Three Classrooms, One Impact: Meet Our April A+ Educators
April 2026: A+ Educator Award Recipients
Behind every excellent school is a team of educators who invest their time, energy, and heart to help students thrive. Our A+ Educator Awards let us highlight, each month, the individuals whose influence extends beyond the classroom. We’re proud to honor this month’s Elementary, Middle, and High School A+ Educators whose dedication to students and fellow staff makes our local schools exceptional places to learn.
Elementary A+ Educator of the Month: Deborah Burke
“Our Elementary Teacher of the Month is Deborah Burke. Ms. Burke is the 2nd grade teacher at Craigsville Elementary School. She is an educator who sees every child as a valued individual with great potential and is committed to helping each one become the best version of themselves. She is a lifelong learner, continually seeking new knowledge and strategies to strengthen her practice. Deborah consistently goes above and beyond in her lesson planning, ensuring that instruction is thoughtful, engaging, and purposeful. She maximizes every moment of instructional time and establishes meaningful routines that support student success and create a positive classroom environment. In addition to her work with students, she is kind and caring toward her colleagues, making her a trusted and valued member of the Craigsville community.”
Middle School A+ Educator of the Month: Liz Scott
“This month’s Middle School A+ Educator is Liz Scott from Riverheads Middle School. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success and to becoming an active, positive member of the school community. In the classroom, Ms. Scott creates a supportive and engaging learning environment where all students feel valued, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential. Her passion for teaching is evident in the way she fosters curiosity, encourages critical thinking, and makes meaningful connections that extend learning beyond the classroom. Her commitment to excellence also extends beyond her own classroom. Ms. Scott has taken on leadership opportunities by presenting at last fall’s Rock the Center Professional Learning Fair and serving as an Augusta County CIP representative. Through these roles, she has collaborated with colleagues, shared best practices, and contributed to the continued growth of our school division.”
High School A+ Educator of the Month: Kopper Ernst
“We are proud to celebrate Ms. Scott as our Middle School A+Educator of the Month. Ms. Ernst fulfills many roles at beyond English teacher at Riverheads High School including, classroom teacher, English Department Chair, forensics coach, among others. As a classroom teacher, she pushes her students to be their best, and challenges them to read, write, and think critically. As the department chair Ms. Ernst advocates for both the needs of the students as well as her department members. Ms. Ernst has played a vital role on several committees at the division level in recent years helping to shape English instruction in Augusta County Public Schools. She’s done all of this while continuing her own education, as well. For these reasons and many others, Ms. Kopper Ernst is our High School school Lingo Teacher of the Month.”
Join Us in Celebrating These Educators
Please join us in honoring these exceptional educators for their incredible contributions to Augusta County Public Schools. Their passion and commitment inspire us all and remind us of the lasting influence teachers have in shaping the future.
As part of our program, each honoree receives a $20 gift card to Pizza Luca in downtown Staunton —a small token of appreciation for the tremendous work they do every day.
If you have questions about your Lingo services, we’d love to talk with you. You can reach us at (540) 712-0300 or by emailing us at getservice@mgwnetworks.com.
