West Virginia’s Teacher of the Year and Service Personnel of the Year programs are among the nation’s oldest and most consistent programs of their kind. The prestigious national Teacher of the Year Program is an initiative of the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with the Voya Foundation, emphasizing excellence in teaching and teacher recognition. Each year, schools are strongly encouraged to nominate one outstanding teacher for the Greenbrier County Teacher of the Year Program and one outstanding employee for the Service Personnel of the Year award. These special recognition initiatives help celebrate excellence in education and honor those who go the extra mile to make our school system great. To be nominated by one’s colleagues for a school-level Teacher of the Year or Service Personnel of the Year award is considered a great honor. Greenbrier County recognizes Elementary, Secondary, and County Teachers of the Year and County Service Personnel of the Year. Greenbrier County’s Teacher of the Year and Service Employees of the Year will be nominated for state-level recognition. “It is always exciting to honor exemplary members of our team, especially through our annual Employees of the Year award process. We celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of each of these outstanding individuals and are honored to have them on staff in Greenbrier County Schools,” said Superintendent Jeff Bryant. For the 2021-2022 school year, Superintendent Bryant is pleased to announce the following: School-Level Teachers of the Year: Alderson Elementary: Catlin Rose Crichton Elementary: Carolyn Osborne Frankford Elementary: Lori Quick Lewisburg Elementary: Katherine Taylor Rainelle Elementary: Cindy Durham Ronceverte Elementary: Patricia Defibaugh Rupert Elementary: Jennifer Holley Smoot Elementary: Wendy Anderson White Sulphur Springs Elementary: Heather Miller Eastern Greenbrier Middle School: Becky Campbell Western Greenbrier Middle School: Bryanna O’Dell Greenbrier East High School: Barbara Lutz Greenbrier West High School: Steven Tincher <img class="wp-image-61933 aligncenter" src="https://mountainmessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/05/Teachers-1.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="1067" /> <strong> </strong> [caption id="attachment_61934" align="aligncenter" width="648"]<img class=" wp-image-61934" src="https://mountainmessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/05/teachers-2.jpg" alt="" width="648" height="864" /> White Sulphur Springs Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Heather Miller is a second-grade teacher. She believes that a critical component to teaching success is relationship building with her students. She feels her students must feel loved, respected, and accepted before they can entirely focus on academic skills.<br />“I am truly honored to represent my school and my county as Elementary Teacher of the Year. Teaching is my passion and brings so much joy, love, and happiness to my life each day. I am so blessed to have such great support from my students, parents, and the staff at WSSE. They all inspire me to continue learning and growing on my journey as a teacher,” said Miller.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_61935" align="aligncenter" width="653"]<img class=" wp-image-61935" src="https://mountainmessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/05/Teachers-3.jpg" alt="" width="653" height="871" /> Secondary Teacher of the Year: Becky Campbell. Campbell is the librarian at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School (EGMS). She is also instrumental in the success of the afterschool program at EGMS. Becky feels it is essential to bridge communication between the schools and the community. She feels parents, community members, and the school system should work as a team for successful students.<br />“Being selected means so much because my position as the librarian allows me to work with every teacher in the building, and I see first-hand how many wonderful educators teach at EGMS,” said Campbell. “The fact that they appreciate me is humbling and a true honor. I am blessed to be part of a school and county that values all the work that goes into library services.”[/caption] [caption id="attachment_61936" align="aligncenter" width="810"]<img class="size-full wp-image-61936" src="https://mountainmessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/05/Teachers-4.jpg" alt="" width="810" height="1080" /> Greenbrier County Schools Teacher of the Year: Barbara Lutz. Lutz is a music teacher at Greenbrier East High School. She feels that children learn because of the connections they make with each other, their teachers, their passion, and their community. She believes her calling is to provide opportunities for her students to discover the connection between who they are now and who they can become.<br />“After an unprecedented year of watching so many of my colleagues, both in Greenbrier County and around the state, demonstrate amazing superpowers while teaching in extremely difficult times, I am both humbled and surprised to be honored by this award. Once again, teachers, administrators, and staff have proven that schools consistently provide the stability and hope our communities need when children and families are in desperate situations,” said Lutz. “Being a part of that hope has always been my motivation, and so I share this honor with all the employees whose path I cross every day.”[/caption] [caption id="attachment_61937" align="aligncenter" width="810"]<img class="size-full wp-image-61937" src="https://mountainmessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/05/Teachers-5.jpg" alt="" width="810" height="1080" /> Greenbrier County Schools Service Personnel of the Year: Dora McClintic. McClintic is an aide at Frankford Elementary. Principal Linda King notes that Dora goes above and beyond the call of duty daily, providing support for students and staff members alike. She is always willing to lend a hand to assist with any task and does so positively.<br />“Receiving the Service Personnel of the Year honor was a surprise. I like my job and enjoy working with the kids and staff every day,” said McClintic.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_61938" align="alignnone" width="1280"]<img class="size-full wp-image-61938" src="https://mountainmessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/05/teachers-6.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="960" /> Greenbrier County Schools Service Personnel of the Year: John Woodrum. Woodrum is the head custodian at Lewisburg Elementary. He takes pride in providing clean learning spaces and pays particular attention and care to the maintenance of all equipment and facilities. Principals Leann Piercy- McMillion and Laura Montgomery say John has been an essential front-line worker this year, providing a safe space for students to learn.<br />“This is a real honor. I am truly appreciative, and I love working around such great people,” states Woodrum.[/caption] <strong> </strong>
