Browsing: Teachers

At Chesterfield Career and Technical Center at Courthouse, Scott Steinruck is known as the “Oorah” guy. The former Marine said he tried to bring the Marine Corps into the classroom, but quickly realized that didn’t work. He instead used motivational techniques he learned in the Marine Corps to help motivate his students, but also learned how to temper that with compassion. Steinruck went on to manage different companies after he left the Marines and was involved in information technology when it was a burgeoning industry. Working in IT was an easy transition for him because he used to take things…

As a gardener and environmentalist, Jennifer Swartz brings her love of nature into the classroom. She is an “exceptional education” teacher at Curtis Elementary. After the school received a grant a year and a half ago, a sensory garden was created. The garden also boasts vegetable and herb and butterfly and bee gardens, Swartz said. “The students like the gardens in general, and they like planting in the garden,” she said. “They really enjoy when we’re able to go outside and just do even writing or reading or math.” Swartz is the faculty coordinator for the Curtis Conservationists Club, which…

Stephanie O’Neil teaches ninth- and 10th-grade English at Carver College and Career Academy, but her journey started in the film industry. She wanted to be a screenwriter and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream. She spent three years working for a talent manager. However, she wanted a more creative career so she pursued teaching. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on film studies from Messiah College and completed additional coursework for her teaching certification. “I honestly love it,” she said. “I can’t imagine not teaching high school. It matched all my interests, and it’s…

     ABOVE: Chantel Wilson, Jerry Bettis Sr. and Ronald Howell Virginia State University recently added three new personnel to the Cooperative Extension and the College of Agriculture. Chantel Wilson joined as a 4-H STEAM specialist, Jerry Bettis Sr. was hired as forestry specialist, and Ronald Howell rejoined the College of Agriculture as director of Operations Management. “We are thrilled to welcome two new specialists to our Extension family,” College of Agriculture dean M. Ray McKinnie said. “The addition of Dr. Chantel Wilson will enable us to enhance our capacity to engage youth in agriculture through our 4-H program. Dr. Jerry…

As a teacher with 22 years in the field, Alycia Allen has taught kindergarten, second, third and fourth grades and multi-age classes. Her preference is K through 2 because they are interested in learning. “You can actually observe them growing and learning,” she said. “They’re just excited to learn new things, so I like the younger kids.” Allen has been teaching at O.B. Gates Elementary for 12 years. She taught kindergarten for two years and first grade for 10. However, her career could have been different. She loved computers, so she majored in computer information systems in college, however, her…

ABOVE: Tracey McDorman, a physical education teacher at C.C. Wells Elementary, instructs some fifth-graders. Becoming a PE teacher was a healthy change for Tracey McDorman. She is the physical education teacher at C.C. Wells Elementary, but McDorman started out teaching second grade at W.W. Gordon Elementary 12 years ago. After nine years at Gordon, McDorman was ready for something new, but she was not sure if she wanted to do a different grade level. A colleague suggested that she would like PE because she had always been active with her classes. McDorman has been at Wells for three years. Although she…

When Adrienne Blanton wrote a paper in seventh grade on wanting to be a sixth-grade math teacher, she had no idea her educational journey would lead to her being a high school principal. Blanton, who replaces Laura Hebert, is only the sixth principal at the school since 1978. Blanton majored in math at Longwood University. She taught sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade math for 12 years at Salem Church Middle School, and was named the school’s teacher of the year in 2008. She went on to be dean of students at Bird for three years, assistant principal for six and associate…

Rachel Watson was a finance major in her third year of college when the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, occurred, and it made her stop and think about her life. She had always wanted to be a teacher, but changed her mind after she had been talked out of pursuing it. Watson decided to finish her finance degree. After graduating and working at a mortgage company, she realized she still wanted to be a teacher so she went to Temple University and eventually got her master’s degree in secondary math. Watson teaches eighth-grade algebra at Elizabeth Davis Middle School,…

Chester resident Anne Canipe is headed to South Korea this month. Canipe, a teacher at Cosby High School, was invited to participate in a week-long geography education conference and field study in the northeast Asian country. The group with which Canipe is traveling is made up of 14 teachers from throughout the United States. Each teaches Advanced Placement Human Geography, which transfers as college credit to many colleges and universities. Canipe and three other teachers were chosen to make a presentation during the conference. Their works will be published for conference attendees. Geography activities on the Korean Peninsula will enable…

Brian McGill knew he wanted to become a teacher when he was a sophomore in high school. When he was going through difficult times he had influential teachers who were there for him, and he wanted to “pay it forward” by becoming a teacher. In addition, he felt he could relate to kids well. McGill has been teaching English for 22 years. He taught in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey before coming to Virginia. He spent the first 12 years of his career teaching Advanced Placement Literature in high school, but switched to middle school when he moved to…

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