RPS In Focus

RPS Shoutouts

One of the best ways to celebrate a teacher, bus driver, custodian — anyone at RPS — is to submit a shout-out. If you encounter someone wonderful at RPS, let us know so we can celebrate them. All you need to do is send an email to shoutouts@rvaschools.net. Thank you!

Shout-out to Corless Brown, Kawaida Carter, Rasheeda Edmundson, Rfia Jafri, Peggy Keene, Denita Taylor, Sharon Thomas, and Johnequa Young — our amazing instructional assistants at Bellevue Elementary! Their dedication, teamwork, and willingness to step up and fill in whenever needed make such a difference. They are the backbone that helps keep things running smoothly, and we appreciate all the effort, care, and flexibility they bring to Bellevue daily. Thank you for being  excellent team players and for everything you do for our students and staff!

A big shout-out to our amazing school psychologist, Dr. Marlene Gooding, for creating beautiful hats for the girls in Bellevue Elementary's fourth- and fifth-grade Girls Tea Time Empowerment Group! The girls genuinely cherish their time with our Wellness team every week.

I want to thank all the office managers and administrative assistants! You are incredibly welcoming and helpful—a special shout-out to Ms. Schoolfield at Linwood Holton. Not only is she always welcoming, but she knows everything! I can ask her about any student; she immediately knows their teacher and room number. I would also like to shout out Ms. Williams at Maymont Preschool. Even though I'm not a Maymont staff member, she stayed late to help me print and staple packets for my training the next day. You all truly go above and beyond!

Shout-out to our incredible reading interventionist, Michele Cadwallader, and math interventionist, Dr. Stephanie Hooks, for being proactive and responsive to data, efficiently reviewing it, and quickly adjusting intervention groups to meet student needs. On top of that, they consistently take on extra tasks to support our school as a whole. Their dedication to student success is truly appreciated!

Shout-out to the incredible Intensive Support team at Albert Hill Middle School! Mrs. Angela Chiles-Ellison is truly a class act and, together with Robinette Allen, brings unmatched care and dedication. Their diligence in data collection and unwavering commitment to supporting the needs of all students is remarkable. The patience and care they demonstrate go above and beyond, ensuring every student feels welcome and is treated with dignity and respect. What an outstanding example they set! Every Tiger, every day!

Shout-out to the Sixth-Grade team at Henderson Middle School (Raeshar Shelton, Gene Parris, Vaughn Quash, Elizabeth Deboeser, Jaykera Norfleet, Timothy Watts, Anthony Rodesney, Brittany Williams, Patricia Jeffries, Gretchen Yoder, Ashley Singleton, and Delmethia Bennett). This group of educators shows up for their students daily. I am proud to be their administrator. They hold themselves and their students to a high standard of excellence. It's evident in their bell-to-bell instruction, transitions, and team support of each other and me. Our Henderson students experience the best education has to offer each day. Thank you!

Thomas Jefferson High School extends a special thank you to all fall sports teams and coaches. From early summer to now, these teams have been involved in showing up and displaying Viking pride. We are incredibly proud of our Varsity Football team, who remains undefeated in the Colonial District and Region 3B.

A big shout-out to the Pink Out Speak Out committee for organizing such a successful event this past Saturday at Mary Scott Preschool! We are incredibly grateful to our community partners and staff members who made time in their busy schedules to join us in honoring the dedication of our school library to former staff member Rhonda Long. Together, we helped spread awareness about breast cancer, drug prevention, and domestic violence. Thank you all for your support!

I want to recognize and extend my most profound appreciation for Jamia Garrett, assistant principal at Huguenot High School. Her commitment to supporting students, even in unexpected situations, goes beyond the call of duty. Thank you for your unwavering support and care for all of your students!

Mr. Panoncio, aka Mr. P, has the most contagious energy and attitude. He works extremely hard to ensure that his students at Miles Jones are greeted with kindness and respect. Mr. P's classroom screams teaching and learning. Thank you, Mr. P, for all that you do!

I want to shout out the amazing staff, faculty and community at Broad Rock Elementary School for helping make our Heritage Night a huge success! Our LIEP team (Jenny Harlow and Melissa Alston), Community Engagement Committee, and Counseling/Mental Health teams were instrumental in planning the event and bringing bilingual announcements to our students throughout Hispanic Heritage Month. Erin Callahan and Rachel Arrowsmith are to thank for the beautification of the school to reflect all of the nations of our community! We could only have done with such a supportive administration: Ms. Teya Green, Ms. Lisa Williams, and Ms. Ryan Bennett! Thank you! Thank you so much to Ms. Raja Mason and the PTA for helping organize and fund some of the activities for the event and to everyone who hosted a table at the event! Thank you to Ms. Caroline Crawley and Ms. Tori Pierson for helping organize and manage the behind-the-scenes paperwork! Lastly, thank you to everyone for volunteering their time to help with the event or support by attending! ¡Mil gracias a todos!

I want to take the time to shout out SNS staff at Lucille Brown — Julia Logan and Shiquita Loving. Ms. Logan greets the students in the morning for breakfast with a smile and always tells them to have a great start to their day. Ms. Loving serves them lunch with the same positive vibe while Ms. Anderson calls each student by name. Shout-out to the most amazing department in RPS — the SNS department. We rock!  

Thank you to all RPS educators who joined cyber circle lessons during Digital Citizenship Week. Congratulations to our grade-level teachers who won our drawing: Desiree Primus (Fairfield Court), Lisa Deputy (Barack Obama), Camey Porter (Albert Hill), Nehemiah Anderson (Lucille Brown), and Gayle Brown and Pamela Lewis from RCEEA.

In observance of National Writing Day, ninety-three short essays were submitted across the Division. Congratulations to the winners of the"#WhyIWrite on Social Media" contest. First place - Silas Hollowell, Richmond Community; Second place - Christopher Martinez, Huguenot; Third place - Shaniyah Richardson, Huguenot; and Honorable Mention - Tyvell Pollard, Richmond Success Academy.

I want to give props to Mr. Parris at Henderson Middle School. He is a truly gifted teacher who juggles classroom management, connecting with each student, keeping engagement high, and leveling daily content. Amazing.

A huge shout-out to Robbie Trayer and his team in Facilities for repairing the concrete sidewalk and ensuring the safety of our staff and students at Mary Scott Preschool. Your hard work is truly appreciated and never goes unnoticed! Also, a big thank you to Brandon Rhem for his swift action in completing repairs in several classrooms at Mary Scott. Your dedication is greatly appreciated!

I want to thank Ms. Walker, an instrumental part of the Lois Harrison-Jones Kindergarten team. Last week, my son was home sick with a fever and missed a few days of school. At the end of the second day, when he came with me to pick up his older sisters from school, Ms. Walker presented him with an envelope filled with a dozen cards from her and my son's classmates and friends that she helped them write, wishing him to get better soon and be able to come back to class. I wish I had a picture of his smile when we read those notes together!  Thank you, Ms. Walker, for cheering my son up when he was down and the other million things you do daily to make LHJ students feel special!

Shout-out to Ms. Sierra Taylor, Kindergarten teacher at Linwood Holton Elementary School! Ms. Taylor is always working hard and using her talents to support her students in the best ways for them, individually and as a whole!

Mary Scott Preschool would like to thank the following individuals who made our Pink Out Speak Out event a success: Mrs. Holsinger, Ms. Bre, Ms. Brooks, Mrs. M, Ms. Foster, Mrs. Kelli, Ms. Boyd, Mrs. Addai-Mensah, Mr. Yoel, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Rudd, and Dr. Hicks. In addition, we’re sending a big shout-out to Darryl Williams from the Office of Engagement. Thank you for all of your advice, help, and support in the final execution of our event. Thank you, Dr. Leslie Wiggins, for your generosity and support. Lastly, thank you to School Board member Kenya Gibson for attending our festival.

I want to give a shout-out to all of the parent volunteers and staff who helped to make PHSSA’s third annual Camp Mighty Oaks happen. It takes a village to pull off an amazing camping trip for our fourth and fifth graders. A special shout-out to Ms. Chamblin, Ms. Shrader, and Mrs. Hamlet for doing bus duty, ensuring students and parent volunteers made it safely to and from Pocahontas State Park. Last but not least, a huge shout-out to Mrs. Phillips for helping to make sure all food, equipment, and reservations were taken care of. She is a true blessing to PHSSA.  

Kudos to Ms. Inez "Tina" Tidwell for the hard work she exemplifies daily at Richmond Success Academy. She embodies teamwork and ensures everyone has an outstanding balance in their day.

Kelvin Green, the extraordinary science teacher at Lucille Brown Middle, is nothing short of a miracle in our school community. With a heart that carries the wisdom of a preacher, he works tirelessly to diffuse tensions among students, soothing fiery tempers and grounding troubled spirits. His magnetic presence inspires students and faculty alike, embodying the essence of a true leader. And let’s not forget his remarkable daughter, Sofia Green, who shines brilliantly in the English department, captivating the hearts of her students and elevating their love for literature to new heights! Together, they are a dynamic duo, leaving an indelible mark on everyone lucky to cross their paths at Lucille Brown.