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: 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…

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…