Why I Teach at the Beach
Kirsten Sager - Kingston Elementary
What future teacher wouldn’t enjoy a cool, gentle breeze blowing through her hair, the subtle smell of salt tickling her nose, or the sound of freedom flying overhead in the air from one of Oceana Naval Bases’ fighter jets? All of these wonderful experiences happen daily on my drive into work, albeit with the windows down. Yet, these certainly aren’t my reasons for choosing to teach at the Beach nor what has kept me teaching here for the past 3 years. What originally persuaded me to choose to teach in Virginia Beach and what continues to make me happy teaching for the city, is the incredible opportunities for growth as an educator that I am consistently afforded. This growth has come from a variety of resources that I have either at my fingertips or down the hall from my own classroom.
Let’s face it—becoming a new teacher can be exciting and terrifying at first, all at once. And once you step into the classroom for the first time, you learn that your own learning never stops. What I have loved most while teaching in Virginia Beach from my very first day, is the way in which I was given support and guidance by my fellow staff members. In countless ways, my colleagues have all helped me to grow into the teacher that I am today. No matter how simplistic a question was that I needed answered or how bundled my nerves were just before my first parent-teacher conference, my co-workers provided pep talks, mini-lessons, and priceless information. The opportunity to be a teacher in Virginia Beach’s schools is an incredible, ongoing journey that has strengthened my foundation as a teacher, yet allowed me to remain teachable myself.
Brian Meechan - Salem High
As an Ohio native and a graduate of The Ohio State University, completion of my teaching credentials left me wanting to travel and work somewhere new and different. A productive job fair sent me all the way to Maui, Hawaii. After teaching there for two years, my wife (a Pennsylvania native) and I decided to relocate back to the mainland and had a few places in mind.
We decided on Virginia Beach to continue our much appreciated access to sand and ocean. Although the beaches of Hawaii won out over the East coast beaches, the education system of the beach left the education system of Hawaii in the dust. VBCPS provides extensive opportunities for students to thrive. From the arts to athletics to academics, there are many top notch choices for a Virginia Beach student to follow.
My first year of teaching in the area was at the middle school level, where I taught life science and coached wrestling. I was already impressed with the quality and availability of athletics. Four different quarters of school provided a minimum of both one male and one female sport. As an educator it provides me with well-rounded and well adapted students. The working class city and a large military presence both contribute to a school system with hard working and well-mannered students.
Academically the students also have many options. As a current high school educator, I am very satisfied with the options a student has. From the block scheduling to the academy programs (I teach physics at the Visual and Performing Arts Academy), students are given an opportunity to pursue their passion.
All this combined allows me as a teacher to have a diverse population of students to work with and a great deal of support for what I need to do the best job possible. A productive school board, an innovative Superintendent, and supportive administration listen to and address teachers’ needs. Specifically my school includes a fantastic population of diverse students, mainly consisting of African-American, Caucasian, and Filipino, the latter of which blends my first two years of teaching in Hawaii.
When relocating, I applied to many districts in the area, and passed on a few opportunities. As my sister-in-law (who also is a teacher with VBCPS), said to me: “Brian, you really want to teach at the Beach.” How right she was!
Robert Jamison - Cox High
Deciding to pursue a career in education as a school counselor has been one of the best decisions of my life. What has made this decision even more compelling is that I have been afforded the opportunity to work for Virginia Beach City Public Schools at the high school from which I graduated, Frank W. Cox. As a student the faculty and staff encouraged my educational aspirations and played a pivotal role in shaping my academic résumé. Their commitment to seeing me succeed helped me gain admittance to the University of Virginia, from which I graduated in 2004. Rather than moving away after college, I returned home to Virginia Beach to give back to the community that had given me so much. The people, the sites, and the schools of Virginia Beach provided me with fond, lasting memories. Knowing that I wanted to work for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, I returned to school and earned my Master of Science in Education in School Counseling in August 2008. And, within one year of being hired as a school counselor at my alma mater, I was offered the opportunity to serve as the Guidance Department Chair. My experiences as both have been an enriching adventure. Every day I am reminded of how fortunate I am to work in an environment where I can advocate for others as well as help them to achieve their goals. Working in a Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ high school guidance department has been an awe-inspiring experience. I see students experience adversity, learn skills to be successful, and show the resiliency to persevere through difficult times all while knowing that I am in a position to positively affect the outcome of their situation. I am thankful to work in a school and for a division that consistently supports this endeavor. From professional development opportunities made available to teachers and counselors that span the United States to local programs and events for students and their families, Virginia Beach City Public Schools continues to provide impactful resources for its community.
Recharta Walston - Lynnhaven Elementary
There are so many advantages to teaching in Virginia Beach and I am still discovering and enjoying them after 15 fabulous years of being employed with the Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Teaching in a world class school division, which has a unique suburban/urban mix of students and serves the educational needs of so many, has afforded me the opportunity to learn, implement and share a wealth
I believe that learning is hope for a better tomorrow and I am a champion for all students in VBCPS. As an effective teacher and a catalyst for positive change in education I have directly impacted students, parents, colleagues and the community. My desire for my students is to embrace each day with inquiry and to use each day as a learning opportunity so that they can offer their very best selves to our world.
Although I still have much to learn and many unchartered waters to travel, being named a Milken Family Foundation National Educator of the Year in 2009 was such a positive affirmation that I am riding the right wave in the field of education. There is nothing more rewarding in life than teaching and to teach at the Beach makes it even more magnificent.
Arlene Mante - Green Run High
Fabian Mante - Renaissance Academy
Having decided to teach at the Virginia Beach City Public Schools was one of the most rewarding endeavors we have experienced as a couple. We continuously enjoy enormous opportunities to grow professionally and personally by attending courses in classroom management, use of technology, pedagogical trends and innovations, and a lot more. We hone our expertise by taking content refresher courses being offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
We love the schools that we teach in. Our colleagues’ passion for teaching and the love for students are very contagious. Our workplace is our second home that encourages the pursuit of excellence and creativity in everything we do in the spirit of collegiality. Our building administrators are always there to nurture, support, encourage, and celebrate our little successes.
When we started, student discipline was a bit of a challenge. However, the training we attended, the guidance of our mentors, colleagues and administrators and our earnest desire to succeed in establishing rapport with our students, have all made student discipline manageable. More importantly, we also get the support from parents who are involved in their children’s education.
We believe that Virginia Beach is a good place to raise a family. Well-maintained parks can be found almost everywhere. The beach is very attractive during summer and the farms nearby have plenty of fresh produce. Places of worship and high tech healthcare facilities are numerous in the area. The school district offers several school programs that cater to the diverse educational needs of the children. We are fortunate that our child will experience one of the advanced academic programs in the fall.
We love to teach in Virginia Beach where opportunities for growth abound. What was once a place in our dream is now a reality.
Deborah Torres - Alanton Elementary
I love teaching for Virginia Beach City Public Schools and being part of a top-notch school division! From the moment you sign a contract, VBCPS supports and nurtures each of its teachers. Being provided a mentor, numerous and diverse professional development courses to choose from, and instructional resources are just a few reasons making VBCPS stand out from all the rest. For example, I have enjoyed being able to engage all of my students with interactive lessons on the new Promethean Board and document camera that were installed in my classroom this year. Each week I have the opportunity to learn fun, new ways to create flipcharts for my lessons through my professional learning community, and in turn I am able to model and teach my students using 21st century skills, technology, and most of all engaging them in the learning process.
In addition, I love teaching at Alanton Elementary School because of the support provided by the administrators, my colleagues, the PTA and community. The administrators are always there to listen, encourage, and guide me whenever I need assistance. They do this in a way that promotes a positive and supportive work environment. My colleagues are always willing to share ideas and material as we discuss instructional strategies, and ways to engage the students, infuse 21st century skills, and look at samples of student work. This true collaboration has made our school curriculum cohesive for the students and created a common language for everyone. We feel that we are all in this together for the betterment of our students, and take ownership that all the students belong to us. Therefore, we strive to support each other while keeping student achievement at the forefront. We are also fortunate to work closely with the PTA, local businesses, and volunteers from our community. For example, last year my school received over 5,000 hours from volunteers and many local businesses joined our team as partners in education in an effort to support school needs and recognizing student efforts and achievement.
So, if you are interested in joining a world-class organization with true team players focused on children, get in line to teach with the best in Virginia Beach!