LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 6, 2021
PAGE 1
Loudoun County's 2021
Outstanding Educators
This year, the Loudoun Education Foundation is partnering with Loudoun Now to celebrate the educators nominated for Teacher and Principal of the Year. Thank you to the top campaign sponsors: Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, Apple Federal Credit Union, Donald Cooper, Integrus Holdings Inc., Cigna, and WB20, whose donation will help provide a $250 grant to each educator nominated for an award.
Principal of the Year:
Shontel Simon For Shontel Simon, strong relationships are the glue that holds a school together. That’s what came through in the comments from parents, colleagues, and students who nominated her for The Washington Post’s Principal of the Year for Loudoun County. Simon has worked in education for nearly 24 years. For most of her career, she taught third grade, and she has served as the principal of Forest Grove Elementary in Sterling for seven years. Simon assumed Forest Grove’s principalship after the school had two principals in two years. “Even in times of stability, working at a Title I school presents its own unique challenges, let alone the challenges of having inconsistent leadership year after year,” wrote gifted teacher Alan Skubal in nominating Simon. “First and foremost, she took the time and built relationships with the staff, the students and the families. She built upon that foundation to create a community passionate about one cause: everything we do is to benefit the children.”
With most learning taking place online this school year, Simon has had to get creative to build and maintain those meaningful relationships. She sends students and teachers post cards to thank them for their hard work. She regularly pops into virtual lessons to greet classes. And she makes sure to give students who have done something great a special shout out on the morning show. “During every morning show, I tell the students, ‘if no one has told you they love you today, know that I love you,’” Simon said. “I want everyone in this building to know that they’re cared about—I care about them.” It is hard work to truly get to know every one of the 575 students at Forest Grove, but Simon says it’s why she loves her job. In nominating Simon for Principal of the Year, parent Kelly Headley put it this way, “Mrs. Simon connects with the children in her school and forms relationships with them. As a parent, this is more important to me than standardized test scores or school reviews.”
Shontel Simon, now in her 24th year in education, is Loudoun County’s nominee for The Washington Post’s Principal of the Year. She has served as the principal of Forest Grove Elementary in Sterling for seven years.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 2
MAY 6, 2021
2021 Teacher Nominees BETH ASH-CONKLIN
SHERI CAMPBELL
Kindergarten, Lucketts Elementary Years in Education: 21
First Teacher, Hillside Elementary Years in Education: 22
“The first thing you will notice about Beth when you enter her classroom is her absolute love of teaching. She and her students celebrate every accomplishment, no matter how big or small.”
“Ms. Campbell excels at reaching her students on an individual basis. We all recognize that each child is unique and as an educator, she helps each child grow in their own way to be their own best student.”
— Colleague
Kimberly Jackson, now in her 14th year as an educator, is Loudoun County’s nominee for The Washington Post’s Teacher of the Year. She teaches Advanced Placement Statistics at Riverside High School in Lansdowne.
Teacher of the Year:
Kimberly Jackson Math is not something to be feared, but a helpful tool that anyone can learn to use. That’s the message that Kimberly Jackson, a math teacher at Riverside High School, repeats to her students. Jackson, who is Loudoun County’s nominee for The Washington Post’s Teacher of the Year, is a career-switcher. She had a successful career in pharmaceuticals before becoming a teacher. In the 14 years she’s worked in education, she has nudged students for whom math has been a barrier to pursue upper-level math courses. She tells everyone from her students to veterans in the field of education to think of math as a pump not a filter. “We want math to pump them up and equip them to do great things in the world, as opposed to filter them out of math.” She added, “I know what happens when you count kids out of math.” When students feel labeled as not great at math, they avoid higher level math courses and, ultimately, do not pursue STEM careers, Jackson said. “So many kids are labeled as ‘bad at math’ when their brains are still developing. We may be missing out on doctors or engineers who were filtered out of higher-level math courses early on.” In her nomination packet for Teacher of the Year, Jackson’s colleagues noted that her compassion for students goes beyond the curriculum. She’s been known to keep food in her desk for those who are hungry or even find an immigration attorney for a student seeking to understand their status after becoming housing insecure. Carolyn Briles, a fellow math teacher at Riverside High School, described Jackson teaching style this: “We sometimes describe people as having a heart of gold, sometimes as having nerves of steel, but gold itself is too soft, and steel by itself is too hard. The perfect balance of warmth and strength is an alloy of gold and steel, and that is my colleague Kim Jackson.” Jackson also serves as Riverside’s equity lead and has made it her mission to help English language learners excel academically.
– Parent
DANIELLE BENTELER
CAITLIN CAMPBELL
Resource Teacher, Cedar Lane Elementary Years in Education: 5
World Languages, Dominion High Years in Education: 8
“Miss Benteler is consistently willing to sacrifice her time to colleagues and continues to be someone I turn to when I am in need of a professional opinion.”
“Ms. Campbell is a valued leader at Dominion and one that both fellow teachers and students can look to for support and vision.”
– Fellow Teacher JANINE BOURSCHEID
– Colleague ANTHONY CIMINO-JOHNSON Theater, Rock Ridge High Years in Education: 11
Second Grade, Waxpool Elementary Years in Education: 21 “Mrs. Bourscheid is truly a gem. She is natural in her interaction with kids and puts in a lot of effort to make a difference.” – Parent NICHOLE CABANISS Theater, John Champe High Years in Education: 7 “The adjectives my son uses to describe her are smart, dedicated and caring. These characteristics are displayed in many different ways and are some of the driving forces that make Ms. Cabaniss the extraordinary teacher she is.” – Parent GREG CACCAVO Science, Harmony Middle Years in Education: 26 “Mr. C is the best teacher I know. He is great because he has the best hands-on activities. In his classes you never get bored.” – Student
“Mr. Cimino-Johnson prepares rigorous lesson plans and carries them out with a sense of fun that allows his students to engage without fear of failure.” – Administrator MARYKIRK CUNNINGHAM Kindergarten, Frederick Douglass Elementary Years in Education: 17 “Relationships are the key to Marykirk’s heart and the soul to her success as a teacher.” – Administrator WENDY DALTON Kindergarten, Hillsboro Charter Academy Years in Education: 15 “Ms. Dalton has a true passion for reaching and teaching each individual scholar and honoring the gifts and talents of each one.” – Administrator HANNAH DOSS Teacher, Stone Hill Middle Years in Education: 7
KERRI CAHILL Reading, Kenneth W. Culbert Elementary Years in Education: 9 “Kerri treats every student as an individual and take the time to understand what each one needs to grow with their learning.” – Parent
“Above all else, Hannah is selfless. She is the first to arrive and the last to leave, ensuring our classroom runs smoothly, which is so very important to our environment. At the end of each day, she [Ms. Doss] thanks us for our contributions, makes sure we’re happy, and gives us a pat on the back.” – Team Members
MAY 6, 2021
What You Likely Don’t Know About the Loudoun Education Foundation
The Loudoun Education Foundation may be one of the county’s best-kept secrets. It started in 1991 as a passion project of four School Board members, who wanted to help community members support innovative educational projects that went above and beyond the school system’s operating budget. Projects like classroom grants for teachers, scholarships for graduates, and awards ceremonies to honor high-achieving students. Since then, LEF has raised more than $8.5 million and is now on track to bring in more than $3 million a year to support the public school system. The foundation’s team—including four staff members, 21 foundation trustees, and 14 honorary trustees—is committed to connecting donors’ passions to areas of need within the public schools. For some, it’s a chance to provide weekend meals for food-insecure students that prompts them to give. For others, it’s about sending a student to STEM camp who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity. Others want to invest in diversifying and preparing the future workforce. They all turn to LEF to make the most of their investment. Here’s just one example of how the foundation puts community resources to work: In 2017, LEF pursued and won a Good Neighbor grant from Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to create afterschool STEM programs that would proactively close the achievement gap among Loudoun County students. Coupled with donations from Howard Hughes Medical Institute and several other community partners, LEF has since expanded PROPEL and Level Up to 10 elementary and four middle schools, respectively. The programs invite economically disadvantaged students to take part in long-term STEM projects that build their confidence and problem-solving skills. Just four years in, teachers are already seeing that students who take part in PROPEL or Level Up do better in math, reading, and science, making them more likely to enroll in Honors, Advanced Placement, and other higher-level coursework. That is real progress that will lead to more students from historically marginalized communities to become scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists. Another example of LEF’s work is the special section you’re reading now. For 29 years, the foundation has helped honor the educators nominated for Teacher and Principal of the Year by hosting a banquet. But this year, the celebration is taking the form of this special section. Teachers have had an especially difficult year, as they managed to keep students engaged in virtual classrooms. As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, take a minute to thank a teacher. If you want to put a little oomph behind that thank you, donate $10, $25, or $50 at LoudounEducationFoundation. org to the Making a Difference Teacher Grants program. Thank you for helping us honor Loudoun County’s outstanding educators.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 3
2021 Teacher Nominees LISA FLORES English Language Learners, Guilford Elementary Years in Education: 13 “I have never met another teacher quite like Lisa, and although it has been over a year since I last worked alongside her, I still frequently find myself thinking, ‘How would Lisa respond to this situation?’ The answer to this question is always: with compassion and action.” – Colleague ANNAMARIE FROST Second Grade Teacher, Sully Elementary Years in Education: 6
First Grade, Guilford Elementary Years in Education: 1
New Secondary Teacher of the Year
“Her ability to connect with her students and her talent at teaching simple concepts, as well as more advanced topics, are both truly superior.” — Principal DANIEL KIM Social Science/Global Studies, Independence High Years in Education: 7
“Annamarie always put the students first when it comes to her attention to detail in planning. Her decisions are made strictly with the students’ best interests at heart.”
“Mr. Kim is the kind of teacher that will laugh along with the class and will set them straight when necessary. He will always keep it 100% real with his students because he truly cares for us and wants us to succeed.”
– Educational Specialist
– Student
RAJI GANGULI
TARYN LANGMEAD
Science, Sterling Middle Years in Education: 7
Science, Loudoun Valley High Years in Education: 7
“As a parent, I felt the power of her [Ms. Ganguli’s] presence at Back to School Night. We left her classroom, and my son (a rising 6th grader at the time) immediately said ‘I know I’m going to love her class.’”
“Taryn builds her lessons on the 5 C’s and therefore the students are automatically learning how to be creative, collaborative, communicative, as well as thinking critically while demonstrating good citizenship with their classmates.”
– Parent
– Teacher/Department Chair
JENNIFER HAHN English, Eagle Ridge Middle Years in Education: 12 “I think Mrs. Hahn should be nominated because she teaches really well. She helps us understand the concepts, and how we should make our writing better. I think her class is making an impact on my learning.” – Student
KELLY LILLY Teacher, Madison’s Trust Elementary Years in Education: 10 “As a parent I could have not asked for a better teacher for our son’s last year of elementary school. I felt we were working as a team in the best interest of my son.” – Parent
CHRISTINA HEPNER Kindergarten, Mountain View Elementary Years in Education: 16 “Mrs. Hepner goes above and beyond every single day for her students. Her honest passion for learning is at the heart of each of her well-developed lessons.” – Parent
— Danielle Nadler, Director of Communications and Strategy for the Loudoun Education Foundation
MEGHAN KELLY
ELIZABETH LITTLE Kindergarten, Legacy Elementary Years in Education: 10 “When she chose to become a teacher, Mrs. Little had spent years in the business world and wanted to make a difference with children. She had volunteered for years but decided that she wanted to dedicate herself to her students and that is truly what she has done.” – Principal
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 4
MAY 6, 2021
DIANA LOPEZ
NICOLETTE PISANI
JENNIFER SEEKFORD
World Languages/Cultures, J. Michael Lunsford Middle Years in Education: 17
Third Grade, Cedar Lane Elementary Years in Education: 6
Math, J. L. Simpson Middle Years in Education: 6
“Fortunately, with distanced learning, we have been afforded the opportunity to witness her (Diana’s) talents as both an educator, a linguist, and a cultural guide. Enthusiasm, passion, dedication, balance, professionalism, and patience best describe why Ms. Lopez commands such respect from our daughter.”
“Nicolette uses her knowledge of the curriculum to plan out fun and creative activities for both whole group and small group lessons—whether it’s singing a song about multiplication, going on a trip around the world to countries, or doing text feature ‘surgery,’ Nicolette has her students actively participating in their learning.”
– Parent
– Fellow Teacher
JENNIFER LUZIER
JENNIFER REEDER
Kindergarten, Cool Springs Elementary Years in Education: 17
Math, Willard Middle Years in Education: 20
– Fellow Teacher PAULETTE REISMAN
– Parent
Instructional Specialist, River Bend Middle Years in Education: 9
MARCY LYLE First Grade, Mountain View Elementary Years in Education: 25
“Mrs. Reisman formed the incredible Buddies Club at River Bend. In this program, she partners students from all grades with her own students to provide mentorship, guidance, and friendship.”
“Mrs. Lyle and I had a journal we shared together for me to share my feelings with her. It helped me write and share my feelings. I knew she cared about me and would be there for me when I needed her."
– Fellow Teacher
– Former Student
CRYSTLE RUSSEL
KATHRYN MCALLISTER
Fourth Grade, Sanders Corner Elementary Years in Education: 6
Special Education, Mercer Middle Years in Education: 5
“Each student is an individual, unique learner, and Mrs. Russell designs each educational experience so that her students can maximize their potential for learning.”
“Ms. McAllister spent time outside of school learning how to use different communication systems. Because of that time spent she is able to model communication effectively for all students.”
– Principal
MEGHAN OSBORNE Social Sciences, Stone Hill Middle Years in Education: 1
DREW SANSONETTI Math, J. Michael Lunsford Middle Years in Education: 5
New Elementary Teacher of the Year
“She brings incredible enthusiasm and knowledge and really gets our students engaged. She is kind and patient when technology is not her friend. Meghan Osborne, what a way to start your teaching career.” — Colleague
– Parent SARAH STARLIPER World Languages, Belmont Ridge Middle Years in Education: 14
“Jenn is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to subject matter. Whenever I have a question about how to approach a topic, she is always the person I want to run ideas by, and she always has a thoughtful and informed response.”
“Every day my son would beg to log into Seesaw to view Ms. Luzier’s comments and words of encouragement on his daily assignment submissions. She was the bright light for every school day for him and by the end of the year, we fondly referred to her as Saint Luzier in recognition of her patience, kindness and commitment to her class.”
“My daughter had Jennifer for Math 6, in the 6th grade. She is now in the 10th grade. Four years have passed and I still consider Jennifer to be a pivotal person for turning things around for my daughter in math. Prior to the 6th grade my daughter had what I call, Math Low Self Esteem.”
“His teaching has made me better at math and a better person. The first thing he and I talked about when I was in his classroom every other day was football. That welcome helped me feel relaxed for the rest of class.” – Student
“Once you step into Ms. Starliper’s classroom, be it virtual or in person you never want to leave! Students never know what new technology, activity or learning experience they will have in Ms. Starliper’s classroom.” – Principal WHITNEY SVENSSON Language Arts, Mercer Middle Years in Education: 9 “Whitney’s personalized learning approach to instruction helps students leave English class feeling seen, feeling valuable, and feeling appropriately challenged by her class.” – Teacher BRITTANY WEBB Fourth Grade, Cardinal Ridge Elementary Years in Education: 11 “Ms. Webb’s teaching is centered on deeper thinking, reflection, and truly intent on putting scholars at the forefront of every decision she makes.” – Principal VIVIENNE WOON Resource Teacher, Liberty Elementary Years in Education: 6 “Ms. Woon’s manner of professionalism is exemplary. She presents herself as an outstanding leader and professional. Her practices are sound, firm and based on the best data and information available.” – Supervisor
Learn more about how to support our public schools at LoudounEducationFoundation.org.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
MAY 6, 2021
PAGE 5
! S R O T A C U D E n u o d u o L u o y Thank CLAUDEMOOREFOUNDATION.ORG
Thank You to All of Our Outstanding Teachers. 11350 Random Hills Drive, Suite 730 Fairfax, VA 22030-7429 P: 703-934-1147 • F: 703-273-0152
The Lincoln Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization would like to Thank our Teachers and Staff for the hard work and patience this school year!