Staunton educator recognized as regional teacher of the year

Patrick Hite, Staunton News Leader
Updated ·3 min read
Brandy Johnson, a 7th-grade teacher at Shellburne Middle School, was named Region V teacher of the year. She is the third Staunton teacher in the last five years to receive that honor.
Brandy Johnson, a 7th-grade teacher at Shellburne Middle School, was named Region V teacher of the year. She is the third Staunton teacher in the last five years to receive that honor.

STAUNTON — Monday afternoon, standing in the cafeteria at Shelburne Middle School, Superintendent Garett Smith joked that when he presented the regional teacher of the year award to Staunton High School's Lori Peltonen last year he didn't think he'd ever find someone less comfortable with the attention. Smith said he may have found someone this year.

Shelburne seventh-grade teacher Brandy Johnson was recognized as the Region 5 teacher of the year Monday, the third time in four years a Staunton teacher has received that honor. Being in the spotlight is not Johnson's favorite thing.

"I'm grateful for it, but I do not think I deserve it," Johnson said. "There are so many wonderful teachers. This does mean a lot to me. I'm just overwhelmed."

Smith said teachers don't do this for the accolades.

"They do it for the kids," he said. "They do it because they have a high standard for themselves and a high standard for everybody else."

Johnson, a language arts teacher, has been at Shelburne for 18 years after teaching in Norfolk for two years. She was also named Shelburne and Staunton City Schools teacher of the year this year.

"She's always a very positive person and loves every kid that comes into her classroom," said Shelburne principal Lisa Warren. "She doesn't make excuses for them. She treats all kids the way you would want kids to be treated and sets high expectations for them so they believe in themselves."

Warren said she's never heard a single student say anything negative about Johnson or her class.

"The kids love her," Warren said. "And that's super hard in middle school."

An application was submitted to the Virginia Department of Education in January, which included essays highlighting accomplishments, educational philosophies, and community activities, as well as letters of recommendation. In this application, one of Johnson's colleagues, Bonny Strassler, wrote, “Brandy sees reluctant readers as a challenge and works hard to find just the right book for them, getting to know their interests and personalities, building trust, and student success."

The award was presented Monday at a faculty meeting. Virginia's Deputy Secretary of Education, McKenzie Snow, was present to make the surprise announcement.

Staunton City Schools Superintendent Garett Smith presents the Region V teacher of the year to Shelburne's Brandy Johnson Monday afternoon. Also present was Virginia's Deputy Secretary of Education, McKenzie Snow.
Staunton City Schools Superintendent Garett Smith presents the Region V teacher of the year to Shelburne's Brandy Johnson Monday afternoon. Also present was Virginia's Deputy Secretary of Education, McKenzie Snow.

In addition to Johnson, seven other educators were named regional teacher of the year Monday:

  • John R. Aughenbaugh, a career and technical education instructor at New Kent High in New Kent County (Region 1).

  • Craig T. Reynolds, a pre-K-grade 5 teacher at Magruder Elementary in York County (Region 2).

  • Amy L. Gregory, a 6th-8th grade special education teacher at Hamilton Holmes Middle in King William County (Region 3).

  • Jeffery W. Keller, a 9th-12th grade social studies teacher at John Handley High in Winchester (Region 4).

  • Jennifer M. Hatch, a grade 7 mathematics teacher at Benjamin Franklin Middle in Franklin County (Region 6).

  • Melanie P. Smith, a pre-K-grade 5 library media specialist at Chilhowie Elementary in Smyth County (Region 7).

  • Tequisha L. Stiles, an 8th grade English teacher at James Solomon Russell Middle in Brunswick County (Region 8).

The Virginia Department of Education committee that chose the regional winners will reconvene in Richmond later this spring to interview eight educators and select the 2024 Virginia Teacher of the Year.

Smith said having the regional teacher of the year come from Staunton three of the last four years says a lot about the school division.

"It says that, obviously, we have great teachers," Smith said, "but more than that, we really celebrate our teachers and try to engage in recognition of them. Nothing makes a bigger difference than a great teacher."

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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton educator recognized as regional teacher of the year