Five John Tyler Community College students visited area state legislators Jan. 29 and Feb. 11 during the general session. Above, from left, Matthew Holmes, Llana Sidbury, Luis Colon, college president Edward “Ted” Raspiller (back), Del. Lashrecse Aird, Jordan Nurney and Alicia Alvarez.
“You’re a reminder of just how blessed we are.” With those words, Lionel Richie helped send Thomas Dale High senior Shayla Winn to Hollywood, Calif. Winn is headed to her fourth “American Idol” audition after winning her Golden Ticket during her most recent audition, which was held in Louisville, Ky. Winn’s performance aired on ABC-TV Wednesday evening, March 6, in which she wowed Richie and the show’s two other judges, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan. Winn, an 18-year-old Midlothian resident and student in Thomas Dale’s Specialty Center for the Arts, sang Andra Day’s “Rise Up” in a 4-minute, 45-second segment.…
Bertram Ashe talks with Matoaca High junior Zion Porer on Feb. 19 in the high school library. Ashe read from his memoir, ‘Twisted: My Dread Chronicles,’ which explores black male identity, black vernacular and black hair. Ashe is an English professor at the University of Richmond. He spoke at the school as part of Black History Month activities.
Meghan Wilberger Despite her short time as a teacher, hard work has already resulted in Meghan Wilberger being named Teacher of the Year at Falling Creek Elementary School. Wilberger, who has only been teaching for five years, said she was surprised by the honor. Wilberger didn’t know what she wanted to do when she was younger, but knew she wanted to work with kids. In high school, she was in a club that would go to the elementary school in the morning and work with the students on any subject. For her college internship, Wilberger worked with second-grade students and…
Paula Huffman is the principal at the new Enon Elementary School, which opened in January. Enon Elementary reopened earlier this year with a new building and now has a new principal: Paula Huffman. She began working at the 530-student school Jan. 28 and notes that the school’s student body will be over 700 in the fall due to redistricting. It is the Georgia native’s fourth job as a principal. Huffman previously worked in Cobb County, Ga., and in Loudoun and Williamsburg-James City counties. “Leadership development is crucial to ensuring that there are leaders ready to assume roles as other leaders…
Longtime Matoaca High teacher Craig D. Nixon was sentenced last week to 24 months in jail with all but six months suspended for two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The sentence came down after a plea agreement resulted in two felonies being downgraded. Nixon, 51, taught at the Chesterfield County school for 18 years and had no prior criminal record. He was originally charged with indecent liberties with a 16-year-old girl who was a student at the school. As part of his sentence, Nixon – a Midlothian resident – was required to complete a psychosexual…
Carrie Coyner By a 3-2 vote with Carrie Coyner and Dianne Smith dissenting, the Chesterfield School Board last week voted to delay the expansion of the district’s Center Based Gifted Program for one year. The decision means that it will be another year before students in the Bermuda District have a gifted education program in their area. Currently, these students must make long bus rides to Matoaca Middle School. Coyner made an impassioned plea to stay on schedule with the program at Carver, citing the need for minority students – black boys in particular – to have access to such…
ABOVE LEFT: School counselor Anne Cabell Dougherty stands with students in front of a ‘Kindness Tree.’ Bottom, from left, Andre Ascencio, Gabriel West and Savannah Gaskins; back, Claire White, Ahomeah Perry, Jayvone Richardson, Jassir Tucker and Frantasia Soler. CHESTER – Anne Cabell Dougherty wanted to promote kindness and respect at C.C. Wells Elementary School, so she and others implemented Kindness Week at the school. “I believe it’s important for kids to promote kindness in the school building and for it to trickle into the community,” the first-year school counselor said. “It’s promoting school-wide respect. I want to spread kindness to…
The Knights of Thomas Dale were well represented at the All-County Symphonic Band performance on Jan. 11. The concert was held at Manchester High School, under the direction of guest conductor Robert Szabo. Front, from left: Alison Masi (flute), Naki Tillar-Goode (oboe), Kelli Schlatter (clarinet), Micah Bruce (bass clarinet), Zikeria Gray (tuba) and Savannah Moody (contra clarinet). Back row: Eduardo Suarez (alto saxophone), Daniel Lotti (tenor saxophone), Caleb Hepburn (trombone), Joseph Rutherford (french horn), Nicholas Dancey (trombone), Taylor Johnston (trumpet), William Keene (french horn) and Jacob Kern (bassoon).
The people in Nichole Fowler’s life knew she would be a teacher even though she resisted. Fowler said she likes to tell people what to do and show them how to do things correctly, so they thought she would be a great teacher. She had different plans, however. Fowler originally wanted to be a lawyer. She received her undergraduate degree in math from Virginia State University and a master’s degree in secondary education from Grand Canyon University. “I feel that God knew what I was supposed to do, but I was fighting back [because] everyone thought that I was going…