RPS News Details

Dear RPS Family,

I am absolutely thrilled to share with all of you that Ms. Rebecca McCray, a reading interventionist at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary, has been selected as the 2025 Richmond Public Schools Teacher of the Year!

As you’ve come to know, despite my math teaching background, I’ve become obsessed with reading. That’s why I spend about 30 percent of my time now observing literacy instruction in our elementary schools. One of the many benefits of me doing so is that I’ve had the opportunity to get to know many of our literacy coaches and reading interventionists — truly phenomenal people like Ms. McCray. I’ve seen Ms. McCray in action and I can tell you firsthand that she’s an instructional rock star who is beloved by her students. It’s no surprise that OGBES had 10 point gains in reading and writing last year!

I’d like to take this opportunity to also highlight this year’s finalists for Teacher of the Year!

• Laurie Gingrich, Barack Obama Elementary

• Teresa Hicks, Mary Scott Preschool

• Megan Siepka, Chimborazo Elementary

• Andrea Tucker, Virgie Binford Education Center

• Heather York, Patrick Henry School of Science and the Arts

Being Teacher of the Year is an often misunderstood thing. I remember when I was named National Teacher of the Year in 2005, people would ask me: “So, what makes you the best teacher in America?” I was quick to reply: “I’m not.” These awards simply shine a spotlight on educators who represent the thousands of others who do phenomenal — and unheralded — work each and every day. Having spent some time with Ms. McCray, I know she feels the same.

And so, let me take this opportunity to recognize ALL of our teachers. The brand-new ones who might still be trying to figure out this whole “classroom management” thing. The veterans who seem to manage everything with just “the look.” And everyone in between. We are all forever in their debt.

One of the easiest and most powerful things you can do to support a teacher is to simply say ‘thank you’. So here’s my challenge to the RPS family: I want you to send a deluge of teacher shout-outs right now to

shoutouts@rvaschools.net. We’ll print them all in Friday’s issue of RPS Direct. Shout-outs cost nothing, but they are invaluable to the recipients. And, this year, for the first time, many of our RPS Shines Awards — announced at our RPS Shines Gala held in May — begin with a public nomination process. You can nominate a phenomenal teacher, staff member, or principal here.

Don’t delay!

With great appreciation,

Jason