AUGUSTA COUNTY - Augusta County Public Schools announced its teacher of the year for 2020. The overall teacher of the year winner will be announced later this week.
Buffalo Gap High School
Billie Sue Brill
- Grade: 9th – 12th
- Subject: Math
- Lives: Churchville
- Grew up: in Churchville
- College: James Madison University
- Inspiration to teach: "My mother, grandmother and most of my aunts were teachers."
- Hobbies: Reading, music, Sudoku and sports
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Fort Defiance High School
Cynthia Schroer
- Grade: 9th – 12th
- Subject: Biology, Ecology, Advanced Ecology, ASP Science
- Lives: Mt. Sidney
- Grew up: Fairfax County
- College: James Madison University
- Inspiration to teach: "Fell in love with science and wanted to inspire and help young people develop their passions and go after their dreams."
- Hobbies: Archeology, gardening, photography, minerals, rocks and fossils.
- Favorite Quote: "Life is a journey, not a destination."
Riverheads High School
Jill Gavitt
- Grade: 9th – 12th
- Subject: Spanish
- Lives: in Staunton
- Grew up: Rhode Island
- College: Sweet Briar College
- Inspiration to teach: "All the amazing teachers I’ve had over the years."
- Hobbies: Exercise, reading and baking
- Favorite Quote: "Take the time it takes so it takes less time" —Pat Parelli
Stuarts Draft High School
Katie Cerminara
- Grade:11th
- Subject:English
- Lives: Waynesboro
- Grew up:Lyndhurst
- College:Virginia Commonwealth University
- Inspiration to teach: "(I) understood there was a critical need for qualified teachers in the state. I felt like I could bring an interesting perspective to the classroom through my life’s experiences."
- Hobbies: Hiking with my dogs, guiding in Montana and Wyoming backcountry on horsebackand basically anything that deals with horses.
- Favorite Quote:"Take care of those who take care of you." —Former Boss, Ms. Billie Taylor
Wilson Memorial High School
Kara Irving
- Grade: 9th – 12th
- Subject: Resource Teacher
- Lives: Waynesboro
- Grew up: Augusta County
- College: University of Virginia, University of Maryland, and Mary Baldwin University
- Inspiration to teach: "I want to help students believe in themselves."
- Hobbies: Baking, running andwatching her kids play sports
- Favorite Quote: "Never question ability, always improve strategy"
Beverley Manor Middle School
Sarah Smith
- Grade: 6th – 8th
- Subject: Agriscience
- Lives:Middlebrook
- Grew up:Middlebrook
- College: Virginia Tech
- Inspiration to teach: "I grew up on a farm, was active in both 4-H and FFA, and mymom was an elementary school teacher. I had great agriculture teachers, Garland King and Eugene McIlwee, so I decided I’d like to teach agriculture! I thought it would be fun to teach students about where their food comes from, as well as help prepare them for their future careers."
- Hobbies: Raising my daughter, hanging out with my husband, baking, cooking, plantsand watching Jeopardy
- Favorite Quote: “A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open.”
Stewart Middle School
Resa Aikens
- Grade: 6th – 8th
- Subject:Reading
- Lives: Mount Sidney
- Grew up:West Virginia
- College: Shepherd College, Mary Baldwin University, James Madison University
- Inspiration to teach: "My inspiration to teach was first rooted by my Grandmother Unger. She turned everything into an adventure as well as a learning experience. My grandmother also instilled my love for reading. I was also blessed to have some of the very best teachers. They always expected my very best, were tough, yet nurturing."
- Hobbies:Spending time with family, traveling andreading
- Favorite Quote: "Give a man a fishand you feedhimfor a day; teach amantofishand you feedhimfor a lifetime."
Stuarts Draft Middle School
Nancy Rader
- Grade:6th Grade
- Subject:Science
- Lives:Stuarts Draft, VA
- Grew up:Roanoke, VA
- College:James Madison University
- Inspiration to teach:My high school science teachers inspired me to teach because they made learning engaging.
- Hobbies:Flower bed gardening and reading with a book club
- Favorite Quote: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.They must be felt with the heart." — Helen Keller
Wilson Middle School
Kathleen Trach
- Grade: 7th Grade
- Subject:Special Education
- Lives: Middlebrook
- Grew up: Easton, Pennsylvania
- College: Bachelors - Millersville University, Masters (in progress)- Mary Baldwin University
- Inspiration to teach: "Opportunity to volunteer in my high school special education class and a love for working with children."
- Hobbies: Baking and gardening
- Favorite Quote: “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
Hugh K. Cassell ElementarySchool
Cheryl Byrd
- Grade: Kindergarten – 4th Grade
- Subject: Reading Specialist
- Lives: Augusta County
- Grew up:Augusta County
- College: James Madison University, Bridgewater College
- Inspiration to teach: "My inspiration to teach came while helping my mother on Sunday mornings. She was a natural teacher to the preschool children at church. My mother lead by example; she truly loved and cared for the children. She encouraged them to do their best and to never give up. She always had a positive attitude. Having this amazing role model and the opportunity to interact with children at a young age, lead me into teaching. I wanted to influence young lives like my mother."
- Hobbies: Mission Work, Running, Gardening and Reading
- Favorite Quote: "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." —Frederick Douglass
Churchville ElementarySchool
Tricia Thompson
- Grade: 2nd Grade
- Subject: All Subjects
- Lives: Staunton
- Grew up: Verona
- College: Bridgewater College
- Hobbies: Social gatherings, family time, concerts, sporting events
- Inspiration to teach: "Having worked in the nursery with my mom as a child, I learned the rewards of teaching children at a very young age. This has reinforced by my elementary school librarian, Mrs. Glover when she would read to us aloud. As a teacher today, I am constantly inspired by fellow teachers at Churchville Elementary and their dedication to the students."
- Favorite Quote: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." — Nelson Mandela
Clymore Elementary School
Jennifer Patanio
- Grade: 1st Grade
- Subject: All subject areas
- Lives: Weyers Cave
- Grew up: Monroe, New York
- College: Blue Ridge Community College, Mary Baldwin University
- Inspiration to teach: "I wanted to become a teacher after I was inspired by my fifth grade teacher Mr. Warbrick. Until that point, I had struggled in many academic areas. School for me like many was not easy or my favorite place. It wasn’t until fifth grade that my schooling career drastically changed. Mr. Warbrick entered my life and strove to help me better understand what was being taught. He worked hard to make sure that all of his students knew they were important and valued. This is the type of environment that made me thrive and excel."
- Hobbies: Spending time with my family, friends and pets, reading, watching movies, and exercising.
- Favorite Quote: "They may forget what you said but they will not forget how you made them feel." —Carl Buechner
Craigsville Elementary School
Elizabeth Benbow
- Grade: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
- Subject:Reading Specialist and Title 1 Teacher
- Lives: Staunton
- Grew up:Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- College: Millersville University in Pennsylvania, California State University in Sacramento, Eastern Mennonite University
- Inspiration to teach: "I did not choose teaching as a career until I was in my 30s. I was then inspired to teach because it is work that has real meaning."
- Hobbies: Reading, Cooking, Long walks in the woods with my dog.
- Favorite Quote: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” —Maya Angelou
North River Elementary School
Jami Smith
- Grade: 3rdGrade
- Subject: Reading & Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies
- Lives: Mount Solon
- Grew up: Staunton
- College: Bridgewater College
- Inspiration to teach: "My grandmothers were in education: one taught high school for 40 years and the other was an aide in an elementary school. I have always enjoyed helping children."
- Hobbies: Reading, baking, and vacationing/spending time with my family
- Favorite Quote: "Don't dream your life, live your dream." — Mark Twain
Riverheads Elementary School
Lauren Kelly
- Grade: 3rd Grade
- Subject:All subject areas
- Lives:Stuarts Draft
- Grew up: Fishersville
- College:Longwood University
- Inspiration to teach: "It was during my time as a high school senior that I enrolled in Teachers For Tomorrow at Valley Vocational Technical Center. That experience coupled with my passion for serving my community validated my calling to teach."
- Hobbies: Hiking, antiquing, traveling and spending time with family.
- Favorite Quote: “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted” — John Lennon
Stuarts Draft Elementary School
Emily Hewitt
- Grade:1st Grade
- Subject:All Subjects
- Lives:Greenville
- Grew up:Greenville
- College:University of Virginia
- Inspiration to teach: "Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a teacher. Now that I am one, I'm inspired to remain a teacher because of all the beautiful little lives I get to be a part of."
- Hobbies: Playing the flute, loving on my dogsand making delicious beef jerky(although my students will probably say sleeping because I love a good nap)
- Favorite Quote: "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." -Winnie the Pooh -A.A Milne
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Stump Elementary School
Candy Daffern
- Grade:Preschool Teacher
- Subject:All subjects
- Lives:Crozet
- Grew up:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- College:Penn State University
- Inspiration to teach:My sister, also a teacher, was my inspiration
- Hobbies:Gardening, reading, crocheting
- Favorite Quote:“The purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around, and to be loved.” — Kurt Vonnegut
Wilson Elementary School
Sarah Stoll
- Grade:PreKindergarten - 5th Grade
- Subject:Music
- Lives:Waynesboro
- Grew up: Souderton, Pennsylvania
- College:Eastern Mennonite University
- Inspiration to teach: "My mother was a huge inspiration. She was very musical, she sang all the time. She also babysat children while I was growing up and ran the children’s program at my church. She was very creative and being with children brought her so much joy. I guess I got her child-like spirit, which has made my life very much enjoyable."
- Hobbies: Working outside in my flower beds, playing outside with my three boys, working out at the gym, running in mud runs andspending quality time with friends
- Favorite Quote: “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” —Anonymous
Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School
Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
- Grade:11th and 12th Grade
- Subject:Theatre Arts
- Lives:Staunton
- Grew up: Dayton, Ohio
- College:Miami University, Mary Baldwin University
- Inspiration to teach: "To share my love of theatre and to encourage my students to believe in themselves and take creative risks."
- Hobbies: Performing in community theatre, reading (especially historical fiction, I'm a huge Jane Austen fan), traveling and tasting cuisine from around the world.
- Favorite Quote: "Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." — "Dead Poets Society"
Valley Career andTechnical Center
Angela Small
- Grade:11th – 12th Grade
- Subject: Veterinary Science
- Lives:Fishersville
- Grew up: Augusta County
- College:Blue Ridge Community College
- Inspiration to teach "I was inspired to teach when I was employed as a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Small Animal Medicine. I enjoyed working with the interns and sharing my passion for my career. Then my teaching advanced to giving horseback riding lessons and watching my students grow from not knowing anything about riding to being in the winners circle at horse shows. Then the opportunity arose for me to teach Veterinary Assistant students and it was a win, win situation. So i ran with it. I enjoy seeing my students grow and become successful in the field of Veterinary Medicine. Mostly, I teach from the heart and I love sharing my professional personal experiences. Student achievement and growth is my personal goal."
- Hobbies:Riding horses; competing in Cowboy Mounted Shooting, running, spending time with friends and family
- Favorite Quote:"You have nothing to lose, but all to gain?"
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