By Heather Michon
Correspondent
The Fluvanna County School Board met on Wednesday (Jan. 14) to elect new leadership, set the stage for the busy budget season ahead, and then moved on to the main event of the evening: recognizing the recipients of the 2025-26 Teacher and Staff of the Year awards.
Superintendent Peter Gretz explained that teachers and staff were nominated by their peers “to recognize those who make exceptional contributions to our schools.”
Fluvanna County High School: Sherry Esch & Margie Brown
Principal Margo Bruce introduced Office Manager Margie Brown and FCHS English teacher Sherry Esch.
“The school does not operate if Margie is not there,” Bruce said of Brown. “She is my everything.”
If she were still in school, “I would want to be in Ms. Esch’s classroom,” Bruce said. “She just brings joy to the classroom.”
Fluvanna County Middle School: Alicia Patterson & Stacy Manuel
Principal Lara Dugolinsky said that Alicia Patterson was a star in the language arts department, “dedicated to her craft, fully invested in her students’ growth and progress, and consistently inspires those around her with creativity and commitment.”
Stacy Manuel, the school’s IT support technician, has tackled the many issues that go along with increasingly tech-dependent classrooms and “has dedicated countless hours to ensuring these successful rollouts” as each new tool is introduced.
Manuel is so dedicated, in fact, that she stopped during her own award ceremony to help the School Board staff with a faulty piece of recording equipment.
Carysbrook Elementary School: Jennifer Gross & Robert Palmer
Principal Scott Lucas said that Teacher of the Year Jennifer Gross “doesn’t realize how good she truly is,” adding that “she creates a learning environment where students feel valued, challenged, and encouraged to grow.”
Custodian Robert Palmer “just never stops,” said Lucas, “no matter what is needed, he’s there to take care of it. He takes so much pride in our school, in our staff, and in our students.”
Central Elementary School: Cynthia Peck & Troy Bates
“I could stand here and talk forever about Ms. Peck,” said principal Amy Barnabei of Cynthia Peck, “because I have the highest respect and love for this lady.”
Peck was recognized for her willingness to help staff, students, and fellow teachers. “But most importantly, she thinks outside the box.”
Custodian Troy Bates was not able to attend the ceremony, but Barnabei said he was “truly a role model and mentor for our students – he really is such an asset for us. He takes great pride in ensuring that our school environment is safe, clean, and welcoming for students, staff, and visitors.”
Peck and Bates were also named as Division Teacher & Staff Member of the Year.
New Year, New Leadership
Wednesday marked the first meeting for Sean Brennan (Columbia) and R. Anthony Edmonds (Fork Union), who were both elected in November.
Andre Key (Rivanna) was elected as chair, and Charles Rittenhouse (Cunningham) as vice chair.
Key guided members through a long list of committee assignments and policy approvals. Board members briefly debated the budget calendar before agreeing to hold a budget seminar on Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Meetings will continue to be held on the second Wednesday of the month, with public sessions starting around 6:30 pm.
The School Board will present its FY27 Budget to the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 25.
