YOVASO recently held its annual Awards Program during the Summer Leadership Retreat. The awards are designed to recognize all levels of involvement, from new high school clubs just starting their traffic safety programs to veteran high school clubs working towards earning ribbons for Outstanding Club Recognition.

We couldn’t be prouder of Liberty High School and Jefferson Forest High School for these impressive awards!

Liberty High School - YOVASO Club of the Year

In recognition of a member club for establishing and setting the standard for best practices in peer-led youth traffic safety programs. The award recognizes excellence in student leadership and club development, community outreach, engagement of the student body, effectiveness of programming, and participation in YOVASO campaigns and retreats.

Emma Ogden, Jefferson Forest High School - Rock Star Award

In recognition of a student who demonstrates enthusiasm and excitement in their school and community for promoting safe teen driving and passenger safety. This student is a champion for the cause and a vocal role model within the school and community.

Payton Poindexter, Jefferson Forest High School - Youth Leadership Award

In recognition of a YOVASO Youth Advisory Council (YAC) student who demonstrates exemplary leadership skills and a commitment to working on safe teen driving and youth traffic safety programs at the local and state level. The student leads and takes an active role with their school club, YAC, and the Summer Leadership Retreat.

Ben Thurman, Liberty High School - YOVASO Sponsor of the Year (Teacher Advisor)

In recognition of a teacher’s ongoing support and guidance to the school’s traffic safety club and commitment to striving for excellence in club growth and development.

Time for some Eagle Pride! 
Smith Mountain FFA’s Beth Gillespie is the state winner of the Outdoor Recreation Proficiency Award and Emma Jackson is the state winner of the Swine Production Placement Proficiency Award. 

The following students were State Degree recipients: Emily Creasey Kody Burnette Beth Gillespie Jacob Nichols Michelle Winand

As a chapter, Smith Mountain FFA earned the South Ridge Area: National Chapter - Strengthening Agriculture award, Superior Chapter, and Gold Rated National Chapter awards.  

Congratulations on these achievements from the Virginia FFA Convention!

The 96th Annual Virginia FFA Convention was recently held at Virginia Tech. The Liberty FFA Vet Science Team consisting of KayLi Lindsay, Maegan Cash, Anna Grohs, & Natalie Corbin took 1st place in the state. They will compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in late October. 

There were many individual accomplishments to recognize. 

State Proficiency Awards: Makenna Garrett - Diversified Horticulture Charlie Moser - Veterinary Science Kevin Painchaud - Nursery Production 

State Degree Recipients: Hailey Carhart Parry Dooley Makenna Garrett Alexis Hensley Brooke Hodges 

In addition, Makenna Garrett, the 2021-2022 Liberty FFA President was nominated and conferred Virginia FFA State Secretary. 

As a chapter, Liberty FFA earned South Ridge Area Star Chapter, Superior Chapter, and Gold Rated National Chapter awards. 

So much to celebrate!

Alumni, teachers, and staff recently came together to paint the Staunton River High School band room. Throughout nine hours the room underwent a fantastic facelift and it looks like a brand-new space. Thank you to everyone that came out to help!

All of our schools across the division decorated banners in their art classes to be displayed in town. They are now hanging up on Main Street. The theme this year was "Summer in Bedford". We appreciate the Town of Bedford's partnership with us in displaying the banners and featuring our students' work.

Great job students!

A familiar name in athletics at the River found success yet again recently with the Golden Eagle Girls Outdoor Track Team.

Jeni Levine was crowned champion in the regional high jump competition. She then went on to the state competition, where she was runner-up in the high jump.

Let’s hear it for Jeni!

The Staunton River Boys Outdoor Track team recently found plenty of success in the Region 3D Outdoor Track competition. Champions and runners-up are below.
Champions:

Boys 4 x 400 Relay Team: Alfred Finney, Malakhi Gregory, Spencer Kearns, and Kayden Ryder
Boys 4 x 800 Relay Team: Spencer Kearns, Kayden Ryder, Jack Weddle, and Sam Weddle

Pole Vault: Spencer Kearns

Runners-up:

Long Jump: Malakhi Gregory

Triple Jump: Malakhi Gregory

Kudos to all! 

High school filmmakers across the Commonwealth submitted 103 films from 24 schools to the VHSL Film Festival this year. Only 48 were designated Official Selections. We couldn’t be prouder to announce that Jefferson Forest High School took 1^st Place in the Animation category for Clay Boi! The film was also the audience choice winner! JFHS also had other teams that placed in categories as well.

Job well done!

You can watch Clay Boi here: https://youtu.be/8xZY2CsDmxI.

It’s been a spectacular year to be a player, coach, parent, or fan of the Jefferson Forest High School Baseball Team. Hard work paid off this year and translated into much success, with the team being district co-champions, winning the region, and making it all the way to the state semifinals.

Additional props to these individuals:

Breckin Nace has been named to this year’s VHSL Class 4 All-State 1st Team! 

Peyton Smith - Region Player of the Year!

Head Coach Ryan Gilleland - Region Coach of the Year!

Hats off to JF Baseball for these accomplishments!

The Staunton River High School’s Girls Softball Team won the regular season Blue Ridge District title and finished with a record of 19-4 (9-1). 

In addition, Varsity Softball Coach, Scott Cisco, was named the 2022 Blue Ridge District Coach of the Year. 

Great job! 

The Jefferson Forest High School Boys Soccer Program has been nothing short of phenomenal the past two years, coming so close to a state championship in both seasons. This team is a force to be reckoned with and remains a soccer powerhouse in Virginia. 
That’s not all, we have some individuals to recognize as well:
Kyle Butcher, Walker Stebbings, and Wilson Hetrick have been named to this year’s VHSL Class 4 All-State 1st Team! 
Kyle Butcher - Seminole District Player of the Year!
Scott Zaring - Seminole District Coach of the Year!
Huge congratulations to this year’s Seminole District champions plus region and state runners-up!

Activities Winners for this year’s National Guard Cup have been announced, and Jefferson Forest High School ran away from the competition to win the Class 4 Cup! 

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.

Way to go Cavaliers!

Liberty High School Girls Outdoor Track athletes are proving that dedication pays off!
Susannah Allen competed in Pole Vault and finished 2nd in the Region 3C Outdoor Track Championships.  
Hailey Clark, Brianna Adams, Mary Malcolm, and Natalee Powers finished 2nd in the Seminole District Outdoor Track Championships in the Girls 4X800 Meter Relay.
Congratulations!

We have celebrated the girls, but the Jefferson Forest High School Boys Outdoor Track Team had an outstanding season as well. This team did their damage in the region competition, and today we recognize them for their accomplishments.
Way to go!

Boys Region Champions Brannon Adams - 1st 3200m Addison Hilton - 1st 400m
Boys Region Runners-up Brannon Adams - 2nd 1600m Alex Jordan - 2nd 3200m  Addison Hilton - 2nd 200m Brian Aveson - 2nd 400m Landon Epperson - 2nd 4x800 relay Jacob White - 2nd 4x800 relay Jonah Packer - 2nd 4x800 relay Keagan Venable - 2nd 4x800 relay

What a year for Jefferson Forest High School’s Girls Outdoor Track! They finished the season as state runners-up and brought home many individual accolades as well.
Time to celebrate!
Girls State Runners-up Hannah Pettyjohn - 2nd Pole Vault Zoie Lamanna - 2nd 800m & 1600m
Girls Track - Overall Region 1st place
Girls Region Champions  Zoie Lamanna - 1st 800 & 1600 Shauna Skow - 1st 3200 Kandace McIvor - 1st Long Jump Hannah Pettyjohn - 1st Pole Vault, Shot Put, & Discus
Girls Region Runners-up Zoie Lamanna - 2nd 4x400 relay Kandace McIvor - 2nd 300m hurdles & 4x400 relay Alexis Plaster - 2nd 4x400 relay Hannah Pettyjohn - 2nd High Jump & 4x400 relay

We are so proud of all of our students who were recognized at the Central Virginia Regional Middle School Science Fair! BCPS students showed off their research knowledge, dedication, and skills at the regional fair, and many were awarded special awards for their work. Two of our groups were nominated to represent BCPS and our region at the 2022 Broadcom Masters International Science Fair. These students are Forest Middle School’s Avery Pyzik, Olivia Della Penna, Sophie Bellanger, and Nicolas Bellanger. Avery Pyzik and Olivia Della Penna also won the 1^st place Chemistry award. Forest Middle School’s Owen Evans won the 2nd place Physics award. Moneta Elementary School’s Anson Hager won 2^nd place in the Rube Goldberg Challenge. Congratulations to all!

We could not be more grateful for those that gave so that our Teacher of the Year, Katrina Grooms of New London Academy, could be further rewarded for her dedication and exceptional work in the classroom. The following businesses and organizations genuinely support our educators.

Bedford Area Educational Foundation Emerson Creek Pottery Fostek Corporation JM Freebird, LLC Moneta Farm & Home Center London's Salt Spa Sam Moore Furniture Simply Vanilla Gourmet Virginia Furniture Market

Jefferson Forest High School’s Justin Kim who attends Central Virginia Governor’s School for Science and Technology recently won the 4^th place Grand Award in Biomedical and Health Sciences at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for his presentation: The Effect of Bacillus cereus on the Central Nervous System of Dugesia tigrine.

Student winners are in ninth through twelfth grades who earned the right to compete at the Regeneron ISEF 2022 by winning a top prize at a local, regional, state, or national science fair.

During the first week of May Mrs. Chittum's Cosmetology students tackled the Virginia State Board of Cosmetology Exam consisting of a written exam as well as a hands-on competency check. Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Principal, Troy Doss spoke to the class a couple of months ago and told them if they had a 100% pass rate that they could color his hair. Well, don’t make a promise that you don’t intend to keep. They all passed! Check out the video to see him fulfill his side of the deal!

We would like to honor all of our 2021-2022 Bedford County Public Schools retirees. We want to thank them for their time, energy, and dedication throughout the years.
Click here to view our retiree recognition presentation.

The Forest Middle School Science Exploratory class worked hard on the international (248 teams representing 10 countries from elementary, middle, high school, and college levels) Plant the Moon Challenge. Three teams worked 5 days a week for 10 weeks to grow green beans, lettuce, and kale in moon regolith and varying amounts of soil additive. Growing pods were created with LED grow lights, PVC pipe, and clear cloth for protection. The kale team even added hydrogel from diapers to their pots to reduce their water needs by 60%. The project was done so well that it led to a great opportunity to virtually present to representatives from NASA, the Virginia Department of Education, and many universities/colleges. They also showcased the project to incoming 6^th-grade families at the FMS Open House and board members/supporters at the Bedford Area Educational Foundation breakfast meeting.

All 3 teams were AMAZING but the green bean team earned Best in Show/Growth honors!

Congratulations to our Bedford Fiber Festival T-Shirt Design winners! While the Bedford Fiber Festival is using only the first-place design on their shirts, they were so impressed they felt that more students should be awarded for their beautiful work and decided to choose a second and third place which will also receive monetary prizes.

1st: Abryella Blair 2nd: Isabel Wilberger 3rd: Reilly Hiner

Thank you to every student who put forth fantastic designs representing the LHS Art Department and heartfelt congratulations to our winners!

The Big Feet Meet is an event that is sponsored through Special Olympics in partnership with schools and community. This year it was held at Liberty High School and included students with disabilities and their peers in all 3 middle and high schools in Bedford County. The students competed in a variety of track events that varied for all skill levels. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Bedford County Fire Department, Virginia State Police, and the Town of Bedford Police Department were all in attendance to support this event. Students, staff, parents, spectators, and community volunteers all enjoyed this amazing event that highlighted our students with disabilities. 

Two of our amazing students were recognized and featured by People Magazine! Congratulations to Jefferson Forest High School’s Anna Anderson and Zane Wales who were recently named prom queen and king.

https://people.com/human-interest/high-school-names-students-with-down-syndrome-as-prom-king-queen/?fbclid=IwAR1F86aLgg7zM4Fj5tjTCD0IZ-QNjwNQuHPQkqbBSLz9gRczNa6YON-kgDw

Liberty High School students Sara Johnson, Noah Lehrer, Makayla Branham, and Mason Mooneyham recently participated in the History Day state competition.
Sara Johnson took first place in her performance, and will now represent Virginia in the Senior Individual Performance at the National History Day competition. 
Noah Lehrer and Mason Mooneyham took third place in Senior Group Website and are now alternates for the national competition. To view their website, click the following link: https://site.nhd.org/92488529/home.
Makayla Branham also received a $1,000 scholarship.
Congratulations to all!

The University of Lynchburg High School Art Show reception was recently held in the Lobby Gallery of the Dillard Fine Arts Center. At the reception, these awards were given: four student Merit Awards (each worth $100), one People's Choice Award (worth $100), and one Top High School Art Award (worth $100).   
Jefferson Forest High School participating students, Elise Brady (11th grade), Hannah Wright (12th grade), and Alyssa Nazigian (12th grade) won three of the four Merit Awards. And, JFHS won the Top High School Art Award for best overall representation! This is the second time that JFHS has won this award in the four years of the show's existence. 
This year, 30 students from these 8 high schools participated: Altavista, Brookville, E.C. Glass, Heritage, Jefferson Forest, Liberty Christian Academy, Virginia Episcopal School, and William Campbell. Each school submitted five pieces of artwork, totaling 40 pieces. 

Members of the Susie G. Gibson Legacy alumni group gathered on April 29, 2022 to unveil a plaque that recognizes the historic designations of the former Susie G. Gibson High School. In 2021, the school was placed on both the Virginia and national historic registries. 

We are greatly appreciative of the partnership and constant support that our PTA gives our students and schools!
Annually, each high school gets awarded one Bedford County Council PTA scholarship for $1,000. To be eligible, the student/parent(s) has to be PTA member(s) by December of the year they are applying. A rubric scoring system is used that takes into consideration volunteer community service time, academic grades and classes, if they have a part-time job, and extracurricular activities. A short essay by the student and provided recommendation letters from teachers or employers are also reviewed.
This year the PTA County Council had enough funds to support awarding four scholarships. The following students were the recipients: 
Jefferson Forest High School – Olivia Oen Liberty High School – Makenna Leigh Garrett Staunton River High School – Elizabeth Gillespie Staunton River High School – Sydney Thomas

Congratulations to all!

BCPS School Board Office’s Support Staff of the Year is Becky Robertson!
Becky is in her 8th year working for BCPS. She has been serving in her current role as Administrative Assistant of School Nutrition since November of 2017. Becky has the ability to put anyone that she meets or talks with at ease and faces all that she does with a positive attitude. No matter who she is assisting, she is able to think through the situation and offer a solution to help. She has many job responsibilities but never hesitates to take time to help others and always treats them with a caring and kind attitude. Becky is a tremendous asset and we are blessed to have her in our Nutrition department.

A handful of the Virginia FFA Competitions are held prior to the State Convention. Recently, the FFA Tractor Driving Area winners convened at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds to see who would be the top FFA Tractor Operator in Virginia. 

Smith Mountain FFA - Staunton River High School's Kody Burnette placed 1st in the 4-Wheel Wagon Event & 1st on the Exam Portion. His total score was 562, making him the overall State Tractor Driving Winner!

Way to Go!

New London Academy’s Support Staff of the Year is Emily Horgan!

Emily has been with Bedford County Public Schools for 3 years, most of which have been at NLA. She is an incredible paraprofessional that works to support the learning of all the students in a classroom and actively looks for opportunities to contribute to the school community. Wherever there is a need, she is willing and ready to help. Emily is a hard worker who always maintains a positive outlook, even on the toughest days. NLA is so thankful to have her. 

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Deanna Wirth!
Deanna has been a paraprofessional at Thomas Jefferson for the past nine years. She works directly with students in remediation groups, assists teachers in the classroom working with small groups of students, prepares instructional materials for class projects, works in the front office on various tasks, and regularly covers classes for teachers. Deanna takes initiative, often asking, "How can I help?" when she sees a need arise and always pitches in with a smile. Her love for the TJES school community is evident in her dedication and positive attitude each day. 

BCPS Maintenance Department’s Support Staff of the Year is Sherry Ratliff!
Sherry has been with BCPS for 10 years. This is her second year serving as the Administrative Assistant for both the Maintenance and Testing & Demographic Planning departments. She has enjoyed getting to know the staff she interacts with in her job duties. Sherry is friendly and easy to get along with. She is highly valued as a team member and excels at any tasks thrown her way with exemplary performance. 

Staunton River High School’s Support Staff of the Year is Jennifer Buzzo!
Jennifer served as a paraprofessional at SRHS for 5 years until she passed away this fall. She was dearly loved by the SRHS staff and community. Her family received the award on her behalf.
There is no shortage of colleagues with wonderful words to say about Jennifer. Here are a few examples:
“Jennifer Buzzo has been nominated since we started doing this award. She was the most kindhearted and helpful person. She was always willing to pitch in and help out with anything. She was not only a paraprofessional, but she was our backup nurse, a fill-in secretary, and subbed in classes when teachers were out. She always had a smile on her face. She loved working with the students. She was always willing to help and work with students to achieve inside the classroom. She was the best paraprofessional I ever had in my classroom. I could be absent and my classroom would run just as I was there. I know she is no longer with us physically. But she deserves to be recognized for all her hard work and dedication to SRHS and the community.”
“Jennifer would do anything for anyone. She was assigned to classes in the History department but would also cover lunches for the attendance secretary, nurse, and front desk secretary. She was an amazing employee and friend. She jumped in to help out whenever she was asked or would take time out of her day to help where she knew there was a need. Jennifer had great relationships with students and staff, she knew everyone and was willing to help in any way.”
“Buzzo would do anything for anybody. She would flawlessly jump in to fill in for the nurse, secretary, or teachers whenever asked. She was the heart of the History department. We always joked that we could not survive without her and that she was the MVP of the department. She was exceptional with the kids. She was invested in the kids that she worked with. She did not just read aloud the test to them, but she encouraged them and cheered them on. She was able to jump in and teach the classes she supported at a moment's notice and did so often. Even though she did not see much of this school year, her years of service to this school more than qualify her for this award.”
SRHS created a video presentation, which can be viewed by clicking the link below, to recognize Jennifer’s value to them and express their love for her.
We appreciate her hard work and commitment! 
SRHS Support Staff Video

Members from both the Liberty High School and Staunton River High School FFA attended the South Ridge Area Rally consisting of 25 schools where they participated in contests and workshops. 
Here are those placing 1st and 2nd:
Liberty High School  Adam Witt - 1st Junior Tractor Operator Adam Witt and Wyatt Jenkins - 1st Tractor Troubleshooting Team Wyatt Jenkins, Andrew Hiner, Caleb Williamson, Zane Key and Landon Asal - 1st Senior Ag Mechanics Team Olivia Esposito - 2nd Extemporaneous Public Speaking Natalie Corbin - 2nd Creed Public Speaking  Allyson Long - 2nd Individual in Floriculture 

Staunton River High School Tractor Driving - 1st Overall Kody Burnette - 1st Tractor Driving  Vet Science - 2nd Overall

Both squads are gearing up to compete at the State Convention at Virginia Tech during the week of June 27 - 30, 2022! 

Bedford Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Judith Marlow!
Judith is new to Bedford Elementary this year and has been a fantastic addition. She began as a long-term substitute and transitioned into a full-time paraprofessional. She is flexible and willing to support all students and staff. She is always open to suggestions and feedback, takes all tasks seriously, and can adapt and adjust her schedule at a moment’s notice. Judith has built a positive rapport with the students and always does what is best for them.

Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center had seven students compete in the SkillsUSA Virginia State Skills and Leadership Conference. Five of those students placed in the top two of their respective competitions. They were as follows:
Automotive Maintenance & Light Repair Contest High School 2nd Place - William Wood
Building Maintenance Contest Post-Secondary 1st Place - Anthony Uttley  High School 1st Place - Aidan Wortmann High School 2nd Place - Timothy Nickols
Carpentry Contest High School 2nd Place - Taylor Weschke

The two first place winners will be attending the national competition, which will be held from June 20-25, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia!

Otter River Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Kathy Overstreet!
Kathy is the Cafeteria Manager and has worked at Otter River for 22 years! Kathy and her wonderful, sweet cafeteria ladies are dedicated to providing delicious and nutritious meals for our students and staff.  She is always willing to lend a helping hand even outside the cafeteria. She is dependable and caring, and loves hearing the students' stories and watching them learn and grow. Kathy is an integral part of ORES.

The votes are in.....and it’s time to announce this year’s Bedford County Teacher of the Year. 

Huge congratulations to New London Academy’s Katrina Grooms!

Click the link below to watch the announcement. 

https://youtu.be/nCPtMkSoohw

Moneta Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Mary Bonds!

Mary has worked in the cafeteria at Moneta Elementary for 27 years! She is always willing to help with a beautiful smile on her face. Mary is dependable, knows her job well, and cares for the students. She is loved by her MNES family. 

Big Island Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Melissa Overstreet!

This is Melissa’s 8th year working as the secretary at Big Island Elementary. She is considered nothing but the best to those who know and work with her. She is a team player and goes above and beyond the duties handed to her. Melissa wears many hats each day and does so with a great attitude. She has strong ties to the community, volunteers for everything, is super organized, sweet, dependable, and truly cares about the students and their well-being. She is a mentor to students and is always there to meet the needs of the staff. BIES feels that every school should have a Melissa, but they most definitely aren't going to let her go.

Forest Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Erin Barbolla!

Erin is in her second year working as an instructional paraprofessional at FES. She has been working with kids for 20 years and loves every minute of it. Erin’s strength is in her positive attitude. She will do anything you ask with a smile on her face. Her passion is to help those struggling with reading. She and the reading specialist work closely to make sure students get the help they need to succeed. Erin is utilized in other areas such as math support and substitute teaching because she is so adaptable and talented. No matter what is needed of her, she gives it her all and never complains. She is highly respected and a dedicated educator.

BCPS Transportation Department’s Support Staff of the Year is Jeff Karnes! 

Jeff began working with BCPS as a bus driver 10 years ago. Since 2019 he has been serving as an Administrative Assistant where he fulfills many duties including assisting new bus drivers, helping parents with bus routes and bus stops for their children, and helping with many day to day tasks that arise in the office. His co-workers describe Jeff as a hard worker who is a pleasure to be around. 

Liberty High School’s Support Staff of the Year is Susan Tomlin! 

Susan began serving as the Front Office/Principal's Secretary last year, but she has been a familiar face around Liberty High for 13 years. Prior to her current role, she served as a faithful substitute, as well as an involved parent, and supporter of LHS. Her colleagues shared that "She is an amazing problem solver with a can-do attitude. She is truly a jack of all trades who is always kind and helpful, even when she's being pulled in multiple directions at one time. She makes me feel welcomed and appreciated every day." 

Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center’s Support Staff of the Year is Carolyn Carson!
Carolyn has worked as a custodian at SGSTC for the past 2 years. Colleagues have nothing but good things to say about her. 
“She always responds promptly to any issues that may arise.” 
“She takes pride in her job on a daily basis.” 
“She is willing to learn new things.” 
“She comes every day with a smile on her face." 
“She is a hard worker and a pleasure being around.” 
The list goes on and on. 

Jefferson Forest High School’s Support Staff of the Year is Debra Brugh! 

Debra has been a paraprofessional at JFHS for 23 years. What she likes most about working with students are the “light bulb” moments that occur when students understand a concept that they have been working on. It gives her great pleasure when she sees former students and their parents and they thank her for all she did for the student while they were in school. Colleagues describe Debra as being one of the hardest working and most dedicated people at the school and as being very patient and helpful with the students and teachers. 

Huddleston Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Carol Thoemke!

Carol has worked as an educator for 23 years. She has worked as an instructional paraprofessional at Huddleston Elementary for the past 3 years. As a former teacher, Carol understands the goals and needs of teachers and students. She loves working in the classroom, assisting students with their academics, and working to make an impact on our young learners. She is encouraging and nurturing. Carol goes above and beyond her paraprofessional duties to assist the school in whatever need may arise. She loves the bond that makes HES feel like family. HES feels so fortunate to have Carol on their staff.

Bedford Primary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Donna Saunders!

Donna has been working for Bedford County Public Schools for over 22 years. This is her first year working at BPS where she currently serves as a Special Education paraprofessional. She works in the inclusion classrooms with kindergarten students to support progress academically and behaviorally. Donna is no stranger to being Support Staff of the Year, previously winning at Otter River Elementary. No matter where she has worked across the county, she has been a huge asset, is always positive, and goes above and beyond to do whatever it takes to support students. 

Jefferson Forest High School finished in 2nd place at the Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament on April 1st. They did this with an overall score of 339.25 out of 350, missing first place by only 2.7 points. They qualify for the World Finals in Iowa in May. 

Congratulations to the team members: Jack Coleman, Molly Ellis, Riley Farris, Olivia McAvoy, Emily Jacobo-Sanchez, Katie Rodriguez-Ramirez, & Ella Waicul!

BCPS Nutrition Department’s Support Staff of the Year is Cindy Garner!

Cindy has been working with Bedford County Public Schools for 6 years. She currently serves as the Assistant Cafeteria Manager. Cindy is loved and appreciated in so many ways. Her caring personality shows up in the quality of work that she gives daily. She truly cares about the nutrition program and wants students to have the best experience possible when they come to the cafeteria. Whenever a fellow staff member is struggling or a student is having a bad day, she wants to make it better. Cindy is dependable, friendly, trustworthy, caring, and respectful. Her positive attitude shines each day. A common saying that Cindy uses is "It will be ok, we can do it!" No matter what is asked of her, she always finds a way to get things done.

Boonsboro Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Troy Otey!

Troy is the head custodian and has been at Boonsboro for 6 years. You would be hard-pressed to find a more hardworking, dedicated, and caring person. Troy’s contagious positive attitude makes him a pleasure to be around. He is a blessing to BNES. 

Membership in the Virginia PTA provides the opportunity to participate in the National PTA Reflections Art Contest.
Students in Pre-K through grade 12, and a special artist division are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. We had no shortage of winners from BCPS, and those receiving 1st District placings include:

Dance Choreography Caroline Wedemeyer - Forest Middle School

Film Production Aubrianna White - Forest Elementary School Ben Messier - Liberty Middle School

Musical Composition Andrew Hebdon - Forest Middle School 

Literature Claire Reynolds - Forest Elementary School Autumn Edwards - Forest Middle School Alena Price - Forest Middle School

Visual Arts Abby White - Forest Middle School 

Photography Gavin Harrington - Forest Middle School 

Goodview Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Lisa Morris!

Lisa is currently a custodian, but started out working in the school's cafeteria. She has a heart of gold and a real love for children. The feeling is mutual because she gets many invitations from students to be their “grandma”, which she gladly accepts. Lisa can often be found encouraging students, covering for a teacher who may need a quick break, and volunteering in the community. She is praised by colleagues for her dedication, work ethic, and passion for all. Lisa is a team player, a shining example of kindness, a friend, and an ultimate GES Grizzly.

Liberty Middle School’s Support Staff of the Year is Barbara Owsley!

Barbara has worked for Bedford County Public Schools for 15 years. She is currently a Special Education paraprofessional in the adaptive classroom at Liberty Middle. She loves her students and her team. Barbara enjoys laughing with her students and learning new things. She forms strong relationships with her students by creating an environment that is caring, loving, and supportive. Barbara is dedicated to her students, a team player, and no one has a better smile than her. Her colleagues feel greatly blessed to have her as part of the team at LMS.

Forest Middle School’s Support Staff of the Year is Lorrie Brunet!

This is Lorrie’s 21st year working as a paraprofessional at FMS. Over the years she has worked in all grade levels including ISS and the front office. Several years ago she hesitantly moved into Adaptive Education but quickly realized that is where she was meant to be. Lorrie is a team player, works well with her colleagues, and is respected by all. She is quick to develop great relationships with her students and goes above and beyond to support them in their academic setting. Her former students consistently ask about her after they leave FMS because of her strong rapport with them. 

Stewartsville Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Joyce Brown!
Joyce is a dedicated, patient, and versatile educator with a kind heart. Although she is an hourly employee she volunteers her time prepping to ensure students will be receiving the best instruction possible. Joyce is frequently tasked with substituting for other staff members when they are absent. She does this without complaint and adapts to a wide range of grade levels and subject areas. She has a positive and calm demeanor which contributes to a positive classroom environment. Joyce is a tremendous asset at SES. 

Montvale Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year is Kelly Balderston! 

This is Kelly's first year as a BCPS employee, but she has been working with children for over 16 years. She first came to Montvale as a Therapeutic Day Treatment provider. She loved it there so much that when her company was moving on, she was hired as a Special Education Paraprofessional. She helps the students learn, the teachers teach, and even helps the custodians clean. She says she enjoys coming to work each day, and we are so glad she does.

Last weekend at the Capital District Key Club Leadership Conference (DCON), Liberty High School’s Key Club received top awards competing with Key Clubbers across the Capital District consisting of VA, WV, MD, DC, and DE.
LHS won first place in Single Service Silver and Non-Digital Poster, as well as second place for Major Emphasis. They will go on to compete at the International Convention this summer for their first place standings.
Individual students also received the following honors:
Bethany Duncan - Outstanding Club President for the Capital District. She also received the Ellis H. Stroup Key Club Leadership Scholarship for $2,000.
Alissa Goodwin - Outstanding Webmaster for the Capital District.
Amazing job!

The overall aim of high school forensics is to build the confidence and skills needed to research and speak to an audience. Our staff has done an amazing job building that confidence and those skills in our students, and now we have some of the best in the state to show for it!

Liberty High School’s Marisa Parikh placed first at the VHSL State Championships in the category of Original Oratory. Staunton River High School’s Jaheim Leftwich also placed first in Prose Interpretation. Jefferson Forest High School’s Paul Reid is the state runner up in Prose Interpretation. 

Congratulations to our two state champions and runner-up! So proud of our own!!!

The Nike Indoor Nationals bills itself as “A wide selection of the country's top athletes competing for a chance to win hardware and national championship recognition”.

We couldn’t be more proud to have one of those athletes getting that national recognition. 

Jefferson Forest High School’s Zoie Lamanna received All-American Honors at the New York event by placing 3rd in the 1600-meter ladies event!

After the votes were tallied, one of our own was named a “Top Teacher” by Lynchburg Living Magazine! 

Beth Isner was nominated by Marianne Thurman, a colleague, because she is a dedicated teacher who consistently goes above and beyond for the students at Bedford Elementary School. She encourages all students and has high expectations for them, regardless of their athletic status. Even though Beth is a PE teacher at heart, she learned the school-wide SFA reading intervention program and teaches a reading group during school-wide remediation time. Beth and her Resource colleagues collaborate and have created numerous family and student events for BES. She feels as though she cannot do without her fellow colleagues; however, that is true of her colleagues as well.

Congratulations to Jefferson Forest High School’s Abigail Williams, who placed 2nd recently at the Lincoln-Douglas regional debate competition!

New London Academy’s Teacher of the Year is Katrina Grooms!
Katrina has taught in Bedford County Public Schools for 15 years and previously was named Teacher of the Year while at Huddleston Elementary School. She took some years away from the classroom to stay home with her children, but went back to teaching in 2015 at NLA, where she is currently teaching 4th grade. Katrina has taught 3-5th grades in all subjects. She started the WATCH D.O.G.S. program at NLA and is currently a mentor for beginning teachers. Her colleagues say that she has been nothing short of a rock star this year.

We can’t say enough about the awesome season the Staunton River High School Girls Basketball team had this year, and now there’s an individual accolade to celebrate.

Jeni Levine has been named to this year’s VHSL Class 3 All-State 1st Team! 

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Kim Jacobs!

Kim is the Reading Specialist at TJES. She has such an impact at her school working with students to improve their reading skills, leading the school's literacy and intervention teams, and collaborating with teachers on best practices in literacy instruction. Kim’s previous experience in special education adds to the wealth of knowledge she brings to the school community.

Staunton River High School’s Teacher of the Year is Neal Mustard!

Neal is an invaluable staff member at SRHS. He serves as the English Department Chair, SCT/504 Coordinator, and teaches 9th grade English. He is a servant leader who advocates for his fellow English teachers. You can see him frequently on the sidelines of sport events cheering on the Golden Eagles. This is Neal’s 22nd year at the River. His favorite part of the job? "Having a captive audience for my stories. Working with teenagers is never dull - it keeps me feeling young. I especially love seeing folks I've taught or coached in the past have successful careers and families of their own."  

Bedford Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Henna St. Clair!

Henna was selected by her peers for her dedication to all students, families, and staff, for the high expectations she sets for all of her students, and much, much more. She is in her 20th year of teaching, which includes stops in North Carolina and Tennessee. She says it is an absolute honor to be chosen as BES Teacher of the Year. She says she can’t believe she gets to do a job that she loves and enjoys doing every day. Henna loves supporting her kids in their extracurricular activities, such as watching them play ball, or performing in plays, and her desire is always to instill a love of learning in them, but more importantly, a love for themselves. 

Graham Woodruff, a 7th grader at Forest Middle School, is The Roanoke Times Regional Spelling Bee winner! Graham studied hard using the online Scripps platform to prepare for the virtual bee held at Forest Middle School and proctored by Dr. Diane Isenhour. Competing against students from 17 other school divisions, Graham made it through 33 rounds which he said was, “difficult but pretty cool.” The champion is really excited about going to Washington D.C. on Memorial Day Weekend to participate in the National Spelling Bee!

Otter River Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Lisa Taylor!
Lisa is currently Otter River's Reading Specialist. She also serves as the SCT Coordinator and is a member of the school's Leadership Team. Lisa is a dedicated teacher and works tirelessly to support both students and staff members. Her professionalism and positive attitude make her a huge asset to the school and the community.  

Moneta Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Beth Warren!

Beth is very organized and goes above and beyond to ensure that her students meet their goals. She works one on one with students, builds a positive rapport with them, and maintains an open line of communication with parents. Beth is always willing to lend her colleagues a helping hand in any way that is needed.

Big Island Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Ellen Angus!

Over her 25-year career, Ellen has served as a 21st Century Grant Coordinator, SOL remediation teacher, homebound teacher, and a classroom teacher in Kindergarten-4^th grades as well as being the principal's designee for the past several years. With the challenges of the past few years, she has adapted her teaching and conquered new technologies to ensure student success. She has also been a cooperating teacher for student teachers, a role model for practicum students, and served as a mentor to new teacher colleagues. In the classroom, Ellen strives to ensure all of her students grow academically while forming strong relationships with the students and their families. She is respected by students and colleagues alike, not only for her willingness to help in any situation but also for her dedication. 

We officially have a national champion to brag about!
Jefferson Forest High School’s Hannah Pettyjohn won the women’s pentathlon at the Adidas Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Virginia Beach recently with a total score of 3,237; 200 points more than her nearest competitor.

Forest Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Rachel Padgett!
This is Rachel’s 22^nd year teaching with Bedford County Public Schools. She taught at two other Bedford County schools before finding her home at Forest Elementary School where she teaches second grade. She taught first grade for five years and a total of 17 years in second grade. Throughout her career, she has served as a mentor to new teachers, student teachers, and practicum students. Every year she volunteers to be the inclusion teacher for her grade level. She and the special education team work closely to ensure that each student receives the help they need, while fostering independence. Her strength is in developing relationships with her students and their families. She makes a connection by finding something in common with each individual student. She is leader among her peers and loved by the community.

Staunton River Middle School’s Teacher of the Year is Allyn Short!

When her colleagues speak about Allyn, the word “Always” comes to mind. She is always there, always knowledgeable, always happy to help, always intuitive, always hardworking, always selfless, and always conscientious! Allyn consistently pushes herself in the area of technological innovation in the classroom and serves in various leadership roles. Her presence each and every day has a lasting impact on whomever she encounters. Allyn greets everyone with a smile, bubbly demeanor, and a positive outlook on any situation. She knows the students, what is needed within the school, and has established strong connections with families and community members. Students often say, "Mrs. Short is someone I can count on when I need help" and students often ask, "may I see Mrs. Short, she can help me with this". She creates an atmosphere where students feel comfortable and confident as they learn.

Liberty High School’s Teacher of the Year is Jessica Nash!
Jessica has been teaching history for the past 8 years, with 7 of those years at LHS. She currently teaches honors and regular World History II along with AP Psychology. She also serves as the Social Studies Department Chair, on the NHS Faculty Council, is a teacher mentor, and the lead Junior Class/Prom Sponsor. Jessica was nominated by 4 different colleagues this year. Her peers shared that she is "one of the most professional, intelligent, and hardworking educators I have ever worked with; she is always willing to step-up or step-in whenever something or someone is in need; she works hard to make every student feel included; she exemplifies Liberty Pride, and I truly believe that she is one of Liberty's best, and she is a role model for all of us!"  

Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center’s Teacher of the Year is Zac Shupe!

 Chef Shupe has been an asset to SGSTC for the past 4 years, has catered many events for the county, and is well respected in the culinary community. Chef relates well with all students. They enjoy preparing his culinary creations from gourmet meals to desserts. All staff members enjoy sampling his creations. He is a valuable team member and is always willing to take on any job preparing culinary meals for functions such as School Board meetings, athletic events, and weddings. Chef’s students have an excellent pass rate with ServeSafe and all are well prepared to enter the food management industry. 

Jefferson Forest High School’s Teacher of the Year is Debra Woodson!

Debra has taught English at every secondary grade and ability level for 35 years. The students she teaches along with her family keep her life vibrant and interesting. Educational innovations influence her own learning as she is constantly trying new methods of instruction joined together with the old as well as collaborating with and mentoring new teachers. When former students share their success stories with her, she feels such joy that she was allowed to be a part of their educational journeys. Debra is always connecting her content to matters of significance and meaning within her communities.

Huddleston Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Laurie Pringle!

Laurie serves on committees as needed and is the principal designee. She is very mindful about her profession and goes about her job with purpose and passion. She bases her decisions on what is best for students, is a team player, and is always willing to support the school no matter the event or cause. Laurie treats each student as if they were her own and continually maintains effective communication with parents. She has worked to develop close relationships with her students and families as well as the faculty, student population, and administration at HES. 

Regional and state results are in for Jefferson Forest High School in DECA competition, and the Cavaliers dominated the competition!

State Results: Impromptu Business Presentation - 1^st Place: Abby Beard & Amber Trent 2^nd Place Overall State Winners: Abby Beard & Amber Trent

Regional Results: Apparel and Accessories Individual Series Event - 1st Place: Amelia Edmunds Business Finance Individual Series Event - 1st Place: Mason Williams & 2nd Place: Gabriel Rosado Business Services Individual Series Event - 1st Place: Jennifer Nguyen Entrepreneurship Individual Series Event - 1st Place: Addison Palmer Food Marketing Individual Series Event - 1st Place: Alex Dooley & 2nd Place: Ben Hiss  Hotel and Lodging Management Series Event - 1st Place: Sydney Riddlebarger & 2nd Place: Mena Sutphin  Human Resource Management Series Event - 2nd Place: Amber Trent  Marketing Communications Series Event - 1st Place: Morgan Blankenship & 2nd Place: Holly Jacobs Principles of Business Management and Administration Series Event - 1st Place: Taylor Graves Principles of Finance Series Event - 1st Place: Casey Molette Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Series Event - 1st Place: Molly Ellis & 2nd Place: Madeline Paris Principles of Marketing Series Event - 2nd Place: Kylie Sheldrake Quick Service Restaurant Management Series Event - 1st Place: Johnny Naylor & 2nd Place: Zach Dotson Restaurant and Full-Service Restaurant Management Series Event - 1st Place: Norah Tyree & 2nd Place: Wilson Hetrick Retail Merchandising Series Event - 2nd Place: Riley Campbell  
Congratulations to all the state and region winners!

Bedford Primary School’s Teacher of the Year is Katie Clark!

Katie is recognized for her tireless daily efforts to support her students' academic, social, and behavioral progress as an adaptive special education teacher. In addition to providing individualized instruction to each of her students, she supports the entire school community in her role as the Child Study and 504 Coordinator at Bedford Primary. Katie works closely with her colleagues to provide support to meet the varying needs of students across all grade levels. She always maintains a positive attitude and is nothing short of incredible to those who know her.

Boonsboro Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Carrie Adams!

Colleagues of Carrie say there could not be a more deserving recipient of this honor. She is a passionate and dedicated educator who is committed to excellence and success, but what makes her even more special is her tremendous heart for kids. Carrie strives for and makes a positive impact and influence on her students.

Goodview Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Holly Milton!

Holly is definitely meant to be a teacher and she is right in her element when she shows up for the kids every day. She has made the preschool curriculum come alive in her classroom and she is always coming up with new ideas and activities to incorporate. She is a team player and is always willing to help others in any way possible. She goes out of her way to make new additions to the faculty and staff feel comfortable by always checking in on them, making sure they know where things are, and introducing them to their new colleagues. She is a gem and the students that get to have her as their teacher are so incredibly lucky.

Liberty Middle School’s Teacher of the Year is Brian MacDougall!

Mr. Mac, as the students call him, is the face of Liberty Pride for LMS students. Brian comes to school each day with a smile on his face. He produces the morning announcements, is a huge asset with bus dismissal, and he demonstrates leadership qualities in his willingness to help out when any need arises. He is a great teacher and colleague. Brian forms strong relationships with staff and students, attends school events, and shows students that he supports them in every way. He takes on every day with a student-first approach and works tirelessly to meet students' academic and social needs. Mr. Mac makes school fun and he makes LMS a happy place for students and staff.   

Forest Middle School’s Teacher of the Year is Heidi Hackworth!
Heidi teaches 8th grade at FMS. She has spent her entire 16-year teaching career at FMS. Heidi has taught English in each of the three grade levels, as well as 6th grade history, math, and science. She has served in leadership roles as the grade level chair, and is presently the English Department Head and Gifted & Talented Coordinator. Heidi is a hard worker, an excellent team player, and always focuses on what is best for students.

Stewartsville Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Amanda Ergenbright!
Amanda makes a difference in student performance through her decision making, depth of knowledge, and wealth of strategic skills. She has demonstrated her knowledge of young children and their developmental abilities through her instruction, planning, and goal setting. Amanda is always positive, caring, and thoughtful when working with her students. The kids in her class adore her as their teacher. She creates a fun, engaging learning environment and makes her students feel loved. Amanda has been a dedicated teacher for many years. She also works well with colleagues, staff, and administration. Amanda is always willing to go above and beyond to help her co-workers.


Montvale Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Lori Parr!
This is Lori's tenth year teaching and her second year as a Kindergarten teacher at Montvale. She is energetic, organized, and keeps her students engaged. Lori is not only student-centered but also freely shares ideas and resources with her colleagues. Those that work with her call her a "natural-born teacher".  

We are so proud of all of our students who were recognized at the Central Virginia Regional Science Fair. BCPS students showed off their research knowledge, dedication, and skills at the regional fair, and many were awarded special and grand awards for their work. Two of our students will represent BCPS and our region virtually at the 2022 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. These students are Burke Bankston (Grand Physical) and Justin Kim (Grand Biological). Abby Wyatt will be our Grand Alternate for Biological Sciences. We also had many of our students recognized as category winners including Anna Grohs, Cane Hornberger, Harris Ilyas, Sarah Lynn Loucks, Charlotte Maxwell, Ciara Nauful, Faith Peerman, Jacob Tiller, Micah Willis, and Maria Ziegler.  

Huddleston Elementary School recently had their first ever Hour of Code week. All students in kindergarten through fifth grade took part in plugged and unplugged coding activities, including robotics, board games, and more! Funding from a generous donation from Staunton Baptist Church, as well as the PTA County Council, helped them in moving forward towards providing challenging, grade appropriate coding and robotic resources for all classrooms. The students were not only learning about coding and robotics, but also how to solve problems, use critical thinking skills, persevere, and collaborate with their peers. We are very thankful for our awesome community partners for their ongoing support.  

We would like to welcome our newest member of the School Board, Mr. Chris Daniels, who was sworn in this morning at the Bedford County Circuit Courtroom. We look forward to working with you.

March 2 was National Read Across America Day. The annual event was established by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 to help children get excited about reading. This year’s theme was Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers. 

The titles and resources featured by NEA’s Read Across America include books that students can see themselves reflected in, as well as books that allow readers to see a world or a character that might be different from them.

Our schools throughout the county celebrated in various ways. The Staunton River High School National Honor Society traveled to all the Staunton River Zone elementary schools to read to students. Boonsboro, Moneta, and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools had a book character dress-up day. Author Miranda Mittleman came to read to Big Island Elementary School students and gave K-2 students a signed copy of one of her books. Those are just a few of the exciting celebrations.  

4 Jefferson Forest High School students were selected by virtual audition for All-State Band & Orchestra. 

Rachel Dees - 4th in the All-State Concert Band on Bassoon
Baylis Huckabay - 6th in the All-State Symphonic Band on Trombone
Brooke Li - 27th in the All-State Orchestra on Violin
Taylor Lowry - 10th in the All-State Concert Band on Trumpet

All-State Band & Orchestra will convene April 21-23 at Christopher Newport University in Newport News for 2 days of intensive rehearsal with world-renowned conductors for a live concert performance on April 23.  

What an awesome season for the Jefferson Forest High School Girls Indoor Track team! They finished 2nd in the state in VHSL 4A, while various members of the girls and boys teams were either crowned state champions or state runner-up. 

State Champions: Hannah Pettyjohn - Girls pole vault (Set a state meet record of 12'6")  Zoie Lamanna - Girls 1000 M Addison Hilton - Boys 300 M    

State Runner-up: Zoie Lamanna - Girls 1600 M

The journey isn't over yet, but the accolades are already starting to come in. Staunton River High School's Jeni Levine is the VHSL Girls Region 3D Player of the Year!

It takes an amazing amount of dedication and effort to make it all the way to a state championship match in any weight class, and that’s why today we celebrate Jefferson Forest High School’s Matt Wirth. Matt is the State Runner-Up in the 160 weight class in Virginia’s Region 4A. 

Congratulations Matt!

Two of our own recently conquered their respective categories in Forensics! Marisa Parikh of Liberty High School and Jaheim Leftwich of Staunton River High School won original oratory and prose at super regions and will represent their schools and BCPS at the state competition later this month.

The Jefferson Forest High School Girls indoor track team is Region 4D Runner-up! 

Girls Region Champions: Zoie Lamanna - 1600 M & 1000 M Kandace McIver - 300 M  Hannah Pettyjohn - High Jump, Pole Vault, & Shot Put

Girls Region Runner-up: Kandace McIver - 55 M Hurdle

Boys Region Champions: Addison Hilton - 500 M  Landon Epperson, Joseph Whaley, Brian Averson, & Addison Hilton - 4 x 400 M  Jonah Packer, Andrew Johnson, Keegan Venable, & Jacob White - 4 x 900 M

Boys Region Runners-up: Brannon Adams - 1600 M  Mobu Nwakor - High Jump

Best of luck to everyone competing at states! 

It’s no secret we have one of the best career and technical education centers (CTE) anywhere, and our Susie Gibson Science & Technology Center students recently proved that again in the annual SkillsUSA competition! The following students placed in or won their competitions:

Taylor Weschke - 1st Carpentry Blake Shelton - 3rd Carpentry  William Wood - 1st Maintenance and Light Repair Caden Tanner - 3rd Automotive Service Technology Kendrick Anwar Jimenez-Cervantes - 1st Refinishing  Zachery Friess - 2nd Refinishing Nathaniel Denne - 2nd Collision Repair Jacob Bowden - 1st Electrical Alexis Buckland - 2nd Electrical Kyler Glidden - 3rd Electrical Anthony Uttley - 1st Building Maintenance (Post-Secondary) Aidan Wortmann - 1st Building Maintenance (Secondary) Timothy Nickols - 3rd Building Maintenance (Secondary)

The Staunton River High School Boys Indoor track team is the 2022 Region 3D Team Runner-up! 

Region Champions:
Alfred Finney, Malakhi Gregory, Spencer Kearns, and Kayden Ryder - 4 x 400 M Relay
Kayden Ryder - 500 M Run
Spencer Kearns - Pole Vault

Good luck at the Class 3A State Indoor Track Meet this week!

The Jefferson Forest High School swimming program is a strong one, and they proved that once again this year in district, region, and state competition!

Brendan Whitfield was named Seminole District Swimmer of the Year while the boys team is region runner-up!

Region Champions:
Ben Hiss - 100 Breaststroke 

Brendan Whitfield - 50 Free & 100 Butterfly  

Region Runners-up:

Brendan Whitfield, Max Schonfelder, Jack Mills, & Ryan Frasier - 200 Medley Relay 

Brendan Whitfield, Max Schonfelder, Jack Mills, & Evan Shopbel - 400 Free Relay 

Jack Mills - 200 Individual Medley & 100 Butterfly

Max Schonfelder - 100 Breaststroke 

Evan Shopbell - 500 Free

State Champions:

Brendan Whitfield, Evan Schonfelder, Jack Mills, & Evan Shopbel - 400 Free Relay 

State Runners-up:

Brendan Whitfield, Max Schonfelder, Jack Mills, & Ben Hiss - 200 Medley Relay 

Brendan Whitfield - 40 Free & 100 Back 

Jack Mills - 200 Free 

The Staunton River High School Forensics team had two first place regional placements!
Jaheim Leftwich - 1st place Prose
Cole Price - 1st place Impromptu
They will move on to the Super Region this weekend at Turner Ashby.

It is never too early to begin learning about the awesome programs offered at Susie Gibson Science and Technology Center (SGSTC)!

We are proud of our SGSTC students from the Early Childhood/Teachers for Tomorrow, Building Construction, LPN, and Cosmetology programs for taking time to visit with students at Stewartsville Elementary to show them the ropes. 

Building Construction seniors also paid a visit to students at Forest Middle School to share their experiences and knowledge.

We are excited to implement a new recycling program at 9 of our largest schools. Each of these schools now has a recycling container on campus for corrugated cardboard, loose mixed paper, and bagged aluminum cans, and plastic bottles. Last week was the first kick off meeting where many of the schools' elected “staff champions" who were present to hear from Bedford County Solid Waste on the recycling process and share ideas for ways to build recycling programs in our schools. We are excited that our students will be directly involved and will be able to learn more about the entire process!

Congratulations to the Staunton River High School wrestling team for their 3rd place finish at the Group 3A State Championship. The Golden Eagles had 2 state champions in Colin Martin in the 106 weight class and Noah Nininger in the 113 weight class. Logan Arnold in the 145 weight class and Josh Kelly in the 170 weight class both were state runners-up.  Way to go Golden Eagles!  

SRHS History!!!
Your Golden Eagle Girls Basketball team has finished the regular season with a school record 21-0 season. They finish the season as the undefeated, Blue Ridge District champs!
They recently improved to 23-0 by taking care of Lord Botetourt to become district tournament champs, and tonight begin region tournament play by taking on Northside at home!
In addition, Coach Kim Jones was named Blue Ridge District Coach of the Year, and Jeni Levine was named Blue Ridge District Player of the Year!

Congratulations to Liberty High School’s Marisa Parikh! Marisa was recently crowned the VHSL Region 3C Forensics Champion in the category of Original Oratory.

A big congratulations to our three Bedford County students who advanced to the State Elks Hoop Shoot in Waynesboro last weekend as all three won! This includes Tayden Rhodes from Boonsboro Elementary School, Eli Stevens from Liberty Middle School, and Kinslie Winterfeldt from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. They will advance to the Regional Hoop Shoot on Saturday, March 12 in Frederick, Maryland.

On Saturday, February 12^th, ten Virginia and one North Carolina schools brought a total of 18 teams of JROTC Cadets to compete in the annual Raider Challenge at the National D-Day Memorial. The meet consisted of six events that tested the mental and physical fitness as well as the problem solving and teamwork abilities of the more than 150 Cadets that participated. The Bedford Cadets planned and prepared to host the competition for several weeks, which provided opportunities for them to learn and practice organizational and leadership skills; integral parts of the JROTC mission!

Jefferson Forest High School’s girls indoor track team won the Seminole District Championship again! They won by 20 points over Heritage.   
Boys Coach Ryan Marano is the Seminole District Coach of the Year! 
The boys track team finished 2nd in the Seminole to Heritage.   
District Champions: 
Boys - Brannon Adams - 1000 M 
Boys - Brian Aveson, Landon Epperson, Addison Hilton, & Joe Whaley - 4 x 400 M Relay
Boys - Alex Jordan - 1600 M 
Boys - Andrew Johnson, Jonah Packer, Keagan Venable, & Jake White -  4 x 800 M Relay
Girls - Zoie Lamanna - 1000 M 
Girls - Kandace McIvor - 500 M & 55 M Hurdles  
Girls - Hannah Pettyjohn - Pole Vault & Girls High Jump 
Good luck to the teams this weekend at the region tournament!

Congratulations to Staunton River High School's Golden Eagle Wrestling Team as they bring home the school's first ever Region 3D Team Title!
Led by multiple individual titles and top placers, the Golden Eagle Wrestling team finished with 244 total points. Coach Scott Fike was also awarded the Region 3D Coach of the Year! They will send a school record 10 wrestlers to the state tournament this weekend at the Salem Civic Center.
Logan Arnold (145) - 1st place
Josh Kelly (170) - 1st place
Colin Martin (106) - 1st place
Noah Nininger (113) - 1st place
Brady Barnes (152) - 2nd place
Peyton Hatcher (132) - 2nd place

Jefferson Forest High School had 2 runner-up wrestlers and 3 champions recently at the Region 4D tournament in Orange County. All nine wrestlers placed in the top 3 and qualified for the VHSL Class 4 State tournament February 18 & 19 in Virginia Beach! 
Congratulations to:
CJ Cambeis (138) - Region Champ
Jake Lee (Heavyweight) - Region Champ
Matt Wirth (160) - Region Champ
Floyd Wells (170) - Region Runner-up
Luke Wirth (126) - Region Runner-up

Congratulations to the Staunton River High School 2022 Blue Ridge District Boys Indoor Champions!
Below is a list of everyone who finished first at the Blue Ridge District Indoor Meet. They will run at Roanoke College this weekend for the Region 3D Indoor Meet.
Bryce Cook - Pole Vault 
Alfred Finney - 300 M Dash
Alfred Finney, Malakhi Gregory, Spencer Kearns, & Kayden Ryder - 4 X 400 M Relay
Alexis Ice & Spencer Kearns - 1000 M Run
Alexis Ice & Sam Weddle - 1600 M Run  
Kayden Ryder - 500 M Run
Sam Weddle - 3200 M Run      

It was a battle of the champions Friday morning at Liberty High School! Spelling bee winners from our elementary and middle schools came together for the annual Bedford County Spelling Bee. 

Huge congratulations to Forest Middle School's Graham Woodruff, as he edged-out Forest Elementary School's Nifemi Adetona for the honor of 2022 BCPS Spelling Bee Champion. Dr. Bergin was in attendance and enjoyed speaking with the contestants, while also demonstrating how tall Graham is while just in middle school!

Graham will now move on to regional competition, and we'll be rooting for him to wind-up at the national finals in Washington D.C. later this year.

Good luck Graham and congratulations to all of our individual school winners!

The 2022 Staunton River Middle School 6th Grade Living Museum was a success! 6th Grade teachers flipped the gym into a Living Museum for students and families to experience. Students researched historical figures of choice, dressed the part, and turned into their historical figures for the day.

The Harry F. Byrd Leadership Award has been bestowed upon Jefferson Forest High School’s Prentiss Lamont Patrick-Carter. Only 11 of these $20,000 scholarships are given in the state of Virginia, one for each congressional district. We are extremely proud of Prentiss!

It doesn’t matter which swim team you run into at Jefferson Forest High School. They are both outstanding! Congratulations to the boys and girls teams, as both were recently crowned Seminole district champions.

The Staunton River High School Boys and Girls Swim teams recently competed in the Blue Ridge District Championship with Coach Seth Chalflinch being voted the Boys Coach of the Year, Landon Grisso the Boys Swimmer of the Year, and Faith Sprinkle the Girls Swimmer of the Year!
Regional competition was held and we are proud to announce that sophomore Luke Grisso qualified for state swim competition in the 200-meter freestyle and the 100-meter breaststroke.

Congrats to Staunton River High School senior Jeni Levine for reaching the 1,000 career points scored mark earlier this season while leading the Golden Eagles to a win over William Fleming. The team remains undefeated this year under coach Kim Jones, and we couldn’t be more proud of them.

Two Jefferson Forest High School students won awards at the 2022 Scholastic Art U.S. Region-at-large East competition: 
Senior Alyssa Nazigian won a Silver Key in the Ceramics and Glass category while fellow JFHS senior Hannah Wright won a Gold Key in the Photography category. 
Gold Key winning artwork has now moved on to the National competition in New York City, where it will compete for Gold and Silver Medals, including other special achievement awards and scholarships. 
Congratulations Alyssa and Hannah, and good luck Hannah at the National competition!

Jefferson Forest High School’s one act version of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors was named VHSL Class 4 State Champions. This is JF's third state championship in a row. Prentiss Patrick-Carter, Sky Evans, Sara Lynn Loucks, and Micah Willis swept the Outstanding Actor recognition, which has never happened before.

A familiar face was sworn-in for a second term on the School Board, while two new individuals took their oaths of office at the Bedford County Circuit Courtroom. 

Judge James Updike administered oaths to Mr. Marcus Hill (District 4), Mr. Matthew Holbrook (District 2), and Mr. Dwayne Nelms (District 3). 

Many other elected officials and county administrators, including Dr. Bergin, were able to attend this morning’s ceremony.

We look forward to our new School Board members beginning their terms in 2022!

Liberty High School’s Jeanne Willis has been named one of the Regional Outstanding Economic Educators by the Virginia Council on Economic Education!

This award honors innovative and engaging approaches to teaching entrepreneurship, economics, or personal finance at the K-12 level.

Staunton River High School’s Head Football Coach Shaun Leonard was named the Coach of the Year for the Blue Ridge District this season. Coach Leonard has led his staff and student-athletes through a challenging time, finishing the season with a 4-6 record, making the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. When asked about the honor, Coach Leonard was quick to acknowledge his assistant coaches and student-athletes who have worked hard over the last three years to get to this point. The team had 5 All Blue Ridge District award recipients as well as 2 All-Region 3D selections.

AWESOME OPPORTUNITY ALERT
Forest Middle School has been selected for the Plant the Moon Challenge!!!

The Plant the Moon Challenge is a global science experiment, learning activity, and inspirational project-based-learning challenge to see who can grow the best crops using lunar regolith simulant.

Participants in the Plant the Moon Challenge examine how vegetable crops can grow in lunar or Martian soil. Each team will receive real soil simulant from the University of Central Florida’s CLASS Exolith Lab. They will design and conduct a set of experiments using this simulant to grow crops for a future long-duration mission.

After a 10-week growing period, you will submit final project reports and join the global network of researchers helping to expand our space exploration capabilities.

FMS will submit a report detailing their experiment setup, parameters, and results to help NASA scientists understand how to use lunar soil to provide nutritious crops for future missions to the Moon!

All participants with completed projects will be invited to showcase their work at a virtual symposium with NASA scientists, program executives, and other dignitaries, where Best-in-Show awards will be presented to teams with the best experiments in a variety of categories.

Jefferson Forest High School’s Cavalier Theatre was named VHSL Region 4D Champions for The Comedy of Errors! Sky Evans received Outstanding Actor recognition, and Sara Lynn Loucks and Paul Reid were Honorable Mentions. They will be competing at the State Championships at Monticello High School on December 11^th.

Repeating our posts? No way…Congratulations are once again in order for Staunton River High School Theatre’s One-Act cast and crew who took 2^nd Place at the Region 3D Theatre Festival at Christiansburg High School!
Layla Crutchfield was also honored with the Outstanding Actor Award!

Group 3 State Champions!
Huge congratulations to the Jefferson Forest High School Marching Band who won the Virginia Marching Band Cooperative Group 3 State Championship. They won caption awards for Best Music, Best General Effect, and Best Percussion. JF also finished 5^th overall in State Championship.

Cavalier Theatre was recently crowned VHSL Section 4D2 Champions with their “The Comedy of Errors” production.

Sky Evans received Outstanding Actor recognition, while Prentiss Patrick-Carter and Paul Reid received honorable mentions. 

Staunton River High School’s One Act Theatre cast and crew recently finished 2nd at the Region 3D2 sub region competition. Laila Crutchfield was honored as Outstanding Actor while Madison Crow received Honorable Mention. 

The 94^th Annual Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention is underway in Indianapolis and the Liberty FFA Livestock Team consisting of current Liberty High School students Maegan Cash and Makenna Garrett, as well as graduates Charlie Moser and Kevin Painchaud, was awarded a Silver Rating in the National Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE).

State President Charlie Moser was awarded the 6th High Individual in the Nation.

Congratulations to all!

Montvale Elementary School recently invited dozens of parents, community members, and students and teachers from Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center for their annual career day. Students learned about several careers from various industries including automotive, culinary, transportation, military, infrastructure, construction, nuclear energy, and early education. Presenters discussed their work responsibilities, how they stay safe on the job, the skills needed to be successful in the workplace, and what kind of training and education they completed. The students were also able to see and experience various tools and vehicles including a fire truck and a crane!

They began their season a month late, but they never gave up, and now a trip to state competition is their reward for all the hard work and determination. The Jefferson Forest High School Competition Cheer Team recently finished second at the regional level, and now advance to the state tournament November 6th at Virginia Commonwealth University!

You know you have a special program when both your boys and girls teams win district championships!
That is the case this year at Jefferson Forest High School. Jefferson Forest Cross Country participated in the Seminole District Championships and brought home 1st place in both boys and girls with dominating performances. The girls took seven of the top ten spots and the defending state champion boys team took six of the top ten positions. Brannon Adams and Zoie Lamanna won the boys and girls races respectively and Seminole District Cross Country Runners of the Year. Coach Colby Delbene won Seminole District Boys Coach of the Year. The teams will participate in regionals on November 2, 2021, at Panorama Farms.

It is never too early to begin instilling kindness as an important virtue, and Huddleston Elementary School has been going above and beyond in this area. There have been school-wide themes to promote kindness including “Never Too Old for Kindness” with students dressing like they were 100 years old, “Twice as Kind” with students twinning with another classmate, “Kindness Ties Us Together” with students wearing ties, and “Community Kindness Heroes Day” with students dressing like our community essential worker heroes!

One of our finest is celebrating an amazing milestone this year. Rushie May Bradford Woolridge has served as a school crossing guard in Bedford for the past 50 years. She began this role for us in 1971, and today assists grandchildren of those she first helped get across the street back then.

Thank you, Rushie, for your amazing dedication and service!

https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/10/15/bedford-county-public-schools-crossing-guard-directs-traffic-50-years/?fbclid=IwAR3ZFaajkaneBTxoXjbjNgu69YXfexxazkWNK6dZX49Pb1GAptt1w_uQ1X8

We are honored and so very proud to have one of only 8 finalists for Virginia Teacher of the Year.

Bedford County Public School’s Teacher of the Year, and now Virginia’s Region 5 Teacher of the Year, Liberty High School’s Matthew Uselton.

Click here for video presentation of Region 5 Teacher of the Year.

Congrats to Jefferson Forest High School and Staunton River High School’s Yearbook Staffs! Both schools placed in the VHSL Multi-Media State Championships. This took place using their 2021 yearbooks.

Advertising: JFHS - 1^st Place and SRHS - 2^nd Place Infographics: SRHS - 1^st Place Candid Sports Photo: JFHS - 2^nd Place Sports Coverage: JFHS - 3^rd Place Clubs Coverage: JFHS - 3^rd Place Student Life Coverage: SRHS - 3^rd Place Academics Coverage: JFHS - 3^rd Place

The Jefferson Forest Marching Cavaliers took 1st Place in Class AAAA, with 1st Place in all captions (Music, Visual, General Effect, Percussion, and Colorguard), and were named Grand Champion for highest score regardless of size classification at the 47th Annual Lynchburg Classic Marching Band Competition.  

Congratulations to Liberty High School’s Cheerleading Coach, Katrina Caesar, for being named the Seminole District Competition Cheer Coach of the Year!

Congratulations to both Liberty High School and Staunton River High School Future Farmers of America (FFA)!!!

Liberty FFA Senior and Junior Forestry Teams won the HUB Federation Forestry Contest.

Smith Mountain FFA Forestry Team also competed at the Federation Contest. Kelcey Weston placed 1st individually and Sarah Tuck placed 5th individually, with the team placing 2nd overall.

Congratulations to these students who represented VA at the Aksarben Contest in Nebraska! Staunton River High School’s Emma Jackson was second high individual in Reasons. Great job Emma Jackson, Makenna Garrett (Liberty High School), and Kevin Painchaud (Liberty High School graduate) of Bedford County 4-H coached by Joy Powers.

Staunton River High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) members competed at the Virginia State Fair in the Jr. Dairyman’s Contest. They identified equipment, feeds, and dairy products, along with judging a class of cows & heifers. Congratulations to everyone who participated!

Fifth graders at Bedford Elementary School raised $330 for Victory Junction Camp developed by the Kyle Petty Organization. The students also wrote cards and letters for students at the camp. The donation will help to fund students with disabilities so that they can attend camp. The pictures are of Kyle Petty and the Charity Ride that ended at the D-Day Memorial.

Congrats to Staunton River High School Freshman, Noah Nininger on being selected to the USA Wrestling Magazine and World of Wrestling 23rd Annual World All Start Team. This is an elite group comprised of five age groups and 72 weight classes throughout the country!

Seniors in Culinary Arts at Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center have been showing off their baking skills. Here is a little taste of their hard work!


Bedford JROTC participated in opening the First Responders Lunch held at Bedford Elks Lodge. The Day was honored with the local JROTC who presented the flag to start this event. First Sergeant (Retired) Leonard Hutton opened the event by singing the National Anthem and leading the Pledge of Allegiance. The JROTC teaches cadets communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills. These are just a few of the skills used every day in one’s life. It also teaches cadets how to find success in life; not give them success but how to achieve it. These young cadets are led by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Matthew C. Payne and retired First Sergeant (Retired) Leonard Hutton.

Nikaya Smith and Matthew Uselton, English Teachers at Liberty High School, presented at the Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE) Virtual Live Streaming English SOL Conference on Wednesday, August 18th. Of the five presentations accepted from across the entire Commonwealth, the presentation on authentic assignments offered by Nikaya and Matthew was the only one hosted by two teachers. Every other presentation was delivered by teams of division level leaders. Congratulations Nikaya and Matthew!

We want to say another BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our students that were recognized at last night’s school board meeting for their recent accomplishments!
Our TWO FFA state officers - Staunton River High School's Emma Jackson (Secretary) and Liberty High School's Charlie Moser (President).
Liberty High School - State Champion Livestock Judging Team.
Jefferson Forest High School Soccer team - Class 4 State Runner-up.

Congratulations Staunton River Wrestling's Noah Nininger and Colin Martin on gaining All American Status. Noah Finished 5th in the country in Greco and Colin finished 8th in the country in Greco. Huge accomplishment to call yourself one of the top 8 best wrestlers in the country!

Congratulations Liberty FFA Livestock Judging Team for winning the Virginia FFA State Contest!

Liberty High School graduates announced as 2021 scholarship and grant recipients by The Trustees of the Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg!
The Colonel Joseph Brown Scholarship has been awarded to Kevin Painchaud. This scholarship is named in honor of Colonel Joseph Brown, who initially borrowed $250 from the E&B Fund to attend the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Beyond repaying his loan, Colonel Brown was a benefactor of the E&B Fund. Kevin will be attending Virginia Tech this fall to study Horticulture Sciences.
There were four Craig Cousins Merit Grants awarded this year, two of which went to Liberty High School students Kevin Ilozor and Ella Schmehl. The Craig Cousins Merit Grants are awarded to individuals who are active and in leadership positions in civic and community service clubs at high schools where the Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg sponsors Key Clubs. Kevin will be attending Liberty University where he intends to study Integrated Communications. Ella will be attending the University of Mary Washington to pursue studies in Psychology and Education.

Congratulations to Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center’s Harlee Martin (Staunton River High School) and Shyenne Haynes (Liberty High School) for their accomplishments at the Educators Rising National Conference. Harlee was awarded as the National Champion in CTE Lesson Planning and Delivery. Shyenne was awarded as one of the Top 10 in STEM Lesson Planning and Delivery.

It is Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center’s first time having a National Champion in their Teachers for Tomorrow or Early Childhood Education programs! Congratulations to both students as well as their instructor, Libby Wendland, for the countless hours of preparation.

Liberty High School’s Susannah Allen finished 5th in the VHSL Class 3 State Championships.


Liberty High School’s Crishaun Cunningham and Jordan Steele finished 3rd and 4th respectively in the VHSL Class 3 State Outdoor Track Championships in the 100 meter dash. Crishaun ran a 10.98 and Jordan ran a 11.11.

Jefferson Forest High School's State Champion, Hannah Pettyjohn (won the Class 4 Pole Vault with a vault of 12'4")


Jefferson Forest High School's State Champion, Addison Hilton (won the 400 with a time of 49.32).


Jefferson Forest High School's Girls Track & Field - 2nd place and Boys Track & Field’s Brannon Adams ran a 9:30 in the 3200, placing 4th.

Congrats to these Staunton River High School student-athletes on advancing to the state track meet next week at Liberty University!


Check out the 2021 National Honor Society for Dance Arts senior (NHSDA) slideshow to see Kacie Daniel and Taylor Porterfield. Congratulations! Click here for slideshow.licka3e439

Congratulations to all of our Class of 2021 GRADUATES!!!
You did it! Work hard, believe in yourself, and follow your dreams!  

As we wrap up a most unusual school year, a message of unity brought to you by students and staff from all over Bedford County. Click the here to see the Bedford Virtual Chorus video.

THANK YOU TO OUR RETIREES!!! We would like to honor all of our 2020-2021 Bedford County Public Schools’ retirees. We want to thank them for their time, energy, and dedication throughout the years.  

Click here to check out the recognition video.

Congratulations to all of the Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center's Collision Repair II students on obtaining their Non-Structural & Refinish Pro Level 1 credentials.

Boonsboro Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Sharon Banks.
Sharon has been a paraprofessional at Boonsboro Elementary School for 21 years. This year she took on a new role as a Kindergarten teacher with a homeroom class. She enjoys getting to know all the personalities of the kindergarteners she works with. She strives to keep the students engaged, radiates pride for their accomplishments, and loves to see them learn. She demonstrates kindness and compassion for all of her students and has a great rapport with everyone. Sharon is a team player who is loved and respected by all of the staff, which she considers family.

Otter River Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Mike Craig.
Mike is a custodian at Otter River Elementary School. He is hardworking, kind, and caring. He has a positive attitude and is always willing to do anything to help others. He is dedicated to keeping the school clean and safe. Mike says it is a pleasure to work with and be a part of a staff that truly cares about the students and the school.

Three Jefferson Forest High School students win awards in the Young Writers writing competition! The Virginia State Literacy Association (VSLA) Piedmont Area Chapter held the regional judging of students’ written pieces.
Makenzy Stanley - 8^th Grade Fiction - 3rd Place - Almost Home Beall Roberts - 10^th Grade Fiction - 1st Place - The Ribbon John Nauful - 12^th Grade Fiction - 2nd Place - Whatever Lies Beyond

Staunton River High School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Amanda Walthall.
Amanda is a paraprofessional that has been with Bedford County Public Schools for 14 years, 12 of which have been at Staunton River Middle School. This year she transitioned to Staunton River High School to support 7^th and 8^th grade students. Her colleagues say that she is awesome and a wonderful support to the entire school community.  She has a student-first attitude and is always willing to do whatever is needed. She loves supporting students and staff and building relationships with them.

Congratulations are in order for these Liberty High School seniors!
Click here for more information on LHS Signing Day 

Liberty High School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Susan Haslet.
Susan is the library aide at Liberty High School. She keeps the library running smoothly and makes everyone who enters feel welcome and important with her positive and delightful attitude.  She strives to do the very best she can whenever she assists anyone, whether it is a student or a staff member. She has been an indispensable help in making the library a fun place to be with her calming presence throughout a challenging year.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Marsha Morris.
Marsha is in her 16th year at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (TJES) where she is currently an instructional paraprofessional. She has worked with every grade level, but during the majority of her time at TJES, she has worked in grades 3 through 5. This year, she has taken on new responsibilities as a classroom facilitator and member of a cluster serving three 2nd grade classrooms. Marsha shares that the main reason she loves working with children is that she wants to instill the importance of learning by demonstrating that it is an adventure and a lifelong process.  She is highly valued by her colleagues and is a very important member of the TJES family.

Goodview Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Ashley Golden.
Ashley has been with Bedford County Public Schools for 3 ½ years, 2 ½ of which have been at Goodview Elementary School. She is currently an instructional paraprofessional. She is an outstanding coworker who is always willing to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes. She makes the best of every situation and uses even the most difficult experiences as an opportunity for growth. Her daily hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated by staff and students. Ashley is flexible, knowledgeable, patient, compassionate, and treats everyone with such respect.  She creates a nurturing environment that influences and encourages positivism throughout the classroom and within the students. Anyone can see that she cares for and loves working with children.

The Central Virginia Regional Science Fair was held virtually and some of our 5^th-8^th grade students won awards! Two of the projects were sent to the Broadcom Masters International Science Fair. Awesome job representing Bedford County Public Schools. We are proud of you! 
Rube Goldberg Challenge - Taylor Woodruff - Bedford Connects Remote Learning - 5^th Grade - 2^nd Place - "Open the Garage Door"
Rube Goldberg Challenge - James "Gray" Kane - Bedford Connects Remote Learning - 5^th Grade - 1^st Place - "Good Night Gray"
Car Challenge - Peyton Noell - Staunton River Middle School - 5^th Grade
Excellence Award - David Wilkinson - Liberty High School - 7th Grade - Energy: How Does Heat Affect the Movement of Tin Foil - Also sent to the Broadcom Masters International Science Fair
Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Prize - Ashley Hewitt - Bedford Connects Remote Learning - 8th Grade - Plant Sciences - How Does Water Temperature Affect Plant Growth - Also sent to the Broadcom Masters International Science Fair
Virginia Dental Society - Ellie Jeon - Bedford Connects Remote Learning - 6th Grade
Naval Science Award - Sebastian Sowards - Bedford Connects Remote Learning - 6th Grade

VHSL Class 4 State Champions!
Jefferson Forest High School’s Cavalier Theatre does it again! Pirates! Theodore Thud and the Quest for Weird Beard took the first place trophy at the VHSL Class 4 State Championships. Thomas Smith and Prentiss Carter received Outstanding Actor recognition.

Montvale Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Marlene Wertz.
Marlene has been with Bedford County Public Schools for 11 years, 6 of which have been at Montvale Elementary. She has 25 years of experience in education. She assists visitors, families, students, and staff with positivity and dedication. She is friendly, caring, and hardworking. Her colleagues say that they are so blessed and lucky to have her.

OUTSTANDING!

Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center’s Automotive Service Technology program gives student technicians the ability to take and pass 9 ASE Entry-Level certification exams. Exams cover brakes, steering and suspension, electrical, engine performance and 5 more. 4 students passed all 9! Total passes are 71 credentials.

Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Kristina Evans.
Kristina has worked for Bedford County Public Schools in different capacities over the last 8 years. She is currently the secretary at Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center. She greets all visitors, parents, students, and staff with a smile.  Kristina is a joy to be around, strives to build others up, and is always willing to help and make things run more efficiently in the office. 

Jefferson Forest High School’s Spring Signing Day for 21 senior student-athletes. Congratulations to all!
Click here for article about JFHS Signing Day

Moneta Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Debbie Kirby.
Debbie has been an instructional paraprofessional at Moneta Elementary School (MNES) for 22 years. She is described by her colleagues as patient, generous, and intelligent. She is known to go above and beyond for staff and students and is always working behind the scenes to make MNES a fun place to work and learn. She supports classrooms, the office, and the library, and often comes in early and stays late to ensure everyone has what they need. Debbie loves getting to know the students, helping them learn, and watching them grow.

Big Island Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Melissa Overstreet.
Melissa has been the secretary at Big Island Elementary School for 7 years and is the go-to person for any and everything. This is her second time receiving this award. She was previously recognized in the 2017-2018 school year. She is highly valued by her colleagues for all that she does for them and the students. She is known for her positive attitude, willingness to spearhead school initiatives, and strong connections to the members of the school community both inside and outside of the school building. Melissa loves being a part of the BIES team because of the tight-knit community and family environment.

BCPS Nutrition Department’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Jackson Reams.
Jackson has been a School Nutrition Worker with Bedford County Public Schools for 2 ½ years. His base school is Jefferson Forest High School, but he has spent very few days working there this school year. This year more than ever before staff members have had to be flexible due to the changing needs across our division. There was no hesitation when Jackson was asked to split his time working at Boonsboro Elementary School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.  He is adaptable, accommodating, and easy-going with whatever changes come his way. He has a very positive and kind attitude, gets along well with others, and is willing to do whatever to meet the needs of the students.

Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center’s Junior Building & Construction class installed a concrete pad and bench for the trailhead at New London Tech Trails. Awesome job! Keep up the excellent work.

New London Academy’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Sherry Duff.
Sherry has been with Bedford County Public Schools for 9 years. She is currently in her 5^th year at New London Academy as an instructional paraprofessional. She has always been willing to help and be flexible in the work that she is asked to do, but even more so this year in her ever changing teaching roles. She is a great colleague and has genuine concern and care for the students that she works with. Sherry is a joy to be around and brings a feeling of calm and warmth to any work environment.

Staunton River Middle School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Margaret McGarrahan.
Margaret is in her 19th year with Bedford County Public Schools, 7 of which have been at Staunton River Middle School. She is currently the bookkeeper/secretary and is considered the shining light of the main office. She works with all employees, students, families, and community members. Even in the most stressful of moments, her warm demeanor and helpful attitude make anyone entering the office feel welcome and cared for. She always makes time to help others no matter how busy she is. Margaret lifts the mood of anyone she interacts with.

Congratulations Golden Eagles! Quadruple Letter of Intent Signing.
Click here for article on SRHS Signing Day

Bedford Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Cindy Mayhew.
Cindy has worked as a secretary for Bedford Elementary School for 5 years. She is the hub of the office and meets the staff, students, and parents with a smile. She fulfills her duties in a professional manner while being courteous to everyone. Cindy is kind, loving, and encouraging to the students and always tries to motivate them towards a bright future.

BCPS Maintenance Department’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Ronnie Crouch.
Ronnie has been with Bedford County Public Schools for 15 years. He is a skilled carpenter, exceptional employee, and a valued co-worker. He is a team player and gives his work 100% at all times. He is dedicated to making sure that all projects meet safety requirements for our staff and students. Ronnie will go the extra mile to help anyone.  

Congrats to the Jefferson Forest High School Cavalier Theatre's cast/crew of Pirates! Theodore Thud and the Quest for Weird Beard on winning the Region 4D Championship! Outstanding Actor honors: Addison Chiodo, Brett Womack, & Thomas Smith. Honorable Mention: Prentiss Carter.
(Photos by David Detwiler)

Congratulations to the Bedford County PTA Council Scholarship winners! Liberty High School: Nicholas Brown, Ella Schmehl, Katherine Thompson Staunton River High School: Jacob Perdue

Jefferson Forest High School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Cathy Jacobs.
Cathy is the registrar at Jefferson Forest High School. She is often the first impression for many families, and she greets everyone with a friendly and professional demeanor. She is very thorough with her work and goes the extra mile to be helpful to all staff. She is very humble but extremely knowledgeable in her role. Dedicated, conscientious, selfless, and cheerful are just a few of the words used by coworkers to describe her.

Huddleston Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Brenda Nelms.
Brenda has been a custodian for Bedford County Public Schools for 33 years. She is currently the head custodian at Huddleston Elementary School. She works hard to make sure the building and property are as clean and orderly as possible. She takes pride in her job and it is evident in the quality of her work. Brenda has a good rapport with all, can always be counted on, and has the most incredible sense of humor.

Bedford Primary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Ashley Carter.
Ashley has been a special education paraprofessional at Bedford Primary School for 4 years. She is dedicated to ensuring the safety and progress of all students. She is always willing to support the students and staff in any way she can. Ashley loves seeing the students meet goals and show growth throughout the school year.

Forest Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Jackie Jones.

Jackie has been a special education paraprofessional and preschool teacher for 32 years. She has worked at Forest Elementary School for 16 of those years. She is highly valued by staff for her hard work and dedication. She encourages and inspires students, and finds unique ways for them to use their strengths. Over the years, she has collected many strategies in her toolbox, but she firmly believes that being a consistent and loving part of a student’s life is the only tool you need for them to be successful.

Jefferson Forest High School boys are 2021 VHSL Class 4A State Cross Country Champions.
Jefferson Forest High School girls finished 4th in VHSL Class 4A State Championship.
Congratulations and GREAT JOB everyone! Click here for news article.://Cl/jefferson-forest-boys-win-closest-team-title-in-history?fbclid=IwAR1m9nyBt8303jZBm0jGZZumqweAvpVbOoa2GOa8A5bJzEKgjaoFsy22aJ8

Congratulations to all our Bedford County Public Schools’ Education Support Staff of the Year!
Click here for our recognition video.
Bedford Elementary School - Cindy Mayhew Bedford Primary School - Ashley Carter Big Island Elementary School - Melissa Overstreet Boonsboro Elementary School - Sharon Banks Forest Elementary School - Jackie Jones Forest Middle School - Kim Powell Goodview Elementary School - Ashley Golden Huddleston Elementary School - Brenda Nelms Jefferson Forest High School - Cathy Jacobs Liberty High School - Susan Haslet Liberty Middle School - Janice Payne Maintenance Department - Ronnie Crouch Moneta Elementary School - Debbie Kirby Montvale Elementary School - Marlene Wertz New London Academy - Sherry Duff Nutrition Department - Jackson Reams Otter River Elementary School - Mike Craig School Board Office - Debra Blake Staunton River High School - Amanda Walthall Staunton River Middle School - Margaret McGarrahan Stewartsville Elementary School - Lisa Thomas Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center - Kristina Evans Thomas Jefferson Elementary School - Marsha Morris

Stewartsville Elementary School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Lisa Thomas.
Lisa has been working at Stewartsville Elementary School (SES) as a custodian for 21 years. She is passionate about her job, greets everyone with a smile, and goes above and beyond to ensure the health and safety of staff and students. She is always willing to help without hesitation. Lisa is an integral part of SES.

Liberty Middle School’s Education Support Staff of the Year is Janice Payne.
Janice is a special education paraprofessional at Liberty Middle School. Her coworkers describe her as hardworking and a great team player. She is always willing to take on any task that presents itself. She cares about and is dedicated to the students.

Congratulations to all our Bedford County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year Representatives and Finalists!
Click here for our recognition video.

Bedford Connects Remote Learning - Kelly Morck Bedford Elementary School - Megan Clark Bedford Primary School - Brenda Willis Big Island Elementary School - Pam Riggles Boonsboro Elementary School - Meghann Cope Forest Elementary School - Kristy Snow Forest Middle School - Lauren Millner Goodview Elementary School - Barb Pennington Huddleston Elementary School - Rhonda Tyree Jefferson Forest High School - Brian Miller Liberty High School - Matt Uselton Liberty Middle School - Rickylyn Cundiff Moneta Elementary School - Deena Mustard Montvale Elementary School - Sarah Hankinson New London Academy - Amanda Cocke Otter River Elementary School - Christie Massey Staunton River High School - Sherri Given Staunton River Middle School - Katie Appleby Stewartsville Elementary School - Leanne Rice Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center - Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) - Matthew Payne Thomas Jefferson Elementary School - Kimberly Richardson

Boonsboro Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Meghann Cope.
Meghann is in her 14^th year of teaching at Boonsboro Elementary School with Bedford County Public Schools. This year has brought about many new job responsibilities for her, but she keeps it all balanced while keeping a smile on her face. She transitioned back to teaching 4^th grade in addition to all of her responsibilities as Library Media Specialist and Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT). She is awesome in the eyes of her colleagues who feel that she is an exceptionally strong teacher that can handle anything thrown her way.

New London Academy’s Teacher of the Year is Amanda Cocke.
Amanda is in her 14th year of teaching, 4 of which have been with third graders at New London Academy. She knew she wanted to be a teacher when she was only six years old. She made that dream a reality and became a strong, dedicated, and exceptional teacher! She is creative and engaging in the classroom and her colleagues can see how invested she is in the learning of each of her students. Amanda excels at developing meaningful relationships with each student by being a consistent voice and advocate, which allows her to bring out the best in them. She always maintains a positive learning environment where students feel safe to be themselves. She is a colleague that demonstrates consistent professionalism and high standards.

WAY TO GO! Three students in the Automotive Technology program at Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology passed the State Inspection exam.

Jenna Holland, a teacher at Staunton River Middle School, has been selected by the National History Day (NHD) program in Virginia to participate in the spring 2021 Historical Argumentation Webinar Series. This program is a collaboration between NHD and the Library of Congress and includes 120 teachers from around the world. NHD affiliates include all 50 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and international school programs in China, South Asia, and South Korea.
Since December, Jenna has completed readings, engaged in discussion boards with peers from around the world, and joined live programs with historians and curriculum specialists to improve her practice. Upon completion of the series, she will have demonstrated the ability to share with her students key strategies for researching, supporting, and presenting historical arguments bolstered by these primary sources.

Congratulations to the Jefferson Forest High School Scholastic Bowl Team. They were awarded 1st runner up at the State Championship.

Congratulations to Forest Middle School fifth graders Russell Kaiser and Alena Price, whose PTA Reflections entries won at the school, county, district and state level. Russell's photograph of his sister and Alena's poem about herself won an Award of Merit (third place) at State. The theme this year was "I Matter Because..." Also pictured are assistant principals Paul Nazigian and Heather Boyles.
BCPS students win Southern Regional Awards in 2021 VSBA Art Contest.

3rd Place Middle School Winner - Reilly Hiner - Liberty Combined School


Bedford Connects Remote Learning’s Teacher of the Year is Kelly Morck.
Kelly is in her 18^th year teaching for Bedford County Public Schools. She spent 17 of those years at Staunton River Middle School. She currently teaches Health and Physical Education in Kindergarten through 3rd grade for virtual students and also serves as the 504 coordinator. In her role as 504 coordinator, she has been an advocate for students and enjoys the challenge of helping parents and students find success in the virtual classroom. Kelly is passionate about improving children's overall physical and mental health, which in turn, improves their successes in the academic classroom. She is a wonderful asset to Bedford Connects Remote Learning.

Congratulations to Liberty High School’s Beverly Eborn on her Central Virginia Regional Science Fair Grand Award!
Check out all the category and special award winners representing Bedford County Public Schools! Way to go! Click here for award winner listing.

Otter River Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Christie Massie.
Christie is the music teacher at Otter River Elementary School. This year, she has also taken on the role of teaching art and second grade. She has been teaching for seven years and enjoys making musical memories with her students. Christie loves watching her students grow, challenge themselves, and blossom through the many productions the school puts on each year. She believes that all children are capable of connecting with and growing in their own musical abilities. She always has a smile on her face and the students love her. When she is not teaching, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and performing with local choirs, operas, and churches.