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In
the Spotlight: winners of the Superintendent’s The Superintendent’s Spotlight Award has changed that. Now we have a way to recognize excellence in the work place with the awarding of this honor. Dr. Merrill spent several days in June presenting Spotlight awards to staff members who earned this prestigious recognition for second semester. Please join us in congratulating each and every winner and take some time to read what those nominating them had to say about what makes the special qualities that make them unique.
Nominate
a “winner”! Award Criteria
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David
Abbott, teacher and coach at Green Run High School,
has “definitely improved the ‘quality of life’ for
many of us at Green Run!”. As the originator of “The Biggest
Loser,” a weight loss and fitness program for faculty and staff,
Abbot has made a real difference in people’s lives. In fact, 34
out of the initial 42 people who joined the program completed it. In
a period of five months, participants lost a total of 148.5 pounds and
58 inches from their “collective waists”! Abbott gave hours
of his personal time to training and encouraging members, tabulating
results and administering the program. He has willingly provided “his
expertise to see us succeed as individuals as well as building camaraderie
among the members….I think I can speak for all of us who have
stayed with the program: we feel better and have more energy. It stands
to reason that happier teachers are more effective teachers!”
Pembroke
Elementary teacher assistant Kathleen Alexander
“is a unique individual who possesses a heart of gold and an outstanding
work ethic.” Alexander far exceeds the parameters of her job as
a special education teacher’s assistant and overseer of the daily
operations of 22 special education buses at Pembroke. Not only does
she work in the classroom, but she also “leads an elf crew of
six other employees to help needy families during the holiday seasons….During
the weeks leading up to Christmas, she and her crew are busy collecting
and bagging Christmas presents for 275 children. What started out with
one family of three boys has now grown to more than one hundred children!”
Brandon
Middle School cafeteria manager Kathleen Cullen
“is absolutely amazing. Singlehandedly, she transformed our cafeteria
from a place to be avoided to a warm, welcoming eatery that all flock
to. Gone are the brown lettuce salads, gone are the greasy burgers and
the same mundane lunches. Gone are the staff members eating out or brown
bagging it!” Instead, staff and students have said “hello
to healthy, delicious foods artistically presented. Hello to children
eating salads and wraps and asking for them.” Because Kathy Cullen
loves to cook and because she is exemplary in her job, the “entire
school is the happy recipient of her culinary talents.” 
Joshua
Darden, former principal of Open Campus and now acting administrator
at the Renaissance Academy, “continues to inspire
the faculty and staff with his dedication…He believes that all
students can learn and he is willing to meet them where they are instead
of where they should be. Every morning rain or shine he stands in the
parking lot for over half an hour as students arrive at school. When
Open Campus relocated from Green Run to Central Academy, teachers and
staff “could instantly tell that this was a man who cared about
people.” As staff members know, he listens to their concerns and
seeks solutions, never showing frustration, no matter how overwhelming
the task may seem.
Tammy
Deloach, driver of school bus #380 serving Cox High School,
is always willing to lend a helping hand to her co-workers in need.
“Tammy has always been there, through the triumphs and trials
of the daily lives of Area A, she makes sure that when a driver is ill,
she has dinner collected and delivered, on her time, to that family.”
A coworker had this to say: “Two years ago, I had to come off
my bus for a tumor that was life-threatening. My husband was away in
Iraq, but there was Tammy, feeding my kids so I could rest before and
after surgery. Tammy was on the phone asking if I needed a ride, or
if my family was in need or if she could come over Friday to bring dinner.”
Tammy Deloach really is “always inbound, to the recue!”
M.
Ryan Foster is an “exemplary teacher” at Thalia Elementary School and his focus
on improving student achievement has been unwavering. According to his
nomination information, Foster’s enthusiasm for his fifth-grade
students continues outside of the classroom. “Mr. Foster will
always come to see his students take part in extracurricular activities
whether it be sports or a talent show. The children will talk about
his presence at their activities for weeks.” It is quite obvious that “students
and families appreciate all of the effort that he puts into his lessons
each day.”
Nina
Hernandez, executive office associate in the Department of
School Administration, “has an extraordinarily positive outlook
on life and demonstrates that to each and every individual she encounters.”
To VBCPS high school principals, Hernandez “is the ‘customer
hotline…. the crisis counselor, the reassuring voice on the other
end of the phone that calms the soul.” According to those who
work with her, “No matter what is going on in her day, she greets
you in person or on the phone as if you were her favorite friend. She
is upbeat, personable, concerned about your day and how we are dealing
with various concerns or stressors.” It is apparent that “Nina
Hernandez is an invaluable asset to the Virginia Beach City Public Schools.”
According to one of the principals with whom she works, “Simply
put, the high school principals could not do their jobs without her
calming and caring demeanor, her attention to detail, her efficiency
to replicate that missing memo, and her genuine concern for our overall
well-being. [She] is an individual who simply works hard so that the
rest of us can shine.”
Betty
Huss, bookkeeper and office manager at Windsor Woods
Elementary School, has her “finger on the pulse of daily
operations.” She is known for her excellent organizational skills
and keen eye for detail and works to promote the school’s wonderful
staff morale. Her positive attitude is one that influences everyone
– the administrators, teachers and students….“Huss
is one of those employees who always goes beyond the norm. In August
of 2008, Windsor Woods moved into its new building. She spent many,
many late nights working to make sure that everyone had their rooms
supplied with everything they would need to begin a new year in new
surroundings. Her dedication and attention to detail made the transition
a smooth one for our entire school community.”
Green
Run High School first-year math teacher Chris Jones
“is at ease with trying new ideas in 
Pat
Norfleet “is not your typical hard-working employee;
she is extraordinary. She exemplifies the type of employee every employer
wishes to have.” 
Trantwood
Elementary principal Patricia C. Slaughter
“models excellent teaching.” She attends every meeting and
event sponsored by the division, including those of the PTA, SCA and
Trantwood Troupers. A member of the Safe Schools committee, Slaughter
dedicates herself to ensuring that students are safe and secure. She
“creates incentives for individual students to improve attendance
and return homework….She also documents and implements initiatives
to help teachers with their professionalism and instructional leadership.”
Patsy Slaughter is “never too busy to acknowledge school and division
personnel by writing unsolicited commendation letters…she is tough
on policies, soft on people.”