Open High School educator named RPS Teacher of the Year at annual awards ceremony

Clary Carleton, an English teacher at Open High School, has been named Richmond Public Schools’ 2017 Teacher of the Year. Carleton and other Teacher of the Year nominees were recognized during a special award ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Richmond Thursday evening. Carleton has taught English at Open since 1999.

“Teaching became something I felt called to do because I realized its centrality for individual and social progress,” she said. “I began to understand the transformative power of education.” She says her students are “expected to reach toward their best selves” and encouraged to take “intellectual risks.”

Carleton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history from George Mason University and a master’s degree in English literature from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and the first city representative of the Yale National Initiative for Richmond, an intensive collaboration among Yale faculty members and educators designed to strengthen teaching in public schools.

For being named Richmond’s 2017 Teacher of the Year, Carleton received a $1,000 cash award, an iPad Air, and a complimentary one-night stay at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Richmond hotel.

Gilbert Carter, a mathematics teacher at Boushall Middle School, was named first runner-up. A former engineer, Carter left corporate America to begin teaching at Boushall in 2009. Among his many contributions to the school, Carter has served as a new teacher mentor, eighth grade team leader, schoolwide leadership team member, co-chair of the math department and head coach of the girls’ basketball team. He led the middle school girls’ basketball team to its first championship during the 2014-2015 school year. Carter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Tech.

Chele Miller, a math and science teacher at Miles Jones Elementary School was named second runner-up. An educator for 10 years, Miller credits an illness as a child as the driving force for pursuing a career in teaching. In her application, Miller recalled a teacher publicly shaming her in class, which inspired her to begin visualizing her own classroom where all students would feel welcomed. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and master’s degree in teaching from James Madison University, and has served as a Mind Games coach, Saturday Academy teacher and member of the Miles Jones’ Multicultural and Career Day Committee.

Carter and Miller received $750 and $500 cash awards, respectively.

“We are proud to recognize these outstanding educators and honor their tireless service and dedication to the students and families of our school district,” said School Superintendent Dr. Dana T. Bedden. “We extend our sincerest gratitude to each of our nominees for representing the best in our profession.”

Other top ten finalists include Sandra Motley, Linwood Holton Elementary School; Ester Orellana, Huguenot High School; Karen Barber-Olajuwon, George Mason Elementary School; Pamela Markie, Amelia Street School; Melanie Parker, Bellevue Elementary School; Jennifer Ramachandran, William Fox Elementary School; and Kathy Paschall, Franklin Military Academy.

Criteria used to evaluate the nominees include contributions to the field of education, demonstration of innovative practices, effective school-community relations and the use of activities and strategies that result in improved instruction.