A+ Educator Awards - December & January Winners
Another year has come and gone, and we're still highlighting all the incredible educators in our area. This post includes nominees from December & January who have been selected by their peers for going above and beyond in their service to their students and colleagues. The A+ Educators Awards are our way of saying thank you to the teachers and staff that are making a difference.
Each of these winners receives a gift certificate sponsored by us to Remedy Burger in Downtown Staunton to celebrate their success!
(Click here to check out the previous A+ Educators award winners.)
Elementary School Winner: AnnaMaria Maris
Position: Preschool Teacher
School: Wilson Elementary School
We are excited to honor AnnaMaria Maris for her exceptional contributions as an inclusive preschool teacher here in Augusta County. In just her first year with our program, Ms. Maris has created a warm, welcoming, and engaging environment where every learner feels valued and empowered to participate meaningfully. Her commitment to enacting our inclusive preschool program vision shines through in every lesson, ensuring that each child, along with their families, is an integral part of the learning journey. Ms. Maris works tirelessly to foster connections between students, families, and the school, embodying the spirit of inclusivity and collaboration. We are grateful for her dedication and proud to celebrate her with this award!
Middle School Winner: Emilee Sawyers
Position: Family & Consumer Science Teacher
School: Wilson Middle School
Emilee Sawyers is a family and consumer science teacher at Wilson Middle School. She has worked to create an inviting and engaging classroom filled with hands on learning experiences. Not only does she work to provide a variety of classroom activities, she also provides many opportunities for her students to develop skills in leadership and skills that directly connect to work based learning. In addition to her work in her own school, she is also working to collaborate with her colleagues throughout the division to help create meaningful experiences for all ACPS FACS students. We appreciate her commitment to creating a learning environment that makes real world connections while meeting the needs of each student in the classroom.
High School Winner: Jess Bergan
Position: Math Teacher
School: Stuarts Draft High School
Jess Bergan is a math teacher Stuarts Draft High School. She has been recognized multiple times by her colleagues, administrators, and division leadership as being a role model teacher and mentor. She continues to set high expectations in her classroom while providing differentiated instruction so that all students can meet those expectations. Jess is respected by her colleagues throughout the division. She has been part of the ACPS Innovation team, she was the 2023 SDHS Teacher of the Year, and she is a Clinical Faculty member. Jess is a lifelong learner and continues to look for ways to grow her own knowledge and experience. We appreciate her efforts to meet her students individual needs and her efforts to ensure all of her students are have the necessary skills for future math courses. We also appreciate the example she sets as a lifelong learner and role model for other teachers.
Elementary School Winner:Amy Shalawylo
Position: Kindergarten Teacher
School: Riverheads Elementary School
Mrs. Shalawylo teaches kindergarten at Riverheads Elementary School, where she nurtures a classroom filled with 15 energetic and curious students. She approaches every situation, from emotional challenges to the needs of students requiring extra support, with grace and compassion. Her classroom is a calm and encouraging space, ensuring that every child feels included.
Mrs. Shalawylo has fostered strong connections with her students' families, enhancing the sense of community in her class. Her thorough understanding of child development, combined with her meticulous lesson planning, enables her kindergarteners to flourish in an engaging learning atmosphere tailored to meet the diverse needs of all her students. We appreciate her efforts to provide such meaningful instruction to our younger students and for setting them on the path to success right from the start.
Middle School Winner: Jackie Dull
Position: Intervention Specialist Teacher
School: Riverheads Middle School
Jackie is the Intervention Specialist at Riverheads Middle School. She has worked alongside her colleagues in her school, as well as across the division as we have defined this new role at the middle school level. As part of this role, her time is divided between helping the teachers in her building understand and implement targeted instructional support, and actually providing that targeted instruction directly to students in the area math.
She is worthy of recognition for her outstanding contributions as an Intervention Specialist and her dedication to understanding all aspects of Intervention Services. She has bravely stepped outside her comfort zone to work on Math Intervention directly with our students in need to additional support and intensive instruction. Jackie has worked hard this year to identify and develop valuable resources for the staff at RMS. We appreciate her efforts to make this new role a success and for the efforts she makes in ensuring all students are finding success at RMS.
High School Winner: Jackie Dull
Position: English Teacher
School: Fort Defiance High School
Kristine Cortes is an outstanding English teacher and the English department chair at Fort Defiance High School. Her passion for teaching and helping students is clear in everything she does both in and out of the classroom.
In her first year as the chair of the English department, she has helped mentor teachers who are not only new to Fort Defiance, but also to the teaching profession. Her leadership has played a pivotal role in supporting those new teachers as they learn and hone their craft. She has played an important role helping to support and guide teachers at the division level as well. Kristine Cortes’ leadership and strengths in the classroom make her the deserving recipient of the High School Lingo Teacher of the month.
If you have questions about your Lingo services, we'd love to talk with you. You can reach us at (540) 712-0300 or email us at getservice@mgwnetworks.com. And make sure to check out our NEW Lingo Fiber Expansion areas.
