It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week. As we all make plans to spend time with family and friends, the Lingo team is excited to say thank you to the winners of the November A+ Educators Awards.

These winners are nominated by their school for outstanding contributions towards educating and assisting students. As we all know, the past two years have been especially challenging for educators and school staff. As a small token of our appreciation, each winner will also receive a $50 gift card to The Depot in Staunton.

Congratulations again to all of the winners of the November A+ Educators Awards!

Augusta County Public Schools A+ Educator Award Winners:

Winner: Ben Wyrick
School: S. Gordon Stewart Middle School
School District: Augusta County Public Schools
Position: Technology Education Teacher

Exceptional Contribution: Mr. Wyrick has infused new energy and innovation in the Tech Ed program at Stewart Middle School. Through grant writing and other funding, Mr. Wyrick has outfitted his classroom with flight simulators, CAD equipment, and an audio and sound lab. Real-world technology experiences are challenging students to learn 21st century skills. In turn, Mr. Wyrick’s efforts at SMS are influencing innovation and change across the division in Technology Education.

Winner: Nancy Gillis
School: Clymore Elementary School
School District: Augusta County Public Schools
Position: First Grade Teacher

Exceptional Contribution: Mrs. Gillis is an experienced first grade teacher who prides herself in being a learner as she continues to learn new strategies for teaching her students how to read. This new learning in the area of the Science of Reading has led her to revamp her reading instruction which is powerfully impacting not only her students. Her teaching is highly engaging and targeted to students’ specific needs. Mrs. Gillis also shares her knowledge by opening up her classroom to colleagues to come in and observe her in action. We applaud her for her knowledge and collaboration.

Winner: Amanda Seldomridge
School: Buffalo Gap High School
School District: Augusta County Public Schools
Position: Librarian and Gifted Education Coordinator

Exceptional Contribution: Mrs. Seldomridge impacts the total school program at Buffalo Gap High School. As the librarian, she collaborates with content teachers to co-teach lessons and units in the library. Her ability to create engaging, interdisciplinary lessons that include literacy, technology, and creativity is an asset to the students and teachers she impacts. Book clubs for students have been established, and partnerships with special education classes are examples of the impact she has on all students. Mrs. Seldomridge also serves as the Gifted Education Coordinator, providing gifted students with many opportunities to be involved in extended learning activities during the day, after the school day, and in and out of the school building. Students benefit from field trips and virtual meetings with experts and organizations not normally accessible in the Augusta County area.

Stuart Hall November A+ Educator Award Winners:

Winner: Corrie Park
School: Stuart Hall
School District: Private School
Position: Middle and Upper School Teacher

Exceptional Contribution: Corrie is both a middle and an upper school teacher. She is also the sponsor of our Student Government and has assisted with Women's History month. Being a small school, we often have to wear many hats, and Corrie has taken on teaching overloads, developed new courses to meet the needs of our ESL students, and has been an active participant in our residential life program. She embraces our Staunton is Our Campus initiative by engaging our students in many real-world opportunities throughout the Staunton Community.

Winner: Ashley Flemming
School: Stuart Hall
School District: Private School
Position: Upper School English Teacher

Exceptional Contribution: Ashley, an Upper School English Teacher, has served as our English Department Chair and is also the Director of our College Counseling program. Ashley has served as a dorm parent for several years in our residential boarding program and is the Advisor for our award-winning Moot Court Team. Ashley has been instrumental in organizing our approaches to writing across the curriculum and approaches to student research.

Be sure to stay tuned next month for the December A+ Educators Awards winners! In the meantime, if you have questions about our Internet, TV, Phone, or Managed IT services, we’d love to talk with you. You can reach us at (540) 712-0300 or by emailing us at support@lingonetworks.net.