2013 Virginia Teacher of the Year

Kathryn B. Galford

Kathryn B. Galford, a sixth-grade English teacher at Greenbrier Middle School in Chesapeake, is the 2013 Virginia Teacher of the Year and the Region 2 Teacher of the Year.  A veteran teacher of 23 years, she earned a bachelor’s degree in middle school education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Old Dominion University.  She is currently pursuing a teaching endorsement in gifted education through the University of Virginia.

See news release: Chesapeake Educator is 2013 Virginia Teacher of the Year – October 15, 2012

REGION 1
Paul Frederick Daszkiewicz is a mathematics teacher at Meadowbrook High School in Chesterfield County.  He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in mathematics education from Virginia Commonwealth University.

REGION 3
Suzanne M. Sherman is a second-grade teacher at Cool Spring Primary School in King William County.  She received a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in psychology and a master’s degree in gerontology with an emphasis in adult education from Virginia Commonwealth University.

REGION 4
Lydia L. Stewart is a teacher of students with moderate intellectual disabilities at Osbourn Park High School in Prince William County.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast film communications with a minor in business management and a master’s  degree in telecommunications and film from the University of Alabama, as well as a master’s  degree in special education from George Mason University.

REGION 5
David W. Webb Jr. teaches band and Advanced Placement music theory at Jefferson Forest High School in Bedford County.  He received a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

REGION 6
Tracey L. Nielsen is a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing prekindergarten and kindergarten students at Virginia Heights Elementary School in Roanoke.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in deaf education from Gallaudet University. 

REGION 7
Steven P. Ahn is a biology, earth and space science teacher at Abingdon High School in Washington County. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Furman University and a master of education degree from Converse College.

REGION 8
Cynthia R. Whitaker is a sixth-grade mathematics teacher at Edward W. Wyatt Middle School in Greensville County. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Paul’s College and two master’s degrees in education from the University of Phoenix.