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Why Clary Carleton is considered Richmond’s Teacher of the Year

Posted at 9:46 AM, Dec 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-14 09:47:26-05

RICHMOND, Va. -- Open High School is in Richmond, but the students in one room are going to Venice, Italy.

Richmond Public Schools 2017 "Teacher of the Year" Clary Carleton is taking them there through Shakespeare's "Othello."

Through her enthusiasm, energy, and penchant for props, Ms. Carleton is getting her students excited about learning in her English and Literature classes.

"Not every student loves to write," Ms. Carleton said, "so it's encouraging them and kind of meeting them where they are to show them that it can be exciting to express yourself."

Ms. Carleton's class is so popular that on the day we showed up for this interview, she had to shoo students who weren't scheduled to be there out of the room.

"They get to travel all over the world," Ms. Carleton said. "And that's so exciting to get to introduce them to different perspectives and different countries they haven't heard of before.  That's incredible."

For being named Richmond's "Teacher of the Year", Ms. Carleton received a $1,000 cash reward, an iPad, and a complimentary one night stay at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Richmond.