“She is a leader of others by example,” read Superintendent Gena Keller from Staton’s nomination. “She serves as case manager for the gifted program and ensures gifted students in her class are being challenged… She provides positive insight, wisdom and problem-solving alongside her peers and administration… She is an asset to the entire school community yet she shies away from wanting to be recognized, but is most deserving of this nomination.”
“Thank you for the honor and the recognition. It is a joy to work in Fluvanna,” said Staton as she accepted her award.
The Board also recognized teachers of the year from each school in the county:
• West Central Primary School – Michelle Rafaly
• Central Elementary School – Beverly Proffitt
• Carysbrook Elementary School – Julia Hogue
• Fluvanna Middle School – Virginia Staton
• Fluvanna County High School – Elena Calhoun
This year the Board added a support staff member of the year recognition, giving the honor to Ruby Smith.
“I’ve never met anyone who knows so much about the schools and the families of the children,” read Keller from Smith’s nomination. “She makes everyone feel welcome. Ruby will do anything you ask of her without complaining and with a smile on her face. She is always two or three steps ahead of each of us, anticipating what we need before we know.”
The Board honored support staff members of the year from each school in the county:
• West Central Primary School – Carolyn Walker
• Central Elementary School – Ruby Smith
• Carysbrook Elementary School – Paige Smith
• Fluvanna Middle School – Teresa Barker
• Fluvanna County High School – Margie Brown
The Board also recognized Anna Hurdle as Fluvanna County High School athlete of the year. Hurdle won the state diving championship this year and last year, said Athletic Director Scott Morris. “We are very lucky to have Anna Hurdle,” he said. As Morris awarded Hurdle a state championship ring, he joked, “The best thing is she’s only a sophomore so she’s got two more years.”
Assistant Superintendent Chuck Winkler presented to the Board the salary scales for next year, which contain an average 1.5 percent pay increase. Right now due to financial issues there are two pay scales for teachers that depend upon when the teacher was hired, but Winkler said he’d like to be able to adopt a single scale in the future.
School Board Chair Camilla Washington agreed, saying that the Board had been “forced” by a difficult budget situation to split the teacher scale into two, but had not been happy doing so. Morphing the scales back into one would create an untenable “huge financial impact,” she said, but reiterated her former promise that they would continue to “look at this issue” as long as she remains on the Board. “With the budget we have at this particular moment, this is what we have to do,” she said.
