Remarkable adventures in learning await four Chesterfield County teachers who won 2024 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence and will receive a total of almost $54,000 in professional development grants from the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond and the R.E.B. Foundation.
The four teachers learned they were heading for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities when Chesterfield County Public Schools leaders popped in during a school day to surprise them with the good news.
The R.E.B. Awards program recognizes excellence in public education by awarding cash grants to outstanding public school teachers from Chesterfield, Richmond, Henrico, Hanover and the Department of Juvenile Justice in those localities. Across the region, a total of 18 teachers were selected as 2024 winners. Fun fact: Monacan High School is the only school in the region to have two winners this year.
Meet the Chesterfield County Public Schools teachers who won 2024 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence:
Sarah Ehret of Monacan High School won $11,200 to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather, Edward Shames of Easy Company (now globally known as the Band of Brothers), on the path that he took through Normandy, Belgium and Holland in the quest to liberate Europe during World War II. A history and social studies teacher, she joined Chesterfield County Public Schools in 1999 and has worked at Monacan High since then. Ehret earned her bachelor’s degree from Washington and Jefferson College and master’s degree from the University of Richmond. She was nominated for the R.E.B. Award by student Georgia Lucas who wrote:
“Ms. Ehret is an amazing teacher in all aspects. I look forward to her class and always wish it was longer. … She teaches us in a way that we are not learning for the test, but, instead, because we are all enthralled in her lessons, we want to know more. She wants to show how the material is relevant for us. … She also doesn’t just sit and talk to us, she is always asking questions and making class an interactive, hands-on learning experience.”
Karen Smith of Monacan High School won $14,300 to study components of the arts in European cities, exploring the differences, similarities and roots of various cultures to share with students of all languages and backgrounds. A world language teacher, she joined Chesterfield County Public Schools in 2014 and has worked at Monacan High since then. Smith earned her bachelor’s degree from Randolph-Macon College and master’s degree from Framingham State College. She was nominated for the R.E.B. Award by retired educator Julia Boffemmyer who wrote:
“Her passion for her job is evident in so many ways. … She teaches students from various demographic groups and embraces each student as an individual. In addition to teaching the required curriculum, she has class activities like ‘Mindfulness Mondays’ when she leads her class every Monday with a brief meditation session intended to help students start the school week with a positive mindset. … Mrs. Smith is the teacher I wish I had been.”
Colleen Irby of the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center @ Hull won $15,000 to work directly with scientists to gain hands-on, field-based research experience, learn cutting-edge science teaching methods and study fragile ecosystems affected by climate change and wildlife conservation techniques. A biotechnology teacher, she joined Chesterfield County Public Schools in 2018 and has worked at CTC@Hull since then. Irby earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She was nominated for the R.E.B. Award by former colleague Paul Lathrop, who won an R.E.B. Award in 2021 and who wrote:
“Mrs. Irby is an inspirational leader in her classroom. In her time at the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center, she completely revamped the program to drive the focus of the classroom on student experiences and learning opportunities beyond graduation. … Mrs. Irby goes beyond the perception of a teacher and builds long lasting professional relationships with her students and peers.”
Rebecca Lynch of Manchester High School won $13,100 to travel in the footsteps of British authors and their characters by exploring real and fictional settings in Scotland and England and to attend writing workshops to advance writing in these same environments. An English teacher, she began her career at Manchester High in 1991, then left to teach in other schools before returning to Manchester High in 2013. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and another bachelor’s degree plus a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Lynch was nominated for the R.E.B. Award by her colleague Rachel Ehret, who wrote:
“There are teachers you enjoy as humans but may not hear the best about them from students. Rebecca is someone I enjoy as a human and only hear good about her from her students. … Her positive impact on both students and colleagues is farther reaching than just her classroom or even school. … As a teacher she is a role model for education and what teachers SHOULD be, not just what they can be. … Students are able to learn and grow in her classroom because of her experience, attitude and understanding (both of content and students).”
