CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — Each year Chesterfield students, faculty, and staff come together and nominate the county’s best teachers for the Teacher of the Year award. The award honors teachers who represent the best in the Commonwealth.
Art teacher Rachel Burgett was named Chesterfield’s Teacher of the Year and Chesterfield’s Elementary School Teacher of Year. The VCU graduate majored in interior design and art education. In the past she coordinated and taught youth and family art programs at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Teresa Hockenberry was named Chesterfield’s Middle School Teacher of the Year. Hockenberry is the library media specialist at Tomahawk Creek Middle School.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Harding University and then received a library media degree from VCU.
Renee Serrao was named Chesterfield’s High School Teacher of the Year.
Serrao teaches social studies, with a focus on U.S. and Virginia government, at Cosby High School. She also teaches AP U.S. government and politics.
She is a graduate from the University of Virginia where she earned her bachelors and masters degrees.
Renee Serrao
“In every school and at every level, certain teachers stand out,” Chesterfield Superintendent Marcus Newsome said. “These teachers demonstrate care and compassion…and do the extra things necessary to help move our students toward success.”
Here are the Teachers of the Year from Chesterfield County Public Schools:
Elementary schools
Rachel Burgett is Chesterfield’s Teacher of the Year, Chesterfield’s Elementary School Teacher of the Year and Greenfield Elementary’s Teacher of the Year.
Bellwood Elementary — Kristal Zink
Bensley Elementary — Laura Schultze
Beulah Elementary — Jill Baskerville
Bon Air Elementary — Pamela Kobza
Chalkley Elementary — Ellie Gillette
Marguerite Christian Elementary — Terri Davis
Clover Hill Elementary — Teena Stuller
Crenshaw Elementary — Elizabeth O’Meara
Crestwood Elementary — Sarah Creamer
Curtis Elementary — Erin Medlin
Davis Elementary — Keasha Hunt
Ecoff Elementary — Gwen Heningburg
Enon Elementary — Rebecca Liggitt
Ettrick Elementary — Heather Menzel
Evergreen Elementary — Alison Sheppard
Falling Creek Elementary — Shannon Corbett
Gates Elementary — Kara Collins
Gordon Elementary — Sandy Albert
Grange Hall Elementary — Ruth Palczynski
Greenfield Elementary — Rachel Burgett
Harrowgate Elementary — Traci Link
Hening Elementary — Lynda McCarty
Hopkins Elementary — Amanda Hayes
Jacobs Road Elementary — Amanda Rodes
Matoaca Elementary — Katelyn Brophy
Providence Elementary — Joanna Fincher
Reams Road Elementary — Olivia Ngugi
Robious Elementary — Ann Noack
Salem Church Elementary — Meghan Tarabay
Elizabeth Scott Elementary — Michelle Kessler-Dillard
Alberta Smith Elementary — Beth Davis
Spring Run Elementary — Charmaine Sowers
Swift Creek Elementary — Karole Parynik
Watkins Elementary — Kimberly Sheehan
Bettie Weaver Elementary — Liza Becker
Wells Elementary — Hillary Florstedt
Winterpock Elementary — Maranda Fontana
Woolridge Elementary — Jennifer Cousins
Middle schools
Teresa Hockenberry is Chesterfield’s Middle School Teacher of the Year and Tomahawk Creek Middle’s Teacher of the Year.
Bailey Bridge Middle — Megan Forbes
Carver Middle — Laura Kiser
Elizabeth Davis Middle — Debra Graves
Falling Creek Middle — Thomas Monroe
Manchester Middle — Christi Gibson
Matoaca Middle — Nina Greene
Midlothian Middle — Noelle Hunt
Providence Middle — Sandra Judge-Harden
Robious Middle — Katherine Burdette
Salem Church Middle — Kristin Dougherty
Swift Creek Middle — Mary Helen King
Tomahawk Creek Middle — Teresa Hockenberry
High schools
Renee Serrao is Chesterfield’s High School Teacher of the Year and Cosby High’s Teacher of the Year.
Bird High — Keisha Hailstock
Career and Technical Center @ Courthouse — Melonie Clark
Career and Technical Center @ Hull — Karen Johnson
Carver College and Career Academy — Bruce Peterson
Clover Hill High — Rebekah Amato
Cosby High — Renee Serrao
Thomas Dale High — Amanda Booth
James River High — Mallory Strittmatter
Manchester High — Eric Pioch
Matoaca High — Nathan Hoback
Meadowbrook High — Leroy Hughes
Midlothian High — David Wilson
Monacan High — Emily Bailey
