Frances Hatzopoulos, a second-grade teacher at Old Donation Center, was today named the citywide 2006 Virginia Beach City Public Schools Teacher of the Year. In a surprise visit made to her classroom this morning, Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney and Deputy Superintendent Sheila S. Magula made the announcement and presented her with an engraved school bell and other congratulatory gifts.

Chosen from an initial pool of 87 teachers representing their schools, Hatzopoulos was one of five finalists selected to receive classroom visits by the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee. According to Chairperson Shea Paisley, while all the finalists were outstanding, Hatzopoulos was remarkable in her ability to encourage each of her students to take academic risks in class, to attempt new ways of accomplishing things, and to grow as a learner. “Frances Hatzopoulos is a truly exemplary teacher,” said Paisley. “She is inspiring in her abilities to motivate and encourage her students, meeting the needs of all her students in creative and supportive ways. Her expertise extends to her colleagues as well in that she works to mentor teachers, especially those new to the profession.”

Hatzopoulos is a 17-year veteran teacher. She has been with Virginia Beach City Public Schools for 13 years, the last four of which have been spent at Old Donation Center. Currently, she teaches an integrated gifted second-grade class.

Hatzopoulos has assumed numerous leadership roles. She has served on a variety of committees, ranging from school planning councils to action teams for at risk students, language arts, writing, and underachievement. She has also served the Gifted Planning 5-year Committee as well as several Standards of Learning committees. Her professional associations are also numerous, among them The National Association for Gifted Children, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and the Virginia Beach Reading Council. Hatzopoulos has attended and presented at many national, regional and area conferences and workshops. She has also taught classes in assessment and evaluation for beginning teachers. In 2004, she served as a model teacher for an Old Dominion University student’s practicum for class observations.

Hatzopoulos is the recipient of a variety of awards and recognitions, including being named the Reading Teacher of the Year for 2002-2003 and Model Teacher for the About Face Program in 2005. She also received the I Make a Difference Award in 2003, and served as an instructor for interest meetings for organizational development in 2005.

Hatzopoulos received her doctoral degree from The George Washington University in 2003. She also holds numerous endorsements, among them a gifted endorsement from the University of Virginia and reading in the content area from Old Dominion University.

For more information about the Virginia Beach Schools 2006 Teacher of the Year Program, please contact the Deputy Superintendent’s office at 263.1390.