While schools remain vacant for the remainder of the school year, and being a teacher in a virtual environment is providing teachers across the country with unprecedented challenges, Mathews County Public Schools took time out recently to recognize its best classroom professionals.
Lee-Jackson Elementary first grade teacher Amy Shaw, Thomas Hunter Middle School eighth grade world geography teacher Mary Bigger and Mathews High School science teacher Jessica Newsome have been recognized by their peers as its 2019-2020 Teachers of the Year.
Amy Shaw
“We are so proud to announce that Mrs. Amy Shaw was selected by her colleagues as the 2019-2020 Lee-Jackson Teacher of the Year,” principal Drew Greve said. “Mrs. Shaw is truly a master at her craft. She always goes the extra mile when it comes to her lesson plans and instruction. It is a true joy to watch her students academically thrive in first grade each year.”
Mary Bigger
Bigger came to Mathews from Keysville. She graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2016 with a master’s degree in education. “She came to THMS after that and is active in sponsoring the Beta Club,” said THMS principal Laurel Byrd. “She has been a leader in the school and builds great relationships with students and families. She is a huge asset to MCPS and the community.”
Jessica Newsome
A MHS alumna, Newsome received her bachelor’s degree in biology from William and Mary and her master of education degree in school leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. At MHS, Newsome teaches biology and anatomy classes. “She takes great pride in working diligently with all students to ensure their success inside and outside of the school building,” MHS principal Alexis Foster said.
“As a faculty member, Mrs. Newsome is a teacher leader and highly respected among her peers,” he added. “She constantly reaches out to faculty members to provide assistance as it relates to providing instructional coaching, usage of educational resources, and whatever needs to be done. Recently, Mrs. Newsome was part of a team of educators from around the Commonwealth of Virginia who developed guidance from the Virginia Department of Education for providing instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Despite all of her accomplishments, Mrs. Newsome is a humble person whose gifts make a positive difference at MHS each and every day,” Foster said.
A number of local businesses, individuals and others have chipped in to provide gifts that will be part of a gift basket for each of the three teachers. The teachers are normally presented with these gift baskets at the board’s April meeting, but this will be delayed to an as-yet-unspecified date. Contributors include:
Bay School of the Arts, Chesapeake Bank, Chick-fil-A, custom-engraved stools by MCPS superintendent Nancy Welch, Donk’s Theater, Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal, Grover’s Auto Repair, Hair Creations, Linda’s Diner, The Daily Grind, Dr. Ben Lennon, Mathews Lions Club, Mathews Pharmacy, Mathews Family YMCA, M&M Building Supply Garden Center, Shun Xing Restaurant, Southwind Pizza, Subway, Unique Design Florist, Mathews County School Board, $50 each toward classroom supplies from Lee-Jackson, THMS and MHS, and MCPS cafeteria.