The W.A.L.L.S. Award for Outstanding Educator, Presenter for Math and Science Teacher Workshop entitled P.A.I.M.S. “Growing Positive Attitudes In Math & Science, Presenter of Thinking Maps Workshop for Chesapeake Public Schools, Science Experiment published in Chesapeake Public Schools A.I.M.S. Booklet for Teachers
Tenure of Forty-One or More Years
- Retired with 40 years of service in the Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught 12 years in the classroom, and served 28 years and an Education Administrator; moving steadily up the ranks to be superintendent Portsmouth Public Schools.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- During tenure as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction 100% of Portsmouth Public Schools were accredited by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Created the Preparatory Academy Model.
- Implemented First College Program in Portsmouth Public Schools.
- Retired with 45 years of service in Chesapeake Public Schools, having taught Secondary Special Education to grades 9th – 12th. Additionally, has served as a Homebound Coordinator.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Served on the School Board of Suffolk Christian Academy for 5 years.
- Appointed by Suffolk City Council to The Youth Commission On Childhood Education.
- Vice President of All Districts Read (ADR) a non-profit early reading initiative.
- Member of “Read To Them” a non-profit Early Reading Program.
- Active in the mission field having traveled to Austria, Chile’, Africa and Israel providing reading instruction to youth.
- Soror Gamble states that she feels MOST accomplished when reflecting on how she was able to convey to constituents in the education process that students with a disability have a purpose that not only affects them, but society in general, in terms of how we get along, help each other, and LIVE WELL together according to God’s plan.
- Retired with 43 years of service in both Portsmouth and Norfolk Public Schools, in 2003 became a school principal, ended career in education as an administrator.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Increasing the capacity of both students and staff members through encouragement and providing positive feed back, influencing members of both the faculty and staff to earn higher degrees of education; and to move from the classroom to areas of administration within the field of education; and even into others fields of expertise that one was better suited for.
- Retired with 42 years of Service in Portsmouth Public Schools, having taught as a Reading Specialist and Teacher to Gifted and Talented Students in grades 4th – 6th.
Most Notable Accomplishments:
- Teacher of the Year, Brighton Elementary, Portsmouth, VA (1983).
- Teacher of the Year, Parkview Elementary, Portsmouth, VA (1998).