Congratulations to our winners!
We’re so excited to announce our next round of teacher and staff awards from Augusta County Public School and Grace Christian School!
These awards go to outstanding elementary, middle, and high school staff who have show superior dedication and determination in their role.
Each winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Baja Bean Company in Staunton.
Help us celebrate our third round of winners from a very deserving group of nominees!
From Augusta County Public Schools, we congratulate:
Elementary School Award Winner: Sarah Kite
Position: Instructional Aide
School: Augusta County Schools - Stuarts Draft Elementary School
Recent superior dedication and unique determination in fulfilling job responsibilities: Sarah Kite has exceptional dedication and determination. She works with our most challenging students with a level of patience and kindness that is “super human”. Sarah creates bonds with students that allow struggling students to have more success at school. Recently, one of her students was not coming to school regularly. The mom reported that he was fighting her and wanting to stay home. The teacher and myself (principal) tried to work with the mom to find strategies to get him to school. I decided to go to the house and see if the student would come with me. This visit was unsuccessful. I then returned to the school and asked Miss Kite to join me in going to the home to pick up the student and bring him to school. The student clung to his mom for a moment, but then willingly came with Miss Kite to school. Miss Kite thien continued to help the student transition by riding the bus to meet him. This was also successful and the child is now coming to school on his own.
This was what another staff member had to say about Sarah and her work with our students…
Sarah Kite is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. The needs of some of our students are challenging. Each day when I see or talk to Sarah, she is so positive and gives 100% effort to helping the students she works with. No matter what has happened the day before or even earlier that day, she gives the students a fresh start each time they work together. I admire her kindness and dedication to all SDES students.
Middle School Award Winner: Ben Wyrick
Position: Technology Education Teacher
School: Augusta County Schools - Stewart Middle School
Recent superior dedication and unique determination in fulfilling job responsibilities: Ben will complete his first full year teaching at Stewart Middle School, this year. Ben brings a great deal of experience and excitement to his position from a variety of previous nontraditional teaching experiences. He has dedicated himself and his classroom to making it the best possible learning space despite the unique challenges of not only teaching middle school but teaching during a pandemic. He has developed many new and exciting ways for students to discover and be intrigued with things like 3D printing, photography, drones, sound engineering, videography, as well as many traditional shop skills. He has attracted the attention of our Central Office Staff as well as many of his peers with his creativity. As a result they want to know what cool things are happening in his classroom. He has a unique ability to share his excitement for a variety of topics with his students and in turn they become engaged with exciting new challenges. The best thing about Ben is that he has maintained his excitement for his class and works very hard to build excitement despite many unchosen obstacles. He is a wonderful asset to the students at Stewart Middle School!
High School Award Winner: Mrs. Kimberley Long
Position: Counselor/Counseling Coordinator
School: Augusta County Schools - Wilson Memorial High School
Recent superior dedication and unique determination in fulfilling job responsibilities: Mrs. Long’s commitment to our students and staff this year has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Not only did she create and manage a master schedule like no other (A Day, B Day, Virtual), but she also rescheduled students and classes to support 24 virtual-only sections to provide more focused instruction and support to all students during the second semester. As an endorsed Spanish Teacher, she also volunteered to teach two Spanish I sections this year. This commitment, in addition to her numerous counseling responsibilities, enabled us to continue our tradition of providing foreign language instruction for our students. Mrs. Long has been an inspiration to all of us here at WMHS this year. She comes to work each day with dedication in her heart and a smile on her face.
From Grace Christian School, we congratulate:
Elementary School Award Winner: Shelly Weeks
Position: Pre-K Teacher
School: Grace Christian School - Elementary School
Recent superior dedication and unique determination in fulfilling job responsibilities: Shelly is the type of employee one wants to clone if that were possible! She works tirelessly to make her Prekindergarten class engaging, educational, and safe. Her students know she not only loves them but wants to continually challenge them to grow academically, relationally, and spiritually. Her students could not have a better foundation to succeed in school. She is also willing to do many things behind the scenes to bless our families and other staff members. When asked to help in critical times, she never fails to cover whatever is asked of her. That is the kind of servant who blesses our GCS family daily!
Elementary School Award Winner: Mrs. Gaby Urgo
Position: Foreign Language & Bible
School: Grace Christian School - High School
Recent superior dedication and unique determination in fulfilling job responsibilities: Mrs. Urgo is constantly seeking ways to improve her craft and to help GCS improve the quality of education and ministry that we provide to our students. In addition to her heavy teaching load, Mrs. Urgo also advises the National Honor Society. Even with all of these responsibilities, she is very flexible with helping cover someone else's class or taking on a special task. Most importantly, she seizes upon any opportunity to come alongside a student to offer additional academic assistance, provide spiritual guidance, or to just lend a listening ear.
Congratulations to all of our nominees and winners!
