Schools

Meadowbrook High School graduates 350

By Caleb M Soptelean on June 12, 2018 Schools

Meadowbrook High School led off a series of three graduations June 7 at the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University. School board chairman John Erbach said the class – which walked onto the floor with many smiles and much cheering – was one of the most impressive he’s seen. Erbach encouraged the group to find their limits and prove people wrong. “If you try to find your limits, you will be impressed with what you achieve in your life,” he said. “Our day-to-day actions will determine our future,” salutatorian Tamia Penn told her fellow graduates. “Success is a process. It’s…

Thomas Dale High graduates 552

By Caleb M Soptelean on June 12, 2018 Schools

The 110th commencement of Thomas Dale High School saw 552 graduates receive their diplomas before a large crowd at the Siegel Center. Interim superintendent Donald Fairheart noted the school received platinum donor status for donating $6,675 toward “The Cure Starts Now,” an anti-cancer fundraising organization. School board member Carrie Coyner encouraged graduates via video to “bless because you are blessed; love because you are loved.” Madeline Renault was valedictorian. Salutatorian Makayla Callender told graduates that “character is who you are; reputation is what others think of you.” Quoting poet Maya Angelou, Callender said, “If you don’t like something, change it;…

Event encourages students to read during the summer

By Caleb M Soptelean on June 5, 2018 Libraries, Schools

Trying to help avert a “summer slide” was the driving force behind last week’s first-ever Summer Reading Palooza. The event, which was organized by three librarians at Carver Middle School, drew students from 13 local schools. Stephanie Stargardt, head librarian at Carver, said the event was organized to get “our feeder pattern schools together … to celebrate literacy and promote our summer reading programs.” Students played games, and three authors donated signed copies of their books, she said. The Chesterfield County Public Library sent two staffers to support the event, Stargardt said. She added that the Chester and Enon libraries…

English teacher uses literature to help teach social skills

By Danielle Ozbat on June 5, 2018 Community, Schools, Teachers

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…

Rudd completes training program

By Press release on May 29, 2018 Community, Schools

Shane Rudd of Chesterfield recently completed the Southside Virginia Community College Power Line Worker Training Program. The 11-week program provides both classroom and hands-on training in safety, climbing techniques, electrical theory, aerial framing, rigging, Operation Utility Service Equipment and Commercial Driver’s License Training. SVCC offers the Power Line Worker class in Blackstone Virginia at the Occupational/Technical Center in Pickett Park.

Theater background helps in classroom with fourth-graders

By Danielle Ozbat on May 29, 2018 Schools, Teachers

Before she decided to become a teacher, Hillary Mekanik was a theater major at VCU. After two years, she decided she’d rather use theater as a hobby or skill and said she sort of “fell into teaching.” Mekanik teaches fourth grade at C.C. Wells Elementary. She said her days as a theater major still come in handy when preparing lessons. “I feel very lucky to have a job that allows me to use hobbies and skills I’ve grown up with. My theater plays a big role, and it keeps me going,” she said. Mekanik said she sticks to tradition in…

John Tyler workforce center to be named after Talley

By Press release on May 29, 2018 Community, Schools

At a May 18 groundbreaking ceremony at John Tyler Community College, college president Edward “Ted” Raspiller announced the college’s new workforce center will be named the William H. Talley III Center for Workforce Development. Petersburg resident Talley is a longtime advocate of the college. The project, which will renovate the Nicholas Center and Bird Hall, will begin this summer and is slated to last 14 months.

Lane leaving, school board to appoint Fairheart interim superintendent

By Press release on May 24, 2018 Schools

The Chesterfield County School Board announced last week that it intended to appoint former Middlesex County School Superintendent Donald “Rusty” Fairheart as Chesterfield County Public Schools’ interim superintendent during a special-called meeting Tuesday, May 29. Fairheart will replace James Lane, who is leaving to become the state superintendent of public instruction. Lane has been in the post since July 1, 2016. Fairheart has served as Chesterfield County Public Schools’ chief of staff with oversight of day-to-day operations since joining the school division in 2016. Prior to joining the school division, he was executive director for the multijurisdictional Southeastern Cooperative Education…

Commanders honored for philanthropy at John Tyler

By Press release on May 22, 2018 Community, Schools

CHESTER – J. Richard “Dick” and Jeannine Commander recently received the 13th annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy, honoring their work with John Tyler Community College. Nominated for the award by the John Tyler Community College Foundation, the Commanders were recognized during a luncheon ceremony April 17. For more than 20 years, the Commanders have invested their time, talent and treasure to help Tyler students succeed. One example of their dedication is the Commander Family Scholarship, which was established in honor of the Commanders’ daughters. “Jeannine and Dick Commander embody a commitment to community,” said Edward “Ted” Raspiller, president…

Down to a science: Brown enjoys teaching on his own terms

By Danielle Ozbat on May 22, 2018 Schools, Teachers

As a science teacher for the last 22 years, Walter Brown has had many students, one of whom was his oldest son, Reid. “That was weird. He would call me Dad or Mr. Brown, and now he’s a [high school] senior so it’s kind of cool seeing him graduate,” Brown said. His youngest son was not interested in being one of his students, and Brown joked that he was not allowed to be in the same school with his son. Brown is currently the seventh-and-eighth-grade Center Based Gifted science teacher at Matoaca Middle School. Having decided to become a teacher…

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