The Chesterfield County School Board recognizes additional student and staff achievements at their monthly board meetings, and you can read about more accomplishments in CCPS on the Go, the printed newsletter that goes to every household in Chesterfield County.
In the Health Professions and Therapies Specialty Center at Monacan High, Kate Doctor teaches sports medicine, exercise science and introduction to health and medical science. She discovered her passion for education while working as a certified athletic trainer and has taught in Chesterfield County Public Schools since 2005.
Monacan High Principal William Broyles praised Doctor’s ability to motivate students by connecting real-world experiences with classroom instruction: “The encouragement and energy Ms. Doctor puts forth in working through difficult scientific material is unmistakable. … [And] she will draw on a wealth of professional connections to develop seminars and utilize guest presenters. Her work doesn’t stop in the academic classroom either as she is dedicated to working with her students in the HOSA [Future Health Professionals] co-curricular program at the school, state, and national levels. … Her work with the HOSA students … develops leaders who are confident in their knowledge, ability to present, and lead.”
A Midlothian High School graduate, Doctor earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from East Carolina University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Virginia Commonwealth University. In her Teacher of the Year essay, Doctor wrote that she seeks to provide opportunities for learning beyond the classroom: “It is now a rite of passage in our specialty center program for students that take my sports medicine classes to work home football games. They all know that they will get the chance to shadow our school’s certified athletic trainer, help set up and breakdown equipment for the game, experience pregame preparations like taping, treatments, and rehab for athletes, and run water bottles out onto the field during timeouts. They … also experience the thrill of being on the sidelines and in the middle of all of the action, a privilege most students will never have.”
Chesterfield County Public Schools Teacher of the Year is not the only 2023 award Doctor has won. She was recently selected as Athletic Training Educator of the Year by the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association — the first time the award has gone to a secondary school educator.
Maureen Capel grew up in Chesterfield County and graduated from Bird High School. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University, she began teaching in Chesterfield County Public Schools in 2006. Since 2017, she has taught first grade at Wells Elementary.
She wrote of her teaching philosophy in her Teacher of the Year essay: “I truly ascribe to the belief that learning flows naturally once a student senses he/she is in a place of acceptance, love, belonging and security. Every single morning for the first fifteen to twenty minutes, we begin our day in the same manner with a Morning Meeting … to demonstrate to our class that we are a classroom family and there’s nothing more important than starting our day together as a community. It is the single most impactful part of our day, as it sets the tone for all other activities.”
Emily Skipper also grew up in Chesterfield County and graduated from Bird High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Longwood University and her master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She began her teaching career in 2017 at Providence Middle, where she teaches seventh grade math.
In her Teacher of the Year essay, she detailed her commitment to meeting students’ social and emotional needs as well as academic needs: “I aim to meet students where they are and have them not just master the curriculum, but grow in their understanding and confidence in math. … Each year I aim to adapt to the variety of needs in my classroom academically, socially, and emotionally. I am not afraid to incorporate new ideas or activities to stay clear of a static classroom. … As I have gained experience teaching, I have found it is important to not think there is a one size fits all model for all students and classes.”
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Game Changers are those who step up to meet the needs of our students; offer support and access to resources that assist their colleagues; provide an extra layer of support for families outside of the classroom; and who generally make a positive and sometimes life-changing difference in the lives of our students, families and their colleagues.
Each month, Superintendent Merv Daugherty chooses four staff members from each magisterial district to be recognized for outstanding service. One central office member will be recognized monthly as well. Anyone can nominate employees for the Game Changer award.
Below are our most recent Game Changers:
Chesterfield County Public Schools has benefited from the talents of outstanding teachers, educational and operational support staff, leaders and volunteers over the past 150-plus years. The success of our nationally recognized school division can be attributed to their outstanding contributions to support our teachers and students. Their talent and dedication is ever-present in the outcomes we see today.
The new honorees were inducted on March 23 during the Chesterfield County Public Schools Hall of Fame Gala, presented by the Chesterfield Education Foundation in partnership with TowneBank. Proceeds from the Hall of Fame Gala will go to support Conexus for children’s vision.
The school system is built on the talents of outstanding teachers, educational and operational support staff members, leaders and volunteers. Their abilities and dedication are why Chesterfield County Public Schools — the largest school division in central Virginia — is a a nationally recognized, award-winning school system. The Hall of Fame, which inducted its first honorees in 2021, was established to recognize their lasting impact.
The Hall of Fame of Chesterfield County Public Schools inducted seven new members on March 23, in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments in support of students and schools. Short videos highlight each honoree’s career:
*Read their full Biographies here
The new honorees will join the inaugural inductees from 2021: Jamie Accashian, Dr. Jane Baskerville, Dr. Billy Cannaday, Greg Cummings, Ralph Floyd, Betty Hornick, Deloris Jackson, Sue Robertson, Dianne Smith, Louan Stanfield and Jack Winn.
Nominations are open for the next round of Hall of Fame inductees. Use this form to nominate retired teachers, educational and operational support staff members, leaders and volunteers who helped make Chesterfield County Public Schools a nationally recognized, award-winning school system.
High school students from throughout Chesterfield County Public Schools were honored Nov. 28 in the first ever Superintendent’s All-County Awards Celebration, which will be held quarterly.
Carver College and Career Academy
Clover Hill High School
Cosby High School
James River High School
L.C. Bird High School
Manchester High School
Matoaca High School
Meadowbrook High School
Midlothian High School
Monacan High School
Thomas Dale High School
Clover Hill High School
Cosby High School
James River High School
L.C. Bird High School
Manchester High School
Monacan High School
Thomas Dale High School
Clover Hill High School
Cosby High School
James River High School
Manchester High School
Midlothian High School
Monacan High School
Thomas Dale High School
Clover Hill High School
Cosby High School
James River High School
L.C. Bird High School
Manchester High School
Matoaca High School
Meadowbrook High School
Midlothian High School
Monacan High School
Thomas Dale High School
Artwork, poetry, fiction and nonfiction created by students in grades 6-12 join together in our digital literary magazine, Write Now! Three editions are available online, allowing people across the world to enjoy the work of Chesterfield County Public Schools students.
