Ten Henrico County teachers recognized for classroom excellence with grants, awards

The Community Foundation has recognized 10 Henrico County teachers for outstanding instruction for 2018. Four HCPS teachers won the REB Award for Teaching Excellence and six additional teachers were finalists. The winners received grants ranging from $10,000 to $12,000, which they will use to become even better instructors, traveling to places such as Europe and Africa to continue their love of learning and pursue cutting-edge study in their fields. Across the Richmond area, a total of 16 winners and 18 finalists were selected from among the teachers nominated by students, parents, and colleagues.

The foundation’s awards identify, recognize and support teaching excellence in the Richmond area, and are given to nominees who have distinguished themselves through inspiring performance in the classroom.

The 2018 award recipients are:

• Caroline Canning, Henrico High School: $11,500 to study the effects of apartheid, and the impact of Nelson Mandela and the social justice movement in South Africa. Canning will also use the grant to explore the culture and beauty of Zambia in pursuit of literary connections.
• Robert Meister, Glen Allen High School: $10,000 to study improvisational handpan music and techniques with international musicians from France, Portugal, and the U.S. to further enhance lessons in literature and writing.
• Nichole Gross, Fairfield Middle School: $12,000 to explore the cultures, landscapes, languages, and arts that influence world literature and American culture. Gross will travel to England, France, Italy, Spain, Ghana, and Morocco.
• Robin Milwit, Greenwood Elementary School: $11,500 to study emerging technologies that help develop students’ social and emotional skills by visiting schools and educational technology companies in Finland. The grant will also pay for Milwit to attend national technology conferences in Florida and California, and to visit the Fred Rogers Center in Pennsylvania.

The finalists, each of whom received a $750 grant, are:

• Sarah Catlett, Trevvett Elementary School
• Jeannine Chewning, Hermitage High School
• Catherine Latcovich, Deep Run High School
• Cristina Lynn, Shady Grove Elementary School
• Joseph Palen, Deep Run High School
• Kristen Schemmel, Kaechele Elementary School