What does it take to win “Teacher of the Year” in Portsmouth?
By Brian Kirwin | Monday, April 27th, 2009 | PolicyShould we ask the winner, Veronica R. Williams of I.C. Norcom High School?
Or should we ask her mother, who by mere coincidence just happens to sit on City Council? Or her Dad, who just happens to be a former Portsmouth Schools administrator?
Amazing how these things work out…
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Brian Kirwin
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
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8 Responses to "What does it take to win “Teacher of the Year” in Portsmouth?"
Brian: Why the negativity… What does it take to win “Teacher of the Year” in Portsmouth? Maybe we should ask the other winners listed below?
Can’t we just enjoy the value these folks place on doing their jobs very well? I’m happy for ALL of them for taking a job with Portsmouth’s educational system and staying with it long enough to make a difference in the lives of the children they teach . Even if one of them has a mother on city council, she seems well qualified. Ms. Williams has been a teacher for 15 years so she isn’t an overnight sensation.
OTHER TOP TEACHER WINNERS
- 2009 Elementary School Teacher of the Year – Beverly A. Bullock, Westhaven Elementary third-grade teacher
- 2009 Middle School Teacher of the Year – Krista Lewellyn, Churchland Middle mathematics teacher
- 2009 High School Teacher of the Year – Sean Glick, Churchland High trigonometry teacher
SCHOOL-LEVEL WINNERS
- Contina Martin – Brighton Elementary
- Brian Liverman – Churchland Academy Elementary
- Eliza Anne Fly – Churchland Elementary
- Brent Johnson – Churchland Primary and Intermediate
- Laura M. Rieg – DAC Center for Learning
- Lisa M. Post – Douglass Park Elementary
- Pamalin C. Walton * – Hodges Manor Elementary
- Saundra Irene Davis – James Hurst Elementary
- Maureen Beamon * – Lakeview Elementary
- Kelly D. Goodman – Mount Hermon Preschool Center
- James J. Doran – Olive Branch Elementary
- Jill Doyle * – Park View Elementary
- Emma Ingram – Simonsdale Elementary
- Wendy Collins – Emily N. Spong Preschool Center
- Mary Beth White * – John Tyler Elementary
- Sharon L. Welch – Victory Elementary
- Heidi M. Davis * – Cradock Middle
- Brian J. Campbell – New Directions Center
- Diisha Hicks – William E. Waters Middle
- Joseph H. Yancey * – Woodrow Wilson High
Bill Bailey complaining about negativity.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
That’s like Madonna complaining about promiscuity.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
As I expected: Once again, Brian failing to respond like an adult…. Sad…
Bill, I’d rather reward one of the fine teachers who doesn’t have a parent on City Council.
If you don’t see what a joke that makes the award, you’re too steeped in union-blindness to make a clear judgment.
So what you’re saying is that the school system should have a rule where former Superintendent and current Councilmembers offspring cannot win? The winner here would have to leave her school system to win any accolade for teaching? Has she won the award multiple times? You might have a point then. Until then, this post looks like you just needed to fill space on the blog.
Brian: I agree with Kevin. BTW: My mother in law was a teacher(36 years), my wife is a teacher(26 years) and my daughter(1 year) is a school teacher does that help them be better at their jobs? Yes. They have the added benefit of decades of experiance in the classroom that many others don’t have. I don’t care who sits on the school board or city council as it has nothing to do with the awards. If you earned the award, stand up and be proud.
You can complain but Ms. Williams won the award fair & square and shouldn’t be the butt of your attacks. 15 years in a Portsmouth school has only added to her experiance and value to those children.
Brilliant, Kevin. Attack me.
I think when a relative is an elected official, it casts a heck of a shadow. Personally, if my mom was on City Council, I wouldn’t accept an award like that. I’m sure there are plenty of fantastic teachers who don’t have a mom on city council and a dad who was a school administrator.
But don’t blame me. Here’s a test. Ask someone today “Portsmouth’s Teacher of the year is the daughter of a City Councilmember” and see if you get an eyeroll.
There’s nothing wrong with a little nepotism, Brian, as long as you keep it in the family.
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