Mathews County Public Schools honored excellence on Tuesday night, recognizing Teachers of the Year for the county’s three schools and, for the first time, naming a Teacher of the Year for the entire division.

Third grade teacher Ashley McBurney was honored as Mathews Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year, with library media specialist Jennifer Ewell getting the award for Thomas Hunter Middle School and CTE teacher Cynthia Hayes receiving the accolade as Mathews High School’s Teacher of the Year. The plaques were presented at the start of the school board’s April meeting, which was held at the Brooks Auditorium at THMS.

Hayes, who has been teaching in Mathews schools for the past 20 years, was named the first Division Teacher of the Year, allowing her to be entered into a statewide competition in the fall. In recognizing her during Tuesday’s meeting, MHS principal Drew Greve mentioned Hayes’s dedication in encouraging students to take part in the school’s Teachers for Tomorrow...