BCPS DIVISION SPELLING BEE CHAMPION FOR 2024
February 9, 2024
Say Hello to BCPS Division Spelling Bee Champion Tamara Eakkhattiyakorn of New London Academy! She had tough competition with Austin Woodruff of Forest Middle School as runner up! Way to go you two!
Congratulations to all of our school winners that competed today at Liberty High School, as well as our alternates! As Mr. Edwards said today "You are all champions!"
JEFFERSON FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
January 22, 2024
Mr. Spence White of Jefferson Forest High School's Cavalier Theatre received the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Outstanding Theatre Educator Award for 2023-2024. The Outstanding Theatre Award was given for the first time last year, separating it from the other categories!
His nomination for the award was quoted to say, "Under White's leadership, Cavalier Theatre at Jefferson Forest has flourished, with extracurricular participation exploding in tandem with yearly enrollment growth from 57 to well over 200 students. The theatre program's expansion has led to a theatrical product considered among the best in Central Virginia. Notable accolades include multiple VHSL One-Act Play District, Region, and State championships, as well as recognition at the Virginia Theatre Association High School Theatre Festival and Southeastern Theatre Conference Secondary School Theatre Festival."
Please join us in congratulating Mr. White for this fantastic award!
FOREST MIDDLE SCHOOL
January 10, 2024
Our students and their accomplishments are out of this world!
6 of our Forest Middle School students were able to participate in the Plant the Moon Challenge on Tuesday January 9, 2024 in Mrs. Cindy Watson’s class. Dash Kline, Angela Liu, Joshua Mignard, Addison Onafowokan, Cassidy Owuor, and Avery Pyzik were selected based on their submitted questions to connect to Astronaut Loral O’Hara, who is aboard the International Space Station currently. This Earth-to-Space call was hosted by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium and included participants from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
There were 25 questions submitted & 6 from FMS were selected. Due to time constraints, 5 of the 6 questions from FMS were answered. The International Space Station Downlink is an opportunity for students and teachers to learn first-hand about living and working in space, what life is like for an astronaut in microgravity, and how to translate the research happening in space into their everyday lives. Thank you to the Space Grant Consortia for choosing Mrs. Watson’s class and BCPS students for an experience of a lifetime.
JEFFERSON FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
January 4, 2024
Congratulations to Britin Witt, Center for Jefferson Forest High School Cavaliers, for making 2nd Team All-State Football!
JEFFERSON FORST HIGH SCHOOL
January 2, 2024
Congratulations to our Jefferson Forest High School students who placed in the 2023 Preservation Virginia "Historic Places" Art Contest!
Makenzie Barker, 10th grade, placed 1st for her piece "Shelton Memorial Cottage," and Addisen Palmer, 12th grade, placed 3rd for her piece "Glimpse into the Past of the Battery Creek Canal Lock."
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
December 15, 2023
Our last Fresh Face Friday is featuring 4 new faces that are spread out through Bedford County.
Elizabeth Denney is in her first year as an IA at Montvale Elementary School with Special Education. She chose this career at a young age.Her and her siblings would make their playroom a classroom, where she was always the teacher. She has had the privilege to work with some of the best teachers in special education. They mentored her and supported her every step of the way. She looks forward to being that kind of support for her students. This year, she would like to continue to learn and grow. She would also like to help children achieve their goals and become inspired to live out their dreams. We all have that one teacher that we remember, she hopes to be that teacher for her students. A fun fact about Elizabeth is that she could never play hide and seek with her children because she laughs the whole time, resulting in them finding her in seconds. We know Montvale is glad to have you this year & hope you have enjoyed it so far.
Hannah Willis is in her first year, ever teaching at Bedford Primary School. She is a VPI Pre-K Teacher in the 3 year old program. She loves reading, yoga, traveling, arts and crafts. She decided to become a teacher because this past summer, following her college graduation, she had an internship teaching children's art classes in Snowmass Village, Colorado and she realized how much she enjoyed teaching so she decided to pursue it as a career. As a graduate of Bedford County schools, Hannah chose to return home after that internship to give back to her community. The role she currently teaches in was presented to her and it has been a great fit. One of her favorite activities this year so far has been the fall gardening activity. They learned about how plants grow by planting different lettuce varieties and taking care of them. This year Hannah hopes to make a positive difference in my students' lives, promote early literacy skills, and introduce foundational materials to prepare students for later grades. We know you are making a great impact on your students!
Switching from Elementary to High School, we are going to introduce you to Emily Bunkoff. She is a brand new teacher in Bedford County and is teaching Algebra to students at Liberty High School. One of her most engaging activities this year was a review activity of slopes and graphs. She was able to create a game of Jeopardy, split the students into teams and compete against one another in order to answer the most questions correctly with accuracy and speed. Emily loves to incorporate games and activities into her lessons to make math fun! Thank you for bringing your love for card games to LHS math classes! We know your students enjoy learning from you!
Derrick Saavedra is another brand new teacher to BCPS as a VA/US History Teacher 11th Grade at Staunton River High School. He chose to be a teacher to help engage students and make learning fun. One of those ways he accomplished that this year is a Revolutionary War reenactment where he took the students outside and used dodge balls as musket fire. He hopes to accomplish a lot of growth with the students and to be able to help them grow in their knowledge of history, while helping them just become better people. Derrick enjoys lifting weights and football, which is no surprise since he is the Staunton River Assistant Football Coach. Thank you for engaging your students and making history fun!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - JEFFERSON FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
December 14, 2023
We are so proud to announce this year’s Bedford County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
Huge congratulations to Jefferson Forest High School’s Genevieve Weaver!
JEFFERSON FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
December 12, 2023
Congratulations to Jefferson Forest High School's Cavalier Theatre for the "Green Bird" being VHSL Class 4 State Runner-Up! Maddie Howard and Izzy Mistretta earned Top Actor honors!
What a way to end your season!
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
Demeber 8, 2023
Meet some of these Fresh Faces from the Forest Zone this festive Friday!
Jamila Read is a 1st grade teacher at Boonsboro Elementary. She is a brand new teacher to Bedford County Public Schools in her first year of teaching! When she’s not teaching, she loves shopping, going to the beach, and spending time with family and friends.She became a teacher because of her love for children and watching them become the best versions of themselves. So far, Jamila has worked on a lot of fun science experiments. She hopes to just give her children her all and ensure that every student succeeds. We are extremely excited to have you!
Rebekah Cross is a 5th grade ELA and Social Studies teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. She chose to become a teacher 16 years ago because she’s always enjoyed working with children and seeing their faces light up when they have learned something new. Rebekah enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with family. Her favorite sport is Volleyball! A few interesting facts about Rebekah are that she has a twin sister and she has also lived in China, where she taught English to Chinese children and adults! How exciting!
Kyle Hammersmith teaches Dual Enrollment English for grades 11-12 at Jefferson Forest High School. He brings 24 years of experience to BCPS, but also was a professional chef at hotels in New York and Florida! He enjoys DIY home projects, movies, and theater in his free time. He describes reading, viewing, and writing about Hamlet as one of his most engaging activities he’s done this year!
#FreshFaceFriday
STAUNTON RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL - CHEER
December 6, 2023
Congratulations to the Staunton River Middle School's Cheerleader for being invited to perform at the ACC Championship game in Charlotte!
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
December 1, 2023
We are winding down on introducing you to all fresh faces at BCPS, but not before we can introduce you to these elementary school teachers!
Susan Manley is a new to Big Island Elementary School 3rd grade teacher! She came to BIES with 15 years of experience. She enjoys gardening, reading, fishing, spending time with family, and cheering on the Hokies! She chose to teach so that she can make a positive impact in the lives of students. This year, Susan hopes to have meaningful connections with her students and their families and ensure they each feel valued and have a successful year by meeting their individual social, emotional and academic needs. Thank you for coming to Bedford! We are excited to have you!
Yvonne Eisenhauer is a special education teacher at Boonsboro Elementary across various grade levels. While she is new to Bedford County, she has 16 years of experience under her belt. She has a love of learning and wants to share it with children to inspire them to be the best they can be. Teaching with a lot of movement and singing is one of her favorite activities in the classroom, even though she says she’d be kicked off American Idol! Yvonne hopes to inspire her young learners this year to always be their best and believe in the power of “yet!” A fun fact about her is that after retirement, she hopes to move to the beach and become a full-time sea and dune dreamer! Your kids are very lucky to have you in their lives!
#FreshFaceFriday
ELEMENTARY ART SHOW
November 30, 2023
Some of our elementary schools participated recently in the Fall Elementary Art Exhibition held at the Bower Center for the Arts! These students showcased their great work for the community to see!
Thank you to Goodview, Otter River, Boonsboro, Bedford, and Big Island students for your participation.
AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS - JFHS AND SRHS
November 15, 2023
Jefferson Forest High School's Marching Cavaliers and Staunton River High School's Marching Golden Eagles ended their season in October with some amazing accomplishments!
JFHS Marching Cavaliers show "Alchemy" earned them the following titles: First in Class 4 & 5 at the Cavalcade of Bands show October 7th; First in their class and second overall at the Tidewater Regional in Virginia Beach October 14th; and Grand Champion, sweeping 1st place in all captions, at the Drums Along the Blue Ridge competition on October 21st. On October 28th at VMBC Championships, they placed 3rd in their class in preliminaries and 7th out of 34 bands overall in finals.
SRHS Marching Golden Eagles also ended their competition season at the Blue Ridge Festival of Bands with the following titles: 1st Place Color Guard, 1st Place Drum Major, 2nd Place Marching, 2nd Place General Effect, 2nd Place Percussion & 2nd Place Overall class 1A.
Congratulations and thank you for all the fun you provided at the football games this year!
LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL
November 14, 2023
BCPS won big this past weekend in VHSL Cross Country State Championship at all three schools!
Liberty High School's Girls Cross Country took home the 2A State Title!
Jefferson Forest High School Cross Country Team had Zoie Lamanna leading with the way to her Class 4 State Champion Title! The Boys Team came in 3rd overall with Alex Jordan, Macon Smith & Luke Gaylor winning All-State Titles!
Staunton River High School's Jack Weddle took 8th place over all for their XC Team!
Congratulations to all 3 teams on their accomplishments!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - STEWARTSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
November 13, 2023
Kristi Alcorn is Stewartsville Elementary School's Teacher of the Year!
She is a first grade teacher of all academic areas at Stewartsville Elementary School. Kristi began working in Bedford County Public Schools as a paraprofessional in 2013, and was hired as a teacher at Stewartsville Elementary School in 2016. She has been working in education for 23 years and has a Masters Degree in Reading and a background working in an alternative education setting. Since working at Stewartsville Kristi has served as the Treasurer for the PTA, served on the Intervention Team, and currently is the First Grade Chair and serves on Leadership.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - BIG ISLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
November 10, 2023
Kayla Petty is Big Island Elementary School's Teacher of the Year!
She is an excellent representative of BIES! Her lessons are well thought out and engaging. She goes above and beyond to meet the needs of everyone in this school. She wears many hats and always chooses JOY even when things may seem hard. She does a great job interacting with all students and meeting their emotional well-being each and every day and sharing those needs with fellow teachers. Her professionalism and intentional personal relationships she builds are remarkable. She genuinely cares about all of the students in the building and that is demonstrated by her involvement with them all, starting with greeting them as they get out of the car, to lunchtime small groups, classroom lessons, pull-outs for individuals, and seeing them out as they arrive in the car rider circle. She works incredibly hard to make sure her room is inviting. Her lessons are meaningful and one can tell she puts a lot of work into them in order for them to be engaging for all.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
JEFFERSON FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
November 10, 2023
Jefferson Forest High School's Cavalier Theatre had their one act play, The Green Bird, make an appearance in the Virginia Theatre Association Conference Finals in Richmond recently and placed 4th in the state, across all classes, public and private. Maddie Howard, Ryan Sloan and Aaron Tinsley received Best Actor recognition. JF again won the award for Best Costumes in the state. The Tech Team (Olivia Artman, Anna Rackley, Autumn Loy, Daniel Davis and Ryan Sloan) achieved its first-ever 1st Place finish in the state-wide Tech Olympics. In addition, five auditioning seniors combined for over 70 callbacks from colleges.
Congratulations Cavalier Theatre on your accomplishments!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - NEW LONDON ACADEMY
November 9, 2023
Hollie Palmisano is New London Academy's Teacher of the Year!
She teaches second grade. This will be her second year teaching in Bedford County Public Schools. She is a member of the School Leadership Team. Hollie has taught elementary school for a total of fourteen years. Through her years teaching, she has taught both second and third grade. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Learning with an emphasis on Elementary Education from Lynchburg College. She returned to Lynchburg College to earn her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Instructional Leadership.
Thank you for your passion and dedication for teaching!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - MONETA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
November 8, 2023
Savannah Thomas is Moneta Elementary School's Teacher of the Year!
Savannah has served as reading specialist at MNES for 5 years. In her position, she collects and analyzes reading data on every student, and provides intensive remediation to our most struggling readers. Ms. Thomas strives to reach each student she works with through systematic instruction creating a positive relationship. Her passion for reading and ability to get students enthused about reading makes her an ideal candidate for Teacher of the Year.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL
November 7, 2023
Boys Liberty High School Cross Country ended their season clenching the 2A district title and went on to compete at the Regionals! Congratulations to these men for such an achievement this season!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - FOREST MIDDLE SCHOOL
November 7, 2023
Megan Joseph is Forest Middle School's Teacher of the Year!
Megan has been teaching with Bedford County Schools for 12 years. She is currently in her 5th year at Forest Middle School where she teaches 7th grade English. She makes meaningful connections with her students that push them toward success in her classroom. As well as being dedicated in the classroom, she serves on the school’s leadership team as English Department Chair and 504 Coordinator. Her colleagues recognized her commitment to the school community and her unwavering compassion toward both staff and students.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
STAUNTON RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
November 6, 2023
Congratulations to Jack Weddle from Staunton River High School on his recent win of the Blue Ridge District Cross Country Meet! He was also named the Blue Ridge Runner of the Year!
Way to go!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - GOODVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
November 6, 2023
Maureen "Mo" McCamey is Goodview Elementary School's Teacher of the Year!
Mo began her career with Bedford County at Goodview Elementary School in August, 2020. She was hired as the school librarian and spent the 20-21 school year in a Kindergarten classroom while posting library lessons online. Since then, she has been able to be the full time librarian to 500 students and a wonderful school staff. Mo has been a school librarian for almost 15 years. She loves to put library books in her student’s hands while encouraging them to enjoy and embrace the reading experience.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
November 3, 2023
Staunton River Middle School has some Fresh Faces to show you this Friday!
Barbra Tenecela is not new to teaching but is new to Bedford County Public Schools! She taught for 7 years prior to teaching 8th grade Special Education at Staunton River Middle School. She enjoys traveling, playing pickleball, swimming and reading. She wanted to become a teacher to reach their full potential in life and education. One fun engaging activity she’s done with her students this year is identifying context clues. A fun fact about Barbra is that she has lived in 7 states but plans on staying in VA for a long time! We are glad you settled in Bedford County!
Ashley Overstreet has lived in Bedford County her whole life, but just came to Bedford County Public Schools after working 3 years for the City of Roanoke. She is a Special Education teacher at Staunton River Middle School and wanted to become a teacher because she loves to help children. She struggled as a student in school and wants to mentor children the way she was helped through her educational years. Ashley hopes to create a classroom environment that fosters students' growth academically and socially. Thank you for coming to share your passion for teaching with BCPS students!
#FreshFaceFriday
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL
November 2, 2023
Mrs. Jeanne B. Willis is the Liberty High School Teacher of the Year!
Jeanne currently teaches Business, Marketing, and Finance courses. She serves as CTE Department Chair, leader of the Minutemen Merry Makers, SCA Advisor, and DECA Advisor. With over 30 years of experience, she began teaching in corporate and post-secondary settings, but found high school to be her true calling. She has enjoyed teaching in BCPS for the past 22 years. In 2021, she was recognized as one of Virginia’s Outstanding Economic Educators. Mrs. Willis serves on the Regional Economic Advisory Board and Virginia Student Council Advisory Board.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - BEDFORD PRIMARY SCHOOL
November 1, 2023
Rachel Patterson is Bedford Primary School's Teacher of the Year!
Rachel has taught kindergarten at Bedford Primary School for the last 3 years after joining BCPS. Her peers praise her for getting to know each of her students and for her patience and calm, welcoming demeanor. She does a phenomenal job implementing new strategies, building strong classroom routines and providing differentiated instruction to ensure the success of each student.
Thank you for your passion and dedication for teaching!
FMS - FOREST RUNNING CLUB
November 1, 2023
Forest Running Club, made up of all Forest Middle School students, recently competed in the Middle School State Championship at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville. The boys team won State Champs! They beat all the other club and middle school teams in the state.
Also, Broderick Nelson and Samantha Madigan also earned All-State honors!
Congratulations!
LITTLE FEET MEET
October 31, 2023
The Bedford County Public Schools Little Feet Meet was recently held at Liberty High School. This is the fourth time BCPS has sponsored this event with the Special Olympics. Our students with disabilities and their unified partners enjoyed fun activities and friendly competition by participating in various sports activities. Thank you to all the staff, volunteers, and students that made this event possible.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR -THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 31, 2023
Linda Muncher is Thomas Jefferson Elementary School's Teacher of the Year!
Linda Muncher is a fifth grade math and science teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. She has been an educator for 17 years and with Bedford County for three years. Mrs. Muncher has served on the TJES leadership team, the school spirit team, and the math and science team. She is representing BCPS on the fifth grade math CIP curriculum team this year. Mrs. Muncher is a proud graduate of Jefferson Forest High School and is thrilled to return to serve her hometown community. She lives in Forest with her husband and two boys.
Thank you for your passion and dedication for teaching!
JFHS - YEARBOOK TROPHY WIN
October 30, 2023
Congratulations to Jefferson Forest High School's 2022-2023 yearbook staff on winning the Trophy Class in the VHSL competition for their publication, Sabre. This was the second year in a row for the Editor-in-Chief, Emma Cooper (now at VT) for winning her trophy class!
Way to go!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR -SUSIE G. GIBSON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CENTER
October 27, 2023
Dollie Chittum is Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center's Teacher of the Year!
Dollie Chittum is the Cosmetology teacher at Susie G. Gibson Science and Technology Center. She teaches 11th and 12th grade students to prepare them for a career in the cosmetology industry. She has been a licensed hairstylist for 20 years, certified cosmetology instructor for 10 years, and recently received her teaching licensure. She enjoys haircutting and haircoloring, as well as staying current with newer trends. She has been teaching for six years, and this is her fourth school year with Bedford County Public Schools. Her passion is sharing her knowledge with future professionals so that they can obtain their Virginia Cosmetology License.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
October 27, 2023
BCPS has some new faces! Let us introduce them to you!
Julie Liest is a new Biology and Anatomy teacher for all grade levels at LHS. She came to Bedford County with 5 years of experience. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, athletics and cooking. She loves swimming and playing soccer. One engaging activity that she and her students have done this year is how exercise affects the body and ways that the body will prevent overheating through homeostasis. She hopes to help students develop an appreciation for biology this year! We are glad to have you here at BCPS!
Josiah Grooten is teaching the new Cybersecurity class at Susie Gibson Science & Technology Center. He is a brand-new teacher for BCPS! He enjoys camping, hiking, martial arts and Virginia Tech! He is one of 5 siblings and teaching has always been a dream job of his! One of his favorite things he’s done this year is disassembling and reassembling almost a dozen computers to learn about different components and repair techniques. He hopes to accomplish an 80% passing rate on his final exam. We are excited to see how much our students learn with you this year!
Megan Smith is an adaptive special education teacher at Liberty High School. She wanted to become a teacher after seeing how her sister, who is special needs, invested in and loved her. Prior to becoming a teacher, Megan was a paraeducator and decided teaching was what she wanted to do! One of her most engaging activities was making sand mosaic ornaments to wrap up the “By the Sea” Unit in which they worked on story comprehension, learning and saving water, being safe around water, and practiced county money for items we could buy to take to the beach. In her spare time, she enjoys looking for acorns with her son! We are lucky to have you this year at Liberty!
#FFF
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - MONTVALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 26, 2023
Jennifer Stinnette is Montvale Elementary School's Teacher of the Year!
Jennifer Stinnette has been teaching for 28 years. The first seven years were spent in Roanoke County at Herman L. Horn Elementary School, teaching first, fourth, and fifth grades. She moved to Bedford and taught fifth grade at Big Island Elementary School for eight years. Mrs. Stinnette began working as a gifted resource teacher for the next five years, serving Goodview, Stewartsville, and Montvale Elementary Schools. In 2016, she decided to teach STEM at Liberty Christian Academy. In 2021, Mrs. Stinnette returned to Bedford County Schools as a gifted resource teacher, her current position, serving Bedford Elementary, Bedford Primary, and Montvale Elementary.
Thank you for your passion and dedication to teaching!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - JEFFERSON FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
October 25, 2023
Genevieve Weaver is Jefferson Forest High School's Teacher of the Year!
Genevieve is in her fourth year of teaching, all of which have been at Jefferson Forest High School in an adapted curriculum classroom. She enjoys swimming at the YMCA, being a respite provider for families with children with disabilities, and spending time with her husband of almost four years, Jonathan. Her colleagues had the following to say about her: “Mrs. Weaver puts so much time and passion into her job. She truly cares about her students, and it shows. Watching the way, she teaches; interacts with the students and the passion she has for her job is so encouraging and inspiring to others. She is energetic, creative, and knowledgeable of her students and their needs. Mrs. Weaver is a team player and makes sure her students and colleagues have what they need to be successful. Mrs. Weaver is a true example of what it means to be a caring, effective, compassionate and dedicated teacher. We are so glad she is part of the JFHS team!”
Thank you for your passion and dedication for teaching!
LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL'S MARCHING MINUTEMAN
October 25, 2023
Liberty High School's Marching Minutemen performed at the Lord Botetourt Cavalier Classic, a regional invitational competition for high school marching bands this past weekend. The Marching Minutemen brought home several awards, but the top recognition was being the highest scoring band for the day (in Class A & AA) making them the Grand Champions for the small band portion of the program.
Their other recognitions included:
2nd Place Class AA Drum Major
2nd Place Class AA Percussion
2nd Place Class AA Color Guard
2nd Place Class AA Marching
1st Place Class AA General Effect
1st Place Class AA Music
1st Place Class AA Overall
Class A-AA GRAND CHAMPIONS
Congratulations, Marching Minutemen!! If you'd like to catch them in action, they will be performing at the final two home games!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - BEDFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 24, 2023
Beth Isner Bedford Elementary School's Teacher of the Year!
Beth has been in Bedford County Schools for 7 years and has been teaching for a total of 18 years. She teaches Physical Education to students in grades 2-5. In addition to her teaching license, she is a nationally certified and state licensed Athletic Trainer and the first 11 years of her career was spent taking care of injured athletes. She enjoys helping students learn how to be good friends, respectful winners and losers, and quality teammates in addition to the movement skills. In 2022, Beth was awarded the Lynchburg Living’s Top Teacher Award.
Thank you for your passion and dedication for teaching!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - STAUNTON RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
October 23, 2023
Chad Smith is Staunton River Middle School's Teacher of the Year!
Chad has served BCPS for over 14 years as a Band Director and Instructional Technology Coach (ITC). He has served students and staff at SRMS for three years as an ITC and is an asset to the SRMS Leadership Team and Community Engagement Committee. He strives to support teachers’ technology practices to enhance the quality of education received by SRMS students. Chad enjoys assisting teachers, students, and community members by making technology accessible and applicable. He truly cares about the success of our students, school, and school community.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
October 20, 2023
Welcome to the 2nd Quarter of Fresh Face Friday! We are introducing you to some new teachers at Staunton River High School!
Teresa Kennedy is a History teacher for 9th and 11th grade at SRHS. While she loves gardening, hiking, camping, and puzzles, she loves history the most. She wanted to be a teacher because she is a lifelong learner and enjoys interacting with kids, so being a history teacher hit all of those marks. She loves movement in the classroom to keep the kids engaged, doing station work, as well as gallery walks. Teresa just moved from out of state so she hopes to accomplish long lasting bonds with the community. A fun fact about Teresa is before becoming a teacher, she was a professional genealogist. We are excited to have you as a part of Bedford County! Your students will learn so much from you!
Wesley Vickers is a brand new Bedford County Teacher at SRHS. He is teaching Math for grades 11 & 12. Ironically, his favorite sports team just happens to be the Staunton River Golden Eagles! Wesley enjoys nature hiking, kayaking and sailing. He also enjoys playing violin from Irish traditional and old-time pieces and Romani music. He chose to be a teacher because he believes in young people. He hopes to guide his students who feel hopeless to gain confidence in their abilities to transcend all obstacles. A fun fact about Wesley is that he once lived with a Tibetan monk from Lhasa! We can’t wait to see the confidence of your students grow with your help in expanding their learning!
Sydney Tuck is a Special Education teacher among multiple grade levels for Staunton River High School. While she is new to BCPS, she has prior experience teaching! She wanted to become a teacher to incorporate an inclusive social setting for her students and be engaged in the community she lives in. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, going to the beach, cooking and spending time on her family farm. She is currently working on her Masters Degree in Special Education. She hopes to have the opportunity to make a difference and be a positive mentor to her students this year. We are glad you chose to come to Bedford County!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - HUDDLESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 18, 2023
Ashley Ferrell is Huddleston Elementary School's Teacher of the Year!
Ashley has been the school counselor at HES for the past three years, before that she was a school counselor for six years with another division. As a School Counselor, Mrs. Ferrell supports the social emotional needs of her students, provides opportunities for older students to mentor younger students, and she links parents and guardians to community resources. In addition to being a School Counselor, Mrs. Ferrell has supported her community as a volunteer at the Agape Center, the Rescue Mission of Roanoke, and the Virginia Veterans Care Center. In her free time, Mrs. Ferrell enjoys Hokie football, traveling with family, spending time with her husband, Kevin, and three-year old son.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - BOONSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 17, 2023
Ava Rupert is Boonsboro Elementary School's Teacher of the Year!
Ava Rupert is in her ninth year at Boonsboro Elementary School. She has taught Kindergarten, K-1 Combo, First Grade and is currently the 4th grade VA Studies and Science teacher. In total she has taught and coached for over 25 years (though not consecutive). In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she has supervised Student Teachers, Practicum Students, and several New Teacher Hires. She has taught Summer School, participated in Leadership Team, Climate Committee, Social Studies Pacing Guide Planning,
PTA, and has coached Girls on the Run and Lacrosse at Jefferson Forest. She is a fantastic asset to our school and well deserving of this award!
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - OTTER RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 16, 2023
Otter River Elementary School's Teacher of the Year is Kelli Arrington!
Kelli has been teaching for 18 years and been in Bedford for 8 of those! She currently teaches 4th and 5th grade math and 4th grade science. She works hard to connect with her students and understand their strengths and needs, and she integrates this knowledge into rich, engaging instruction. Kelli fosters a strong sense of community within her classroom, across the school, and with her students’ families. She always steps up to be involved in anything going on in our school, she exudes Panther Pride, and ORES is grateful to have an opportunity to recognize all she does for us!
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
October 13, 2023
We are in our 10th week of Fresh Face Friday and we have plenty of more teachers to introduce!
Dakiri Neely is a new third grade teacher at Bedford Elementary School. She brings three years of experience to Bedford County and is an alumnus of Lynchburg College (now University of Lynchburg). She wanted to become a teacher because of her own second grade and how she advocated for Dakiri as a kid that changed her life. One of her favorite activities that she’s done with her students is a “rounding snowball fight” to practice rounding four-digits numbers three different ways. They would toss “snowballs” (white pieces of paper with four-digit numbers written on them) and choose a random “snowball” to round. When Dakiri isn’t teaching she enjoys spending time with her family, and anything arts and crafts related. Thank you coming to BCPS!
Nydia Miller comes to Bedford County Public Schools with 9 years of prior experience. She is now teaching 4th grade at Bedford Elementary. Outside of school, Nydia enjoys running, going to the beach, spending time with family, and playing pickleball. She became a teacher to make a difference and provide a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment. One of her most fun memories was when her students were able to dissect a campanula (bell flower) to observe the reproductive parts of flowers. We know you’re going to help your students flourish and help them discover what they can accomplish. Welcome to Bedford!
Another new elementary school teacher in Bedford County is Melissa Hawley. Melissa is teaching 2nd and 3rd grade Special Education at Goodview Elementary. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked for Wells Fargo Bank for 32 years. Melissa wanted to become a teacher because of her love for learning and hopes to inspire the love for learning in her students. One lesson that she enjoys is taking her students out for a walk so they can identify and understand nature versus man-made. A fun fact about Melissa is that her favorite animal is a chimpanzee, and she has many artworks that have been drawn by them! Melissa hopes to make a positive difference in her students’ lives because she says that their success is her success! Thank you for choosing to come teach in Bedford. Your students are blessed to have you!
Jessica Sorenson is a general Special Education teacher at Stewartsville Elementary. While she isn’t new to teaching, she is excited to come to Bedford County where she can provide a positive and inclusive learning environment that allows students to be successful in reaching their goals. Jessica enjoys all things outdoors, including hiking and camping, while also enjoying photography, painting, and music. We are glad to have you and your students are so lucky to have you to guide them!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - STAUNTON RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
October 13, 2023
Staunton River High School's Teacher of the Year is Allison Blair!
Allison Bair or Ali as she is known around the Staunton River Community is in her 12th year of teaching at SRHS. After graduating from Liberty University in 2012, Ali was hired by BCPS for the 2012-2013 school year. Ali has taught Honors Algebra II, Algebra II, Algebra I, Algebra I Part 1, Algebra Functions and Data Analysis, Honors World History II, World History II, AP European History, Media Arts and Dance Technique I all at SRHS. Ali also serves as one of the Spring Musical directors, sponsors the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club and coaches Powderpuff Football.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
October 10, 2023
Liberty Middle School's Teacher of the year is Emily Howard!
Emily has been teaching middle school math in Bedford County for 14 years! She is currently the Math 8 and Algebra 1 teacher. She not only participates in every Spirit Day (as seen in Tacky Tourist), but she also has a great love for the kids, is selfless, and always seems to want to help make others better. Her main goal is for students to learn to appreciate mathematics. Emily also serves on the Leadership Team in multiple capacities and is a mentor for the new teachers at LMS.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR - FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 9, 2023
Forest Elementary School's Teacher of the Year is Tiffany Byrd!
Ms. Tiffany Byrd started at Forest Elementary as a University of Lynchburg student teacher in a second-grade classroom. The teacher left at the end of that year and Tiffany was hired to fill that position. This is her fourth-year teaching second grade. Tiffany is also a product of the Bedford County Schools, attending Boonsboro Elementary, Liberty Middle and Liberty High Schools. Tiffany's strength is in classroom management. Her soft voice captures the attention of her students. She provides explicit instruction on routines and procedures at the beginning of the year so that the whole school year runs smoothly. She has high expectations for her students and pushes them to be the best they can be. She is a team player and goes above and beyond for students, parents, and colleagues.
Thank you for your dedication and passion for teaching!
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
October 6, 2023
Travis McGlothlin is a new teacher at Staunton River Middle School teaching 7th & 8th grade Special Education. He is a SRMS alumni who enjoys trout fishing and golf. He chose to become a teacher because he loves to be involved in his community. Thank you for choosing BCPS for your first year of teaching. Your students truly are blessed.
Linda Kennedy is a Special Education Lead Teacher for Assessment for 6th-9th grade. While she is new to Bedford County Public Schools this year, she has plenty of experience (22 years to be exact) under her green belt in Warrior Krav Maga! Linda believes that every student is capable of learning given the right instruction and opportunities. She hopes to enable teachers to better read the educational, emotional, and behavioral needs of her students. She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, their children, dogs and cats. The staff is lucky to have your talent and focus on teaching for student growth.
Edward Nickols is an adaptive SPED teacher for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students at Staunton River Middle School. While he isn’t helping the students of BCPS, his time is occupied with his 11 children, farming, woodworking and bible study! Edward and his wife have also fostered 24 children! He wants to make a difference in his students' lives while continuing his own personal growth. He is excited to see the academic, as well as social ability growth of his students this year.
Kelsey Wertz, who had 4 prior years of teaching experience before coming to Bedford County, is a 7th grade English teacher at Staunton River Middle School. She also teaches World Cultures, as well as Characters & Careers. Other than spending time with her husband and two daughters, she enjoys fishing, gardening, baking and reading. Kelsey comes from a family of educators and was inspired by the change she saw her family members brought into the lives of young people. A fun fact about Kelsey is that she was born and raised in Ithaca, NY and taught public speaking to high school and college students! SRMS is lucky to have your experience!
#FreshFaceFriday
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
September 29, 2023
Week 8 of Fresh Face Friday is showcasing some amazing new staff at Liberty High School!
Luis Cifuentes is a Spanish Teacher who is not only new to Bedford County Public Schools, but is a brand new teacher! Luis enjoys watching football, especially the Cowboys, spending time with family, playing music, and creating art. He became a teacher to have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of youth while mentoring them in monumental years of their lives. Luis hopes that his students are excited about using the Spanish language in practical ways. Thank you Luis for joining BCPS to begin your teaching career! Your students will learn a lot from you!
Cindy Bruchman may be new to Bedford County Public Schools, but she comes to Liberty High School teaching English 10, yearbook, DE/AP College Literature with 23 years of prior experience. She wants to make learning fun, using the academic calendar mirrored by the children’s schedule. One engaging activity she’s done with students is a novel post-reading quick answer stack of cards! Outside of school, Cindy enjoys shooting pool, writing, photography and traveling. An interesting fact about her is that she’s a Navy Veteran who served Scotland for four years. We are excited to have you. You are a positive contribution to LHS!
#FreshFaceFriday
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
September 22, 2023
Jefferson Forest High School is our focus for this week’s Fresh Face Friday! Please join us in welcoming these new teachers to Bedford County Public Schools.
Natalie Hackmann is a Special Education Teacher at JFHS who came to Bedford County Public Schools with two years of prior experience. Her favorite sport is Cheerleading and she enjoys coaching, crafting and reading. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from James Madison University. Thank you for choosing BCPS to continue helping students grow!
Michelle Mandell is a brand new teacher and chose to start her career with Bedford County at JFHS as a Special Education Teacher of all grades. She enjoys watching her sons play baseball and football (Go Cavs!) and also likes to quilt and read. She chose to become a teacher because she wanted to be in a profession that allows her to combine her love for learning with her desire to inspire and empower young minds. Your compassion for teaching will instill a lifelong love of learning in your students and equip them with the skills they need to succeed in life. We are looking forward to watching you grow as a teacher & continue to let your school spirit shine!
Bailey Yeager is also a new teacher at JFHS teaching General Education Special Education 9-12. She enjoys playing and watching soccer, especially University of Lynchburg, playing with her dog (Bogey) and trying new foods! Being a teacher has been a passion of hers since she was a little girl. After pursuing a different career in college, she worked in an adaptive special education classroom in a middle school and fell in love with the art of teaching. She enjoyed getting to know her students, figuring out how to help them, and seeing the progress they made. This year so far, her students have participated in learning how to fill out job applications and learning about what goes on job applications so they can get a job when they are finished with high school, or even while they are in high school. We are excited to see how you show your students to succeed with the skills you are teaching them every day!
Madison Hommey is another fresh face at JFHS teaching 9th grade Health and PE. She enjoys arts and crafts, reading, and anything outdoors. She is an alumni of Longwood University and her favorite sport is soccer. Madison chose to be a teacher so that she could make a difference with young people. She enjoyed school and developed life-long habits to being physically active and healthy, and hopes all her students see that a healthy lifestyle is attainable and something to enjoy. Thank you for wanting to make learning fun! Your students are lucky to have you!
#FreshFaceFriday
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
September 15, 2023
This week's Fresh Face Friday is showing off some of Staunton River High School’s newest staff!
Christine Dorman has been playing “School” since 2nd grade, according to former teachers, and was always proud to be the teacher. She even told her father when she was younger, she wanted to grow up to be a teacher so she could make learning fun! She is in her first year working as a special education teacher at Staunton River High School. She has 22 years of experience and has worked previously for BCPS on the initial Bedford County inclusion team. She is also a parent of a special education student. She hopes to impact students' lives in the same positive ways that will brighten their future prospects. She loves to play volleyball and tennis and enjoys cooking, baking, hiking, biking and walking! We look forward to your knowledge and professionalism this school year! Your students are so blessed.
Mike Ellsworth joined Bedford County Public Schools and is teaching Biology and AP Biology at Staunton River High School. He was once a Director of Outdoor Recreation and enjoys all things outdoors, including hiking, kayaking, horseback riding and gardening. His favorite memory of previous classes is frog dissection and he hopes to encourage a love for science and all living things. SRHS and Bedford County cannot wait to see how your passion influences our students this year!
#FreshFaceFriday
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
September 8, 2023
Our 5th Fresh Face Friday of the year features new teachers at Liberty Middle School!
Leo Dutil is a World Geography Teacher at LMS. He brings 5 years of experience to Bedford County and is an Alum of Liberty University. Teaching was his chosen profession because he loves working with students and wants to make an impact on the next generation by teaching them life skills. Leo enjoys playing with his boys, being outside and playing board games. He hopes to immerse his students in various cultures in the world through music, food, etc. He and his wife have a goal to visit every national park in the United States, and have currently visited 20! What a great addition to Bedford you will be Mr. Dutil. We are looking forward to having you!
Dalton Howard, a 7th grade Civics Teacher at LMS came to Bedford County from Ohio University and Trevecca Nazarene University where he earned his Masters in Educational Leadership. He became a teacher because of his passion to help others. He is excited to build positive relationships within the Bedford community while having fun and learning about government. One of his favorite engaging activities with previous years was having his students create brochures that describe how to become a citizen and what essential rights, duties, and responsibilities citizens have. Bedford County is excited to have your enthusiasm in helping students grow as individuals and accomplish their goals this year!
#FreshFaceFriday
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
September 1, 2023
Our first Fresh Face Friday of September features teachers from Forest Middle School!
Jason Breeneman recently relocated to Bedford County from Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland and brings 10 years of experience to Forest Middle School. He is excited to teach middle school students in his Health/PE position and help show the importance of education early in life and how it can mold their future. Jason enjoys boating, golf, ATV’s and the Maryland Terps. Thank you for joining Bedford County and we look forward to what you are bringing to our students at FMS!
Michelle Gilmore is also a Health/PE Teacher at Forest Middle School, but was born and raised in Texas! She chose to be an educator to enrich a child’s mind with both academic material, as well as life lessons to help them become the best person they can be. She hopes to form an academic relationship with her students this year. One fun memory of her teaching was taking a field trip to Virginia Beach to help students understand ocean animals at the aquarium. We are excited to have you!
Shea Pendleton is in her first year of teaching! She is an 8th grade world geography teacher at Forest Middle. While traveling and living abroad, Shea took a teaching position and fell in love with education. She has lived in Thailand, South Korea and China. One of her most engaging activities in her first year of teaching is having her World Area Studies classes present on an Asian holiday and bringing in one related item. You are going to do fantastic in your first classroom in Bedford!
Michael Higgins, a 7th grade Social Studies Teacher at Forest Middle comes to Bedford County with 4 years of teaching experience. Michael has worked as a professional Boy Scout in their camps and with troops. He enjoyed working with kids, so teaching seemed like the next logical step. As a civics teacher, he hopes that all his students will understand the basics of how the government works, and that their vote and voice matters. FMS students are lucky to have you!
#FreshFaceFriday
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
August 25, 2023
Our second group of Fresh Face Friday are teachers from Forest Middle School!
Raymond Smith has been a substitute teacher for BCPS since January 2002 and is excited for his first year as a full-time teacher at Forest Middle School. He enjoys watching baseball and is the proud President of Little Town Players in Bedford. Raymond chose to be a teacher because of his great experience in Bedford County Public Schools. He hopes to have a fun filled year teaching world geography and world cultures while being the History and Social Studies Department Chair. Thank you for choosing to stay in Bedford County! We look forward to a great year!
Amy Spangenberg has experience in almost every grade level but has landed in 7th grade at Forest Middle School teaching Civics. She is a proud mother of 4 amazing young adults who have all attended Bedford County Public Schools, and she is excited to contribute the same opportunity to other students. She enjoys sharing knowledge with others, learning from her students, sewing, swimming and spending time with her dog! Last year, she worked with middle schoolers who wrote original short stories, made them into books, and sold copies to community members and friends for a profit. What a neat idea! We are glad to have you full time at FMS and BCPS this year!
Be sure to say hi to these new faces when you see them in the halls or in the community!
#FreshFaceFriday
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
August 18, 2023
With the new school year approaching, you will see plenty of new faces in Bedford County Public Schools. We thought it would be nice to showcase these teachers to welcome them to Bedford County with “Fresh Face Friday” posts!
Our first Fresh Face Friday comes from Bedford Elementary School.
-Jenny Sessoms, who loves traveling and exploring new places, is a 3rd grade teacher at Bedford Elementary. She comes with 4 years experience and a love for the Florida Gators! She is looking forward to building relationships with students and seeing them blossom. Welcome Jenny!!
-Apryl Hunley, who is Hokie Fan, comes to Bedford Elementary with 20 years of experience as an Instructional Coach. She has a passion for analyzing data to determine student-specific needs, research curriculum and collaborating with colleagues to implement the best instructional practices. We are excited to have you Apryl!
-Anna Leonard, who came all the way originally from Arizona, is also a 3rd grade teacher with Bedford Elementary. She joined the team with 16 years of experience. One of her favorite memories of teaching is having a reader’s theater with her students where they were able to choose their characters, make masks to represent them, and act it out for class. I’m sure your students will love having you!
If you see these new faces around, be sure to say hi!
#FreshFaceFriday
FRESH FACE FRIDAY
August 11, 2023
Keely Williams is starting her teaching career at Stewartsville Elementary School where she was once a student! She is a Longwood University Alum where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education. Keely wanted to become a teacher because she loves the idea of helping children succeed. She is excited to create positive relationships with her students and wants their 2nd grade year to be the best one yet! Thank you Keely, for choosing to come back to the school that taught you! We are looking forward to a great year!
YOVASO
July 18, 2023
Liberty High School, Staunton River High School, and Forest Middle School's Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO) Club celebrated their great year at their Summer Retreat. Many of the students and clubs received impressive awards at the banquet.
Liberty High School took home the Outstanding Club Award. Also, LHS's Allyson Long was selected as the YOVASO Rockstar Award! This award is only given to one student in the state every year! Congratulations LHS and Allyson!
Staunton River High School received the Club of the Year Award, as well as the Outstanding Club Award. SRHS's Olivia Chattin was chosen as the Student Volunteer of the Year! Way to go!
Forest Middle School was awarded the Middle School Club of the Year! Their advisor, Audrey Hamliton, was awarded the Middle School sponsor of the year!
All three of these schools are impressive in their efforts to educate their peers and the community through interactive and fun events! We are so excited to see what is happening this upcoming year!
Jefferson Forest High School
July 17, 2023
For the 2nd year in a row, Jefferson Forest High School has been announced as the Activities Winner for this year's National Guard Cup! This makes for their 3rd overall cup! Way to go!!
Winners of the National Guard Cup are determined by a point system based on performance in VHSL state competitions. Points are awarded for all sanctioned sports, plus sportsmanship, and schools can earn academic activity points for outstanding participation in scholastic bowl, creative writing, theatre, forensics, debate, film festival, broadcast, newspaper, yearbook, and magazine.
Liberty High School Key Club
July 12, 2023
Liberty High School Key Club was the overall winner of the Bronze Level (up to 35 members) for the Single Service Project, which was apple gleaning for the Society of St. Andrew with other clubs in their division.
Congratulations on a job well done! Thank you for your service in helping the community and food insecurities. We look forward to seeing what great things you do next year!
LHS Student LOVE SIGN DESIGN
July 10, 2023
The Bower Center For The Arts and Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting unveiling a new "LOVE" sign on the side of the Bower Center. This gorgeous new attraction was designed by art students at Liberty High School. Melissa Friedewald, art instructor, and students Kinzee Branham (pictured), Olivia Wolfe (pictured), Jessica Castillo, Savannah Goodwin and Isabelle Wilberger shed "blood, sweat and tears" while collaborating on this perfect design to showcase the arts & culture in the Bedford Community.
If you're out and about, please stop by and take a picture at one of the 60 signs recognized by Virginia Tourism Corporation in the Central Virginia Area (but over 300 LOVEworks around the state). Thank you to those students, and Melissa, for making a lasting impact in Bedford County.
FFA Convention - Liberty Middle FFA
July 5, 2023
Liberty Bedford Middle FFA recently competed at the 97th Annual Virginia FFA State Convention. As a chapter, they received Superior, National Chapter-Silver Rating, and STAR Award. For Career Development Awards, in Agricultural Tech Mechanics, Clay Johnson earned Gold (7th overall), Abigail Camden earned Silver with Braxton Burden and Colton Croft earning Bronze. In Small Animal Care, Kinley Clary and Sylvia Woodie took Silver in Career Development Awards and Traci Price and Leann Wright earned Bronze!
Congratulations to all the award winners. There is a lot to celebrate!
FFA Convention - Smith Mountain FFA Team (SRHS)
July 3, 2023
The 97th Annual FFA Convention was recently held at Virginia Tech. The Smith Mountain FFA Team (SRHS) took home many accomplishments. As a chapter, they earned Superior, Silver National and Public Relations Award! The Junior Horse Hippology team placed 4th overall & Julia Landis placed 1st overall individual. Alex Adkins, Kelcey Weston, Reagan Harvey, Adrianna Jernigan, Brianna Sloan & Kaylee Thompson were State FFA Degree Recipients.
Lastly, Kelcey Weston was chosen as the 2023-2024 Virginia FFA State President!
Congratulations to all the winners. There is a lot to celebrate!
